What determines if a book sent to amazon via email will be AZW3?

oblox · 08-21-2015, 04:27 AM

I've tried sending all my books ti kindle email as dual format mobi and some become AZW3 and some stay as mobi (azw) format. Anyone know why this happens or anything I can do to make it more likely to stay as AZW3?

shamanNS · 08-21-2015, 08:24 AM

Are you sending the books via e-mail (directly or via Calibre) or via Amazon's "Send to Kindle" app? Maybe try using STK app and selecting a device for book delivery. It should save them in the Cloud as azw3 if your account has only KF8 compatible apps and devices registered.

oblox · 08-21-2015, 10:37 AM

Ok will try that sometime, I was using Calibre and I still have my K4 NT on the account (different kindle email though)

eschwartz · 08-21-2015, 01:14 PM

direct email definitely works, at least for other people. As far as I know, as long as you emailed a dual-MOBI, any compatible device will always receive an AZW3.

How sure are you that they are dual-MOBIs? Maybe some plain old MOBIs accidentally got mixed in?

odamizu · 08-25-2015, 01:07 AM

I've come across the same problem as oblox — most EPUBs converted to dual-MOBI will result in an AZW3 being sent to my Kindle, but every now and then, my Kindle receives a MOBI.

I believe there is something in the formatting of some dual-MOBIs that is causing Amazon to reject the AZW3 part. When I transfer the exact same dual-MOBI file directly to my Kindle via USB, it will open the AZW3 part. But when I use Send-to-Kindle, Amazon's processing rejects the AZW3 part and I end up with MOBI only.

I have done Send-to-Kindle via email and Send-to-Kindle Mac app and specified my Kindle Voyage. If I skip Send-to-Kindle and transfer the exact same dual-MOBI file directly to my Kindle Voyage, it will open the AZW3 portion just fine, so the problem is occurring in Amazon's processing.

Looking inside the original EPUB (which validates), I saw that the paragraphs were formatted as <div> rather than <p>. I thought aha! that's the problem. But when I changed all the <div> to <p> the problem remained. I'm wondering if there's something in the OPF or html heads that's triggering this problem? I'm just not sure where to look, but am intensely curious to solve this puzzle.

eschwartz · 08-25-2015, 01:09 AM

It's possible. I imagine the relevant tests might overlap with the KDP processing workflow, so it might be worth seeing what the helpful folk in the Kindle Formats subforum think.

odamizu · 08-25-2015, 01:34 AM

Oh my goodness, the gods are smiling upon me tonight. I started poking around and noticed that the source EPUB of the problem dual-MOBI was missing a "cover" reference in the <guide> section of the OPF. Such a small detail, but I figured what the hell, and when I added the "cover" reference, my Kindle received an AZW3!

eschwartz · 08-25-2015, 01:52 AM

That is highly ironic, as it is the AZW3 version that steadfastly refuses to ship a cover! (Well, a cover view thumbnail anyway.)

odamizu · 08-25-2015, 02:37 AM

Yes indeed, eschwartz!

oblox · 08-25-2015, 04:14 AM

Interesting to know, will have to experiment myself at some point as it'd be nice to have AZW3's rather than Mobi files even without covers.

oblox · 08-25-2015, 04:27 AM

Ok had a look at 2 books I know I got 1 as AZW3 and 1 as Mobi

both have

<reference href="titlepage.xhtml" title="Cover" type="cover"/> in content.opf guide section.

So cant be that for these. Will have a check through and play around with them and see what happens when I change other bits.

odamizu · 08-25-2015, 12:24 PM

@oblox: Have you tried transferring the problem MOBI directly to your Kindle via USB rather than using Send-to-Kindle? If it opens as AZW3, then you'll know the problem is with Amazon's processing. But if it opens as MOBI, then the problem is in the file itself. At least that way you can pinpoint where the problem is occuring, Amazon or Calibre.

Does anyone know: Is there a way to validate MOBIs to make sure they're properly constructed?

oblox · 08-26-2015, 05:59 AM

Just been playing around with a few files and cant see where its going wrong.

Have compared the opf files and both seem to have the same fields in the same places, one always converts to AZW3 and the other MOBI. I tried the send to kindle program and the only difference is everything gets sent as AZW file regardless.

I removed my old K4 NT and Android app from my account so it only has my PW3 and that makes no difference either.

So a bit of a loss now as to why its doing things so differently.

oblox · 08-26-2015, 08:27 AM

Ok trying things differently been going through my collection 1 by 1 checking azw3 formats (what i keep saved) for errors and removing

<reference type="toc" href="text/part0001.html#UGI1-f6dd41279af340adaeb2affaa35cb460" title="Table Of Contents"/>

lines from <guide> section (not sure if this was required for what ive found but it works every time!)

Then when I send the Mobi (both) to amazon its giving me AZW3 AND its keeping the title information properly so including my series info.

Will take ages to finish my collection but good when its done.

oblox · 08-26-2015, 10:16 AM

Only one book hasnt worked with this method so far (9 done) and that one was a messed up file as it wouldnt even convert to epub correctly.

So system works and AZW3 files are all working.

08-21-2015, 04:27 AM	#1
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	What determines if a book sent to amazon via email will be AZW3? I've tried sending all my books ti kindle email as dual format mobi and some become AZW3 and some stay as mobi (azw) format. Anyone know why this happens or anything I can do to make it more likely to stay as AZW3?

