Kindle Paperwhite SE (2024) - missing page numbers

[Stuart]

I got the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (12th gen) yesterday. Calibre (7.20) recognizes the device. I sent a couple of AZW3 books from my library to the device (Send To Main Memory with the device connected by USB), but the books are missing page numbers. Only locations are showing up. Both books have page numbers when I send them to 11th gen Paperwhite.

Page numbers appear on a different book I downloaded directly from my Amazon library. It's only the sideloaded AZW3 books from Calibre that are missing the page numbers.

The old Paperwhite is on firmware version Kindle 5.16.21. The new Paperwhite SE came with firmware 5.17.0.

I wondered if anyone else has experienced this yet. Is it possible that I'm doing something wrong, or is this an issue that might be fixed in a future Calibre update?

Thanks.

[kovidgoyal]

Your new kindle is presumably using MTP instead of mass storage and for that format page number sidecar files are not generated and sent to the kindle as MTP is pretty flaky and difficult to work with. You should still have locations and time to read for sideloaded books which IMO are anyway superior to autogenerated page numbers.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Your new kindle is presumably using MTP instead of mass storage and for that format page number sidecar files are not generated and sent to the kindle as MTP is pretty flaky and difficult to work with. You should still have locations and time to read for sideloaded books which IMO are anyway superior to autogenerated page numbers.

Thanks for the information. I was unfamiliar with MTP. I saw that it could cause problems with book covers, but I assume that's been resolved now through Calibre. I didn't run across any mention of MTP and page numbers. I'll have to see if I can get used to locations again.

I wonder if this is something that will happen to the previous gen Paperwhite with a firmware update.

[vissente]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Your new kindle is presumably using MTP instead of mass storage and for that format page number sidecar files are not generated and sent to the kindle as MTP is pretty flaky and difficult to work with. You should still have locations and time to read for sideloaded books which IMO are anyway superior to autogenerated page numbers.

Is it possible to have the page number files sent in a future update?

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by vissente

Is it possible to have the page number files sent in a future update?

It's *possible* but someone with the hardware has to write the code for it, and because of the nature of MTP its probably going ot be slow/messy

[vissente]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It's *possible* but someone with the hardware has to write the code for it, and because of the nature of MTP its probably going ot be slow/messy

Thanks. Would KFX output be native instead of a plugin? Since this might be the better output than AZW3 and it will have page numbers. I am using linux and can't make the plugin work.

[kovidgoyal]

No I have no interest in KFX its not a real format its a partially specialized hybrid thing for a particular device.