Author Topic: WTF Amazon? Wheres the Mobi download? (Read 3451 times)

TimothyEllis · « **on:** July 30, 2021, 12:05:20 AM »

I just went to download the mobi on a new update to the next book, so I could throw it to my kindle app for the next proof read.

There's no Mobi download anymore.

I try the html, and it downloads a zip. Throw that to the kindle app, and it gets rejected as having too many files in it.

WTF Amazon?

Lynn · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:15:06 AM »

I think they're phasing out mobi for real this time.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:16:14 AM »

Quote from: Lynn on July 30, 2021, 01:15:06 AM

I think they're phasing out mobi for real this time.

If so, they have to replace it with something which works in the email to Kindle app feature.

Post-Crisis D · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:21:39 AM »

Can't you use KindleGen to convert your files to .mobi?

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:22:54 AM »

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:21:39 AM

Can't you use KindleGen to convert your files to .mobi?

What is that?

Post-Crisis D · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:42:25 AM »

Quote from: TimothyEllis on July 30, 2021, 01:22:54 AM

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:21:39 AM
Can't you use KindleGen to convert your files to .mobi?

What is that?

A software tool that Amazon provided that lets you convert HTML, XHTML, or EPUB files to .mobi.

Post-Crisis D · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:43:39 AM »

I guess it's a moot point unless you can find the download elsewhere:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000765211

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:44:58 AM »

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:42:25 AM

A software tool that Amazon provided that lets you convert HTML, XHTML, or EPUB files to .mobi.

Ah. I don't have any of them.

And you don't get an html when you download the html.

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:43:39 AM

I guess it's a moot point unless you can find the download elsewhere:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000765211

And that figures.

Post-Crisis D · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:48:46 AM »

Quote from: TimothyEllis on July 30, 2021, 01:44:58 AM

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:42:25 AM
A software tool that Amazon provided that lets you convert HTML, XHTML, or EPUB files to .mobi.

Ah. I don't have any of them.

And you don't get an html when you download the html.

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:43:39 AM
I guess it's a moot point unless you can find the download elsewhere:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000765211

And that figures.

I've always uploaded a .mobi for my books. I wonder now if they'll even accept that.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2021, 01:51:04 AM »

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:48:46 AM

I've always uploaded a .mobi for my books. I wonder now if they'll even accept that.

I did zipped html's until they finally fixed the issues with docx, and now just upload the docx.

Post-Crisis D · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:02:33 AM »

Quote from: TimothyEllis on July 30, 2021, 01:51:04 AM

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:48:46 AM
I've always uploaded a .mobi for my books. I wonder now if they'll even accept that.

I did zipped html's until they finally fixed the issues with docx, and now just upload the docx.

I don't use Word.

I've always basically created an almost-EPUB that I ran through KindleGen to convert to .mobi. Looks like all I have to do is create the same almost-EPUB files, zip them, then change the extension from .zip to .epub.

RPatton · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:20:46 AM »

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 02:02:33 AM

I don't use Word.

I've always basically created an almost-EPUB that I ran through KindleGen to convert to .mobi. Looks like all I have to do is create the same almost-EPUB files, zip them, then change the extension from .zip to .epub.

Sigil can be your best friend. I create epubs, but always open them up in Sigil for a final check before uploading the epub to KDP.

Last I heard, the preferred format for upload was an epub.

RPatton · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:25:40 AM »

Quote from: TimothyEllis on July 30, 2021, 12:05:20 AM

I just went to download the mobi on a new update to the next book, so I could throw it to my kindle app for the next proof read.

There's no Mobi download anymore.

I try the html, and it downloads a zip. Throw that to the kindle app, and it gets rejected as having too many files in it.

WTF Amazon?

It's still there.

Go to the book file on the dash.

Click preview on your computer to expand the options.

Click step 2: Download Mobi.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:30:42 AM »

Quote from: RPatton on July 30, 2021, 02:25:40 AM

It's still there.

Go to the book file on the dash.

Click preview on your computer to expand the options.

Click step 2: Download Mobi.

Eric Thomson · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:32:04 AM »

Quote from: RPatton on July 30, 2021, 02:25:40 AM

Quote from: TimothyEllis on July 30, 2021, 12:05:20 AM
I just went to download the mobi on a new update to the next book, so I could throw it to my kindle app for the next proof read.

There's no Mobi download anymore.

I try the html, and it downloads a zip. Throw that to the kindle app, and it gets rejected as having too many files in it.

WTF Amazon?

It's still there.

Go to the book file on the dash.

Click preview on your computer to expand the options.

Click step 2: Download Mobi.

All I see for Step 2 is HTML

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:36:21 AM »

Quote from: Eric Thomson on July 30, 2021, 02:32:04 AM

All I see for Step 2 is HTML

Yes, and it's not even an html file.

I think the thing here is this is only happening for books just uploaded today.

Anything uploaded yesterday, still has it's mobi file available, but today they stopped generating them.

Eric Thomson · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:43:51 AM »

Quote from: TimothyEllis on July 30, 2021, 02:36:21 AM

Quote from: Eric Thomson on July 30, 2021, 02:32:04 AM
All I see for Step 2 is HTML

Yes, and it's not even an html file.

I think the thing here is this is only happening for books just uploaded today.

Anything uploaded yesterday, still has it's mobi file available, but today they stopped generating them.