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08-21-2015, 08:24 AM	#2
shamanNS Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Serbia Device: Kindle PW5, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle PW1	Are you sending the books via e-mail (directly or via Calibre) or via Amazon's "Send to Kindle" app? Maybe try using STK app and selecting a device for book delivery. It should save them in the Cloud as azw3 if your account has only KF8 compatible apps and devices registered.

08-21-2015, 10:37 AM	#3
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Ok will try that sometime, I was using Calibre and I still have my K4 NT on the account (different kindle email though)

08-21-2015, 01:14 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	direct email definitely works, at least for other people. As far as I know, as long as you emailed a dual-MOBI, any compatible device will always receive an AZW3. How sure are you that they are dual-MOBIs? Maybe some plain old MOBIs accidentally got mixed in?

08-25-2015, 01:07 AM	#5
odamizu just an egg Posts: 1,827 Karma: 7943430 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: Kindle, iOS	I've come across the same problem as oblox — most EPUBs converted to dual-MOBI will result in an AZW3 being sent to my Kindle, but every now and then, my Kindle receives a MOBI. I believe there is something in the formatting of some dual-MOBIs that is causing Amazon to reject the AZW3 part. When I transfer the exact same dual-MOBI file directly to my Kindle via USB, it will open the AZW3 part. But when I use Send-to-Kindle, Amazon's processing rejects the AZW3 part and I end up with MOBI only. I have done Send-to-Kindle via email and Send-to-Kindle Mac app and specified my Kindle Voyage. If I skip Send-to-Kindle and transfer the exact same dual-MOBI file directly to my Kindle Voyage, it will open the AZW3 portion just fine, so the problem is occurring in Amazon's processing. Looking inside the original EPUB (which validates), I saw that the paragraphs were formatted as <div> rather than <p>. I thought aha! that's the problem. But when I changed all the <div> to <p> the problem remained. I'm wondering if there's something in the OPF or html heads that's triggering this problem? I'm just not sure where to look, but am intensely curious to solve this puzzle.

08-25-2015, 01:09 AM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	It's possible. I imagine the relevant tests might overlap with the KDP processing workflow, so it might be worth seeing what the helpful folk in the Kindle Formats subforum think.

08-25-2015, 01:34 AM	#7
odamizu just an egg Posts: 1,827 Karma: 7943430 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: Kindle, iOS	Oh my goodness, the gods are smiling upon me tonight. I started poking around and noticed that the source EPUB of the problem dual-MOBI was missing a "cover" reference in the <guide> section of the OPF. Such a small detail, but I figured what the hell, and when I added the "cover" reference, my Kindle received an AZW3!

08-25-2015, 01:52 AM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	That is highly ironic, as it is the AZW3 version that steadfastly refuses to ship a cover! (Well, a cover view thumbnail anyway.)

08-25-2015, 02:37 AM	#9
odamizu just an egg Posts: 1,827 Karma: 7943430 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: Kindle, iOS	Yes indeed, eschwartz!

08-25-2015, 04:14 AM	#10
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Interesting to know, will have to experiment myself at some point as it'd be nice to have AZW3's rather than Mobi files even without covers.

08-25-2015, 04:27 AM	#11
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Ok had a look at 2 books I know I got 1 as AZW3 and 1 as Mobi both have <reference href="titlepage.xhtml" title="Cover" type="cover"/> in content.opf guide section. So cant be that for these. Will have a check through and play around with them and see what happens when I change other bits.

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08-25-2015, 12:24 PM	#12
odamizu just an egg Posts: 1,827 Karma: 7943430 Join Date: Mar 2015 Device: Kindle, iOS	@oblox: Have you tried transferring the problem MOBI directly to your Kindle via USB rather than using Send-to-Kindle? If it opens as AZW3, then you'll know the problem is with Amazon's processing. But if it opens as MOBI, then the problem is in the file itself. At least that way you can pinpoint where the problem is occuring, Amazon or Calibre. Does anyone know: Is there a way to validate MOBIs to make sure they're properly constructed?

08-26-2015, 05:59 AM	#13
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Just been playing around with a few files and cant see where its going wrong. Have compared the opf files and both seem to have the same fields in the same places, one always converts to AZW3 and the other MOBI. I tried the send to kindle program and the only difference is everything gets sent as AZW file regardless. I removed my old K4 NT and Android app from my account so it only has my PW3 and that makes no difference either. So a bit of a loss now as to why its doing things so differently.

08-26-2015, 08:27 AM	#14
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Ok trying things differently been going through my collection 1 by 1 checking azw3 formats (what i keep saved) for errors and removing <reference type="toc" href="text/part0001.html#UGI1-f6dd41279af340adaeb2affaa35cb460" title="Table Of Contents"/> lines from <guide> section (not sure if this was required for what ive found but it works every time!) Then when I send the Mobi (both) to amazon its giving me AZW3 AND its keeping the title information properly so including my series info. Will take ages to finish my collection but good when its done.

08-26-2015, 10:16 AM	#15
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Only one book hasnt worked with this method so far (9 done) and that one was a messed up file as it wouldnt even convert to epub correctly. So system works and AZW3 files are all working.