Probs with Calibre and Kindle Previewer -

Tatjana

19 Jul 2012, 05:09 PM | Post: #1

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Probs with Calibre and Kindle Previewer

I always thought I was computer savvy but I feel foolish having to admit that I am completely pulling my hair out using Calibre, and when I can open it, Kindle Previewer.

I just tested a basic format in word only using h1 (header 1), page breaks and saving it webpage filter (htm). When I added it to Calibre I inserted the TOC and proceeded to convert it.

I bought in Kindle Formatting from Brian Barrage and followed his instructions to the letter though he is Mac based and I am PC. I assumed that a mobi format was from the Mac and an epub from the PC. It was not clear in his info.

I downloaded Kindle Previewer only to find a few months later it was prompting me to upgrade to the latest version which I did. I then wanted to preview my test document in the epub format but the option to open it in Kindle Previewer was greyed out. I attempted this several times without any success. I then uninstalled it and reinstalled the Kindle Previewer to find that I could not open it.

Something like this should be soooo simple to do but is proving so soooo difficult.

I'm a graphic designer and used to using really complicated programs having downloaded lots of them over the years as well as training people on them. These two simple programs are doing my head in. HELP.........

This is just the beginning as I want to illustrate books and design covers what chance do I have when these two basic programs are proving so fiddly?

I know, I know, you are shaking your heads, and, saying go and get them processed by someone else but these are things I want to execute myself.

I've got to say I've never felt so stooopid or helpless!!! Is it just me or are others experiencing these problems?

As I have just ventured into this type of formatting arena I would really appreciate some sound advice from a Pro.

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Lou Reading Ryria Series by Michael J Sullivan

19 Jul 2012, 05:12 PM | Post: #2

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RE: Probs with Calibre and Kindle Previewer

I think the ePub part is the one causing you problems. Kindle files should always be in .mobi, .prc or .azw format ideally. If you export from calibre in .mobi, all your problems should go away.

That said, I think most people would agree that calibre is not the best tool for creating a final output.

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J.S.Egan Reading

19 Jul 2012, 05:34 PM | Post: #3

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RE: Probs with Calibre and Kindle Previewer

If you really want to learn, then you need to start with a tool called KindleGen:

http://www.amazon.com...

It will create your .mobi from the HTML.

You need to create an 'OPF' file, which tells KindleGen where things like the cover are; and an 'NCX' file, which includes the Table of Contents.

I'm afraid it ain't for the fainthearted.

www.jsegan.co.uk

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Tatjana

20 Jul 2012, 06:47 PM | Post: #4

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RE: Probs with Calibre and Kindle Previewer

Thanks guys for your input.

The thing is Calibre is not converting the simple word doc to a .mobi file and I haven't a clue why. Like I said it should be a simple process. It seems the simpler the program the more difficult it has become these days.

I've worked with HTML in the past and also created websites from scratch with basic html code. I've used DreamWeaver to create websites. Yet a simple prog like Calibre and Kindle Previewer have floored me!!

Amazon help team have told me to reinstall Kindle Previewer.

As for Calibre I have no idea why that will not convert.

I'll certainly have a look at KindleGen.

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J.S.Egan Reading

20 Jul 2012, 07:14 PM | Post: #5

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RE: Probs with Calibre and Kindle Previewer

I know it SOUNDS simple but really it isn't. A Word document is a very different kind of document to an ebook - word processing documents are highly formatted but fairly loosely structured; whereas ebooks are basically formatted but highly structured. Calibre is designed for converting between different structured ebook formats - not taking an unstructured document and turning it into a structured one.

www.jsegan.co.uk

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