Can't upload some epub files into calibre

darrienland · 04-12-2020, 07:58 PM

Hey! I'm new to this (any any) forums, so be patient with me please

I just found my old Kindle Fire and decided to add some books to it again for the first time since 2014. I used the newest version of Calibre to convert my epub files to mobi, but for some reason only about half of the books I have on my computer will let themselves be properly uploading into the program. When i try and upload the rest I get this message:

calibre, version 4.13.0
WARNING: Errors while adding: There were problems adding some files, click "Show details" for more information

Failed to add the file /Users/darrienland/Documents/BOOKS/new book.epub to the book: /Users/darrienland/Documents/BOOKS/new book
With error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/add.py", line 445, in add_formats
File "site-packages/calibre/db/cache.py", line 1442, in add_format
File "site-packages/calibre/startup.py", line 175, in local_open
IOError: [Errno 21] Is a directory: u'/Users/darrienland/Documents/BOOKS/new book.epub'

Now, from what I understand, some (or all?) epub files are sort of like zip files? And (when in the home file location) if I right click the epub files that DIDN'T upload to calibre, there is an option under the 'open with' selection to 'show package contents', which I've noticed the ones that DID upload don't have. So I'm assuming the problem lies somewhere in all of that, but the problem is I'm not sure where to go from there.

So what can I do to get these books in calibre, so they can go on my Kindle? Is there a work around?

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

theducks · 04-12-2020, 08:21 PM

Unfortunately you have (created) a directory with an extension.
Yes, that is valid in Linux. Iffy in Windows (and a nightmare when the extension also matches a file type).

You might find that folder using the OS and change or delete the extension (see if there is any useful inside. It may be moot

)

kovidgoyal · 04-12-2020, 10:38 PM

ibooks stores epub files as directories with an .epub extension. I elieve there are some scripts flaoting around to convert these back to actual epub files that you can add to calibre.

saraW · 10-06-2022, 04:29 PM

i can't get my books into calibre - I am dropping them in from apple books and nothing happens. Then I am downloading into a folder and selecting from there and nothing happens but I get a error message? Any help - I am going crazy trying to convert these books so I can put onto my kindle paperwhite.

04-12-2020, 07:58 PM	#1
darrienland Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: kindle fire	Can't upload some epub files into calibre Hey! I'm new to this (any any) forums, so be patient with me please I just found my old Kindle Fire and decided to add some books to it again for the first time since 2014. I used the newest version of Calibre to convert my epub files to mobi, but for some reason only about half of the books I have on my computer will let themselves be properly uploading into the program. When i try and upload the rest I get this message: calibre, version 4.13.0 WARNING: Errors while adding: There were problems adding some files, click "Show details" for more information Failed to add the file /Users/darrienland/Documents/BOOKS/new book.epub to the book: /Users/darrienland/Documents/BOOKS/new book With error: Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/add.py", line 445, in add_formats File "site-packages/calibre/db/cache.py", line 1442, in add_format File "site-packages/calibre/startup.py", line 175, in local_open IOError: [Errno 21] Is a directory: u'/Users/darrienland/Documents/BOOKS/new book.epub' Now, from what I understand, some (or all?) epub files are sort of like zip files? And (when in the home file location) if I right click the epub files that DIDN'T upload to calibre, there is an option under the 'open with' selection to 'show package contents', which I've noticed the ones that DID upload don't have. So I'm assuming the problem lies somewhere in all of that, but the problem is I'm not sure where to go from there. So what can I do to get these books in calibre, so they can go on my Kindle? Is there a work around? Thanks in advance for your time and help!

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04-12-2020, 08:21 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,945 Karma: 55705602 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Unfortunately you have (created) a directory with an extension. Yes, that is valid in Linux. Iffy in Windows (and a nightmare when the extension also matches a file type). You might find that folder using the OS and change or delete the extension (see if there is any useful inside. It may be moot )

04-12-2020, 10:38 PM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,994 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	ibooks stores epub files as directories with an .epub extension. I elieve there are some scripts flaoting around to convert these back to actual epub files that you can add to calibre.

10-06-2022, 04:29 PM	#4
saraW Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2022 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	i can't get my books into calibre - I am dropping them in from apple books and nothing happens. Then I am downloading into a folder and selecting from there and nothing happens but I get a error message? Any help - I am going crazy trying to convert these books so I can put onto my kindle paperwhite.

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