copying files to Kindle

Rolando · 08-08-2010, 01:52 PM

This program is new to me and I apologize for what are probably very basic questions. I tried to search the forum for the answers, but perhaps I wasn't using the right terms.

I have already used Calibre to convert text files to ePub, then transferred them to my iPad by moving the book file from the Calibre library to the iTunes book folder and then syncing with the iPad. All the book names, authors, and cover art transferred properly. I noticed that Calibre creates a book file that has an epub file, a text file and a jpg file for the cover. Did I need to load both the text and epub files to iTunes, or am I wasting memory space by having also included the text file?

I am planning to get the new wifi-only Kindle, so I have been experimenting with the mobi format. I converted a text file (that I had already converted to epub) to the mobi format. I saw that Calibre added a mobi file to the same book folder that had the epub and text files. When I am ready to copy the book to the Kindle, do I move just the mobi file, or the mobi file together with the text and jpg files? Or do I even need the jpg file for the cover art? It doesn't seem that the Kindle is as graphically oriented as the iPad.

By way of explanation, I'm not planning to use the Whispernet on the Kindle except when I need to download a software update. I want to have everything go through my computer so that I can have a local backup and have things organized they way I want them. Also, there's the benefit of longer battery life with the wifi turned off on the Kindle.

itimpi · 08-08-2010, 02:00 PM

It sounds as if you are moving the book files yourself? You should not be doing this,

With iTunes you should use "Connect" from within Calibre and then select iTunes. Once you have done that you can use the Calibre "Send to Device" command to get the books transferred into iTunes for later transfer to the iPad. Doing it this way ensures metadata is set correctly, and also allows you to see from within Calibre what books are in iTunes.

With the Kindle you can also use the Send to Disk command from within Calibre to get books transferred across USB to the Kindle. Calibre also has support for sending books via email to the Kindle.

Sydney's Mom · 08-08-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolando

By way of explanation, I'm not planning to use the Whispernet on the Kindle except when I need to download a software update. I want to have everything go through my computer so that I can have a local backup and have things organized they way I want them. Also, there's the benefit of longer battery life with the wifi turned off on the Kindle.

That is my plan, as well. I add books (mostly epub) to Calibre, and then convert them to mobi. When I want to move files to my kindle, I right click on the file, choose save to disk, and then choose save only MOBI format to disk. The cover I have specified in Calibre shows as the cover on the kindle.

Rolando · 08-08-2010, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

...When I want to move files to my kindle, I right click on the file, choose save to disk, and then choose save only MOBI format to disk....

When you save to disk in the mobi format, do you select the 'My Kindle Content' folder as the location on the computer hard drive? Or do you copy it directly to the Kindle while you have it connected via USB?

Rolando · 08-08-2010, 11:11 PM

Off topic, Sydney's Mom, but how did you set up your signature line ('I love my Kindle, thanks to MobileRead!')? I've just joined this forum and haven't been able to find where to do it anywhere in the user profile areas.

AnemicOak · 08-09-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolando

Off topic, Sydney's Mom, but how did you set up your signature line ('I love my Kindle, thanks to MobileRead!')? I've just joined this forum and haven't been able to find where to do it anywhere in the user profile areas.

You need ten posts first. Then you can set it up in the User CP.

Rolando · 08-09-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

You need ten posts first. Then you can set it up in the User CP.

Thanks, Brian

Sydney's Mom · 08-10-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolando

When you save to disk in the mobi format, do you select the 'My Kindle Content' folder as the location on the computer hard drive? Or do you copy it directly to the Kindle while you have it connected via USB?

The former. Just make sure it is pointed to the kindle - sometimes I get ahead of myself, and the Kindle hasn't been recognized yet (I don't hook it up often. I move 50-60 books among 10 collections at a time). So I wait, and chose Save to Disc again, and voila, it is there.

