Kindle - Some Help Please!

[debris4spike]

Does anyone have a Kindle - Tim & Claire got me one for Christmas, which I was actually given on Saturday - yes, I squeeeeed ... btu now am confused!

I thought i would be able to move fics off my hard drive onto it ... Can I?  And, if so, How?

Hoping someone can help!

Comments

[amyxaphania.livejournal.com]

I got a Kindle for Christmas, too. I love it so far, and have loaded a few fics onto it.

The best way to do it is to download Calibre, which is an e-book management program. Once you've got that installed, you can add your e-books or files to your Calibre library, and then convert them to Kindle format. When you've done that, you can plug your Kindle into the computer and send the files directly to the device from Calibre.

The other way would be to convert the files (I'm guessing they're Word docs?) into .txt format, but in doing that you'll lose any formatting within the document.

Hope this helps!

[debris4spike]

Thanks very much - I download that and try ... do you have to "put" the files anywhere specific - or just into the Kindle in general - I saw there were 4 folders there.

Yes, they're Spuffy fics on my pc ... can't travel and miss a Spuffy fix, can I?

[amyxaphania.livejournal.com]

If you're putting the files on through Windows Explorer, you'll need to put them in the Documents (I think it's called that!) folder on the Kindle.

If you're going through Calibre, once you plug the Kindle in it'll recognise it, then you can right click the e-book you want to add and select 'send to device' - it'll go on automatically.

[debris4spike]

Thanks - that's great

.... and thanks for a fast (double) answer!

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

I was going to say the same, Calibre is a fabulous program. Welcome to the world of Kindle owners. I *heart* my Kindle.

[debris4spike]

Thanks - I heard great things about a Kindle so squeeeeed at such a great gift ... then got "lost"

So I'm now downloading the Calibre ... and hopefully that will get me reading Spuffy wherever I am!!

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

As others have said, Calibre is a great way of converting and transferring fanfic. Just convert the files to .mobi and upload them direct to your Kindle. :)

[debris4spike]

LOL - Thanks - I've got the Calibre downloaded ... and it's late, I know, but can't see my way round it to actually get the files converted ... is there an easy way, or is it just my brain has switched off!!

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

I tend to be up late, so don't worry about the time. *g*

Once you've dragged/transferred your files to Calibre, all you have to do is select the file you want to convert and then click 'convert books' in the top bar. From there, make sure the output file is 'mobi', then click 'ok'. The file should then start to convert. Once it'a converted you can then upload it direct to your Kindle.

I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any problems. :)

[debris4spike]

Mmmm - gave up, and now trying again!

I still can't find the "output" part ... I put just one Spuffy Word fic in ... click convert and it tells me it cant do it ... as "no suitable source format" was found

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

I see Carolyn has advised you on what the problem may be. I had the same problem when I first had my Kindle, and changing to RTF solved the problem. Once you've changed the format, converting it to mobi shouldn't be a problem.

Happy reading! :)

[debris4spike]

Thanks - yes, Carolyn beat you to it - the TRF is the answer ... so I now have some fics ready to read!

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

What a fabulous pressie - I wouldn't be without my e-reader for the world - and have managed to get rid of all my hard copy Spuffy fic (except for a couple which no longer appear anywhere on the internet).

Have you managed to sort out your Calibre problem? I'm not sure that DOC is a format Calibre supports, try converting the fic to RTF then load into Calibre and convert to .MOBI from there.

Happy reading!!

[debris4spike]

Oh yes - Tim saw all my boxes of Spuffy ... thus the gift! I did (and will eventually) squeeeeee

Maybe that's the problem - I have Calibre up now, but can't get a fic to load as all of mine are on my hard drive in doc or docx ... so ... (thicko here!!) - what's/where's RTF??

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

so ... (thicko here!!) - what's/where's RTF?? :D

Not thicko at all. RTF is Rich Text Format, which is a sort of inbetween step between a text file with no formatting and a Word document with lots. Open your doc/docx document in Word, click on Save As, select Save as Other Format and choose Rich Text Format from the drop down menu (I'm assuming you've got Office 2007 from the docx thing). Now you'll have another copy of the same document in RTF format. Add this one to Calibre and it should then convert for you without any problems. *crosses fingers*

Let me know how you get on. :)

[debris4spike]

That looks like it may works .... dare I breathe??? Anyway - if I can't find a quicker way of transferring multiple files then I shall have to do it that way - I hadn't realised how much Spuffy I had!!

Anyway - haven't (dared) check if it transferred, but at least it didn't reject the file!

Thanks - I'll get back to you when purple smoke comes out of the Kindle ... or my pc ... or me!

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

Right, batch converting documents - try downloading a program called Doxillion Document Converter. I use some of their software for converting and editing audio files and have just tried this program on some of my .docs to .rtf and it seems to do what it says it does.

http://www.topshareware.com/Doxillion-Document-Converter-download-76390.htm

Download the file, install (don't install any of the other things it offers you) and it should open automatically. Select individual files or even folders, tell it what format to convert into and choose (or create) an output folder for the .rtf documents to be put into.

It will still take a while to do, but should be quicker than doing it document by document.

[debris4spike]

Brilliant - the RTF is hat I needed - so I do have some fics up, but as you can imagaine I have more than a few to change - so I'll give that a try tomorrow.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

I have just ordered myself one, so I'll be interested to see how you get on with it. I have a Sony e-reader, but the books are a LOT cheaper on Kindle, so that's persuaded me to upgrade :)

[debris4spike]

Not having had one before yesterday it all seemed a bit confusing - now I have got the file conversion sorted out for my Spuffy fics, it seems easy to use ... Tim doesn't have either, but looked into everything for me, as he was buying me a suprise gift he wanted the best - and it was the Kindle that got his vote!

Once I have my Spuffy sorted, then I shall have a look at the "shops" ... got to have my priorities sorted!

Hope you find your upgrade worth it.

[cordykitten]

If you want you can check my tags e-reader. But I don't have a lot for especially Kindle (even if only for the free books).

Check:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kindlekorner/
Helpful tips, especially for the Kindle.
*edit*
Forgot to say Have fun with your new Kindle!

[debris4spike]

Thanks Cordy - I've got the "Word" file change sorted out now - I'll have a look to see those links over the next couple of days - I'm slowly getting my brain round the Kindle!