I uploaded that file 18 days ago, so it's been happening for a bit.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2021, 02:44:56 AM »

Quote from: Eric Thomson on July 30, 2021, 02:43:51 AM

I uploaded that file 18 days ago, so it's been happening for a bit.

Odd. I got a mobi download only 2 days ago.

Gessert Books · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2021, 03:01:09 AM »

You can generate a mobi file via Amazon's downloadable Kindle Previewer (https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202131170). I believe you can also extract kindlegen from that application if you prefer the command line. And while it sounds like the html download was faulty somehow, technically html files do work with the email-to-kindle feature.

notthatamanda · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2021, 03:06:59 AM »

I don't really understand this, but if you are in need of a quick fix, Tim, D2D still offers mobi downloads with their meatgrinder. Free. Hope you get it sorted out soon.

RPatton · « **Reply #20 on:** July 30, 2021, 03:44:50 AM »

It's under Preview on Your Computer.

Not Preview on Your Kindle Device.

It's still there. I just checked on a book I am setting up for pre-order. Uploaded it today.

Eric Thomson · « **Reply #21 on:** July 30, 2021, 03:46:17 AM »

Quote from: RPatton on July 30, 2021, 03:44:50 AM

It's under Preview on Your Computer.

Not Preview on Your Kindle Device.

It's still there. I just checked on a book I am setting up for pre-order. Uploaded it today.

That is precisely where I checked. And it's not there. I think the Zon is rolling out a change again which means some of us have it, some of us don't.

RPatton · « **Reply #22 on:** July 30, 2021, 04:10:39 AM »

Timothy's image has the Device option expanded, not the Computer option. If you're seeing the HTML option, than chances are, you're looking under the device option. The Computer Option has previewer and mobi links.

Eric Thomson · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2021, 04:25:44 AM »

Quote from: RPatton on July 30, 2021, 04:10:39 AM

Timothy's image has the Device option expanded, not the Computer option. If you're seeing the HTML option, than chances are, you're looking under the device option. The Computer Option has previewer and mobi links.

RPatton · « **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2021, 04:28:11 AM »

I'm not telling you, you're wrong. I was pointing out the reason why I said to look under the computer and not device. Because of Timothy's image.

But I'm done. Have a good day.

Jeff Tanyard · « **Reply #25 on:** July 30, 2021, 07:36:09 AM »

Quote from: Post-Crisis D on July 30, 2021, 01:48:46 AM

...I've always uploaded a .mobi for my books...

I made the switch to epub a few years ago and never looked back.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #26 on:** July 30, 2021, 10:58:29 AM »

Quote from: RPatton on July 30, 2021, 04:28:11 AM

I'm not telling you, you're wrong. I was pointing out the reason why I said to look under the computer and not device. Because of Timothy's image.

But I'm done. Have a good day.

Seriously? Why not post an image of what you see?

This is both sections expended for what I see? Do you see a Mobi download?

oganalp · « **Reply #27 on:** July 31, 2021, 03:42:10 AM »

They said they would be ending .mobi support as of June 28th. I guess they were serious.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #28 on:** July 31, 2021, 10:25:22 AM »

I tried sending a pdf to my kindle app, but it was too faint to read.

Then did one from D2D in a hurry which will do, but it's called test and has the wrong cover on it.

If they're going to discontinue the Mobi, then they MUST replace that with another file you can send to the kindle the same way.

The HTML is presumably what they want people to use, since it's still there, but it was wont email so is totally useless.

notthatamanda · « **Reply #29 on:** July 31, 2021, 09:25:29 PM »

That is very strange that it has the wrong cover on it. It would use whatever cover you uploaded for that book. Maybe try reloading the cover? Did you name the book test in your D2D meta? I used to do that to keep them separate in the list. I have to keep two separate books for each book on D2D. It uses the title in the metadata as the title in the file. I have to be very careful to not accidentally release the one I'm using as a meat grinder, but I've gotten used to checking on the book list for "released" and "draft" and making sure I use the right one.

You have to go all the way through the process including pricing and just NOT publish it to get the file. I do it for epubs though, I've never tried a mobi. But I do details, layout, preview, and then when it takes me to the publish window, I close D2D, go back in and grab the file from the book page.

TimothyEllis · « **Reply #30 on:** July 31, 2021, 11:31:21 PM »

Quote from: notthatamanda on July 31, 2021, 09:25:29 PM

That is very strange that it has the wrong cover on it. It would use whatever cover you uploaded for that book.

No, not strange.

I set up a dummy book on D2D to do the paperback formatting with, and just used the cover of my first book.

So I used that to quickly do a Mobi I could proof read with. Hence the wrong cover.

notthatamanda · « **Reply #31 on:** August 01, 2021, 07:58:47 AM »

Oh okay, I thought that D2D subbed in a different cover.

Riven · « **Reply #32 on:** August 01, 2021, 09:19:39 AM »

As Gessert mentioned earlier in the thread, the Kindle Previewer app allows you to export files to mobi. I've tested it and it worked for both a docx file and a html file. Unfortunately, I can't test it with a html file downloaded from KDP because the only option I've got for previews right now is mobi.

If this is a rolling update, I'm sure it'll get to me eventually. I'm hoping they have the html download fixed by then.

News:

Author Topic: WTF Amazon? Wheres the Mobi download? (Read 3451 times)