I see Brian answered your question about signature. I peppered everone at Mobileread with questions when I first got my kindle - I didn't realize there was a 10-post floor, although I probably reached it within 20 minutes.

Rolando · 08-10-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

The former. Just make sure it is pointed to the kindle - sometimes I get ahead of myself, and the Kindle hasn't been recognized yet (I don't hook it up often. I move 50-60 books among 10 collections at a time). So I wait, and chose Save to Disc again, and voila, it is there.

Okay, forgive my obtuseness. I haven't gotten my Kindle yet, since they're back ordered, but I did download the Kindle app for the Mac so that I could experiment. The Kindle Mac app created a 'My Kindle Content' folder on my hard disk. I've used 'Save Single Format to Disk' command in Calibre (per your suggestion, Sydney's Mom) to copy the mobi file to that folder, and was able to open the book on my Mac. Now, my understanding is that when I connect my Kindle to the Mac via USB, the Kindle will appear as a connected drive. I can then copy files from 'My Kindle Content' unto the Kindel drive and they will show up on the Kindle.

So today's question is: Do I have the process right if, as I've mentioned previously that I want to keep a duplicate of the Kindle content on my computer, that I convert an ePub file to Mobi, 'Save to disk' unto the 'My Kindle Content' folder on my computer hard drive, then, after connecting the Kindle to my computer, then manually copy the file from the 'My Kindle Content' folder to the Kindle drive?

I believe that I can also buy Amazon books and have them downloaded to my computer rather than the Kindle and then copy them from the computer to the Kindle. Is that right? Or can I also download purchases to the Kindle and then copy from the Kindle to my computer for a back up?

Sydney's Mom · 08-11-2010, 05:34 PM

No problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolando

Now, my understanding is that when I connect my Kindle to the Mac via USB, the Kindle will appear as a connected drive. I can then copy files from 'My Kindle Content' unto the Kindel drive and they will show up on the Kindle.I thought you wanted to transfer books through Calibre. I believe you can do it the way you describe, but I find it easier to just find the book I want to transfer in Calibre, and click save to disc and click Mobi format only. That is because I always keep the original format in Calibre. Maybe my next reader will use epub, and then I won't have to convert everything back

So today's question is: Do I have the process right if, as I've mentioned previously that I want to keep a duplicate of the Kindle content on my computer, that I convert an ePub file to Mobi, 'Save to disk' unto the 'My Kindle Content' folder on my computer hard drive, then, after connecting the Kindle to my computer, then manually copy the file from the 'My Kindle Content' folder to the Kindle drive?Calibre will create a copy of the converted file. I usually download to my computer, import into Calibre, convert, and then delete the original from my desktop. I have Calibre pointing to my Dropbox folder on 3 computers, meaning I have 4 copies (3 hard and 1 cloud) of my library.

I believe that I can also buy Amazon books and have them downloaded to my computer rather than the Kindle and then copy them from the computer to the Kindle. Is that right? Or can I also download purchases to the Kindle and then copy from the Kindle to my computer for a back up?You can always go to your Manage Your Kindle Page and download anything to your computer. I usually download to computer, then remove DRM, then import into Calibre. But that middle step is not entirely legal. You can do all that AFTER you have used whispernet to get the book on your kindle

I know this sounds a little confusing. Once you have your kindle, and connect it to Calibre, all of this will make more sense. Run the Wizard to set everything to your kindle. Then, come back and talk about how you fared.

Debra

vugtitan · 08-11-2010, 06:11 PM

Can you just SIMPLEY copy/paste books from your pc to the kindles memory via usb?

kindlekathy · 08-11-2010, 07:53 PM

yes, you can just drag and drop, or copy/paste to the Kindle (put the books in the documents folder) when the Kindle is connected via USB. You don't have to use Calibre.

