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Calibre and Mobi for Bookapy

Switch Blayde ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

I always create an Epub from docx in Calibre, but for Bookapy I also created a Mobi and PDF.

My docx document is left justified. Both the Epub and PDF that were created are left justified. However, the Mobi Calibre generated is justified (even right and left margins with spaces between words). Lazeez once told me that's difficult to read on a small device like a smart phone so I stopped doing it.

Anyone know why the Mobi came out as justified? Is there a setting in Calibre I missed?

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Switch Blayde

Anyone know why the Mobi came out as justified? Is there a setting in Calibre I missed?

Calibre tries to mimic Amazon's defaults which is full justified text.

To turn off justification, in Calibre's conversion panel, on the right select .mobi, then click the 'Look & feel' entry on the left, then click the 'Text' tab. The second entry is for 'Text Justification', it defaults to 'Original'. Choose 'Left align' to turn off justification, then click OK.

Replies:   Switch Blayde
Switch Blayde ๐Ÿšซ

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

That worked.
Thanks.

Dominions Son ๐Ÿšซ

@Switch Blayde

Anyone know why the Mobi came out as justified? Is there a setting in Calibre I missed?

My guess is that the mobi is ignoring your settings in the document and just using local settings in the reader.

Vincent Berg ๐Ÿšซ

Actually, while Bookapy requires the older Amazon .mobi format, if you go to the final page in the .mobi conversion, you can include both the modern and the older style, so you'll satisfy the few with decade old devices, while also serving those with newer Kindle devices too.

I've also noted previously that, at least for Bookapy, I've given up on Calibre .pdf conversions. Since you're on a Mac, simply select "PDF" under "Save as ..." and the Mac will convert it according to your native document's specifications, without forcing it into a pre-defined external standard.

Dominions Son ๐Ÿšซ

@Vincent Berg

Actually, while Bookapy requires the older Amazon .mobi format, if you go to the final page in the .mobi conversion

The main thing that's in Amazon's custom mod of the .mobi format is not newer features not supported by older devices, but DRM.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg ๐Ÿšซ

@Dominions Son

The main thing that's in Amazon's custom mod of the .mobi format is not newer features not supported by older devices, but DRM.

Ah, I didn't realize the .mobi format automatically included DRM constrictions, as Calibre never lists that. However, the main benefit is that it supposedly can be read by both modern and the more ancient Amazon readers (though, realistically, how many people still read using dedicated devices, since most phones and tablets now read anything straight off the shelf?)

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@Vincent Berg

Ah, I didn't realize the .mobi format automatically included DRM constrictions, as Calibre never lists that.

.mobi doesn't include DRM constrictions. For those who don't know, .mobi doesn't even belong to Amazon it's an open format.

Amazon's .azw3 is based on .mobi, in fact it's an extension of .mobi, and about the only thing in .azw3 that's not in .mobi is Amazon's DRM.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg ๐Ÿšซ

@Dominions Son

.mobi doesn't include DRM constrictions. For those who don't know, .mobi doesn't even belong to Amazon it's an open format.

That's what I'd assumed, but when you corrected me, I assumed you were referring to Calibre's .mobi files, since that is what I was discussing. But, if there's no functional difference, then I have no clue why Calibre even makes the distinction, as their 'combined' .mobi format is much larger than their regular .mobi files.

Sounds like it's time to waste an afternoon searching the Calibre discussion forums. :(

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@Vincent Berg

That's what I'd assumed, but when you corrected me, I assumed you were referring to Calibre's .mobi files

When you referred to two different conversions and specifically mentioned Amazon, I assumed that the second conversion you were referring to was to Amazon's .azw3 (which is an extension of .mobi).

.mobi itself is an open format that predates the release of the first generation of Amazon's Kindle

If you go back and look at the response you got from Lazeez, it looks like he read your OP the same way I did.

Switch Blayde ๐Ÿšซ

@Vincent Berg

, I've given up on Calibre .pdf conversions. Since you're on a Mac, simply select "PDF" under "Save as ..."

I don't use PDF so it was real easy to let Calibre create it.
I almost didn't bother because Lazeez said people aren't buying PDF versions, but it was so easy I said, what the heck.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg ๐Ÿšซ

@Switch Blayde

I don't use PDF so it was real easy to let Calibre create it.

In that case, the secondary reasons are: 1) it supports 6"x9" or other custom sizes (which Calibre doesn't, instead defaulting to 9.5" x 11"), and 2) it doesn't include all of the kludgy Calibre defaults. Thus it produces 'cleaner' copies with less processing overhead.

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@Vincent Berg

Actually, while Bookapy requires the older Amazon .mobi format, if you go to the final page in the .mobi conversion, you can include both the modern and the older style, so you'll satisfy the few with decade old devices, while also serving those with newer Kindle devices too.

Actually, don't do that. azw3 has been problematic. Stick to the older .mobi format.

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