Rolando · 08-12-2010, 12:58 AM

Thanks, Debra, I get what you're saying. Since the file is in the Calibre library, there's no need to keep a second copy on the computer. I can just send a copy from Calibre directly to the Kindle and be done with it. But for the books I buy from Amazon, I will keep a copy on the computer just in case something funky happens with Amazon. They've been know to screw up rights and have to delete files from their servers.

Sydney's Mom · 08-12-2010, 03:45 PM

Just import the books from Amazon into Calibre (with or without DRM). That way, all your books are in one place.

TuxGirl · 08-12-2010, 06:40 PM

Out of curiosity, why don't you all use the "send to device" functionality?

08-08-2010, 01:52 PM	#1
Rolando Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Gainesville, Florida Device: iPad, Kindle	copying files to Kindle This program is new to me and I apologize for what are probably very basic questions. I tried to search the forum for the answers, but perhaps I wasn't using the right terms. I have already used Calibre to convert text files to ePub, then transferred them to my iPad by moving the book file from the Calibre library to the iTunes book folder and then syncing with the iPad. All the book names, authors, and cover art transferred properly. I noticed that Calibre creates a book file that has an epub file, a text file and a jpg file for the cover. Did I need to load both the text and epub files to iTunes, or am I wasting memory space by having also included the text file? I am planning to get the new wifi-only Kindle, so I have been experimenting with the mobi format. I converted a text file (that I had already converted to epub) to the mobi format. I saw that Calibre added a mobi file to the same book folder that had the epub and text files. When I am ready to copy the book to the Kindle, do I move just the mobi file, or the mobi file together with the text and jpg files? Or do I even need the jpg file for the cover art? It doesn't seem that the Kindle is as graphically oriented as the iPad. By way of explanation, I'm not planning to use the Whispernet on the Kindle except when I need to download a software update. I want to have everything go through my computer so that I can have a local backup and have things organized they way I want them. Also, there's the benefit of longer battery life with the wifi turned off on the Kindle.

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08-08-2010, 02:00 PM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	It sounds as if you are moving the book files yourself? You should not be doing this, With iTunes you should use "Connect" from within Calibre and then select iTunes. Once you have done that you can use the Calibre "Send to Device" command to get the books transferred into iTunes for later transfer to the iPad. Doing it this way ensures metadata is set correctly, and also allows you to see from within Calibre what books are in iTunes. With the Kindle you can also use the Send to Disk command from within Calibre to get books transferred across USB to the Kindle. Calibre also has support for sending books via email to the Kindle.

08-08-2010, 11:11 PM	#5
Rolando Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Gainesville, Florida Device: iPad, Kindle	Off topic, Sydney's Mom, but how did you set up your signature line ('I love my Kindle, thanks to MobileRead!')? I've just joined this forum and haven't been able to find where to do it anywhere in the user profile areas.

08-11-2010, 06:11 PM	#11
vugtitan Addict Posts: 299 Karma: 1042776 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Can you just SIMPLEY copy/paste books from your pc to the kindles memory via usb?

08-11-2010, 07:53 PM	#12
kindlekathy Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Portland Oregon Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 2, Kindle 3 iPod Touch	yes, you can just drag and drop, or copy/paste to the Kindle (put the books in the documents folder) when the Kindle is connected via USB. You don't have to use Calibre.

08-12-2010, 12:58 AM	#13
Rolando Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Gainesville, Florida Device: iPad, Kindle	Thanks, Debra, I get what you're saying. Since the file is in the Calibre library, there's no need to keep a second copy on the computer. I can just send a copy from Calibre directly to the Kindle and be done with it. But for the books I buy from Amazon, I will keep a copy on the computer just in case something funky happens with Amazon. They've been know to screw up rights and have to delete files from their servers.

08-12-2010, 03:45 PM	#14
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Just import the books from Amazon into Calibre (with or without DRM). That way, all your books are in one place.

08-12-2010, 06:40 PM	#15
TuxGirl Groupie Posts: 179 Karma: 141378 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: kindle	Out of curiosity, why don't you all use the "send to device" functionality?

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