Archive for the ‘how to convert pdf for kindle’ tag
Kindle PDF Conversion: How to Convert PDFs for the Amazon Kindle
Now that the Amazon Kindle DX has released, Amazon no longer has to answer thousands of questions about Kindle PDF incompatibility. Except that the older Kindle 2 still has to native PDF reader. If you want to view a PDF on your Kindle 2, you still have to convert it. Initially, this could be done through Amazon which can convert the files for a small charge. E-mail them the PDF and they e-mail you back the converted file. But all those little charges can add up and many people wanted something different. Most were even willing to do the conversions themselves. While it isn’t completely flawless, there are programs that allow you to do this conversion.
One thing you should know about the Kindle is that while it does not recognize PDF files, it can read PRC files. So what we’re essentially doing here is to convert the original documents into files that are recognized by the device. If you’re using a PC, the Mobipocket Creator is one of the programs that you can use for the conversion process, while if you’re Mac user, you can use Stanza. The end result is the same.
For the PC, the full version of Mobipocket Creator makes the conversion fairly straightforward. Simply open the program and go to the import file option. Select your PDF that you wish to convert for use on your Kindle. Select the HTML file it creates and click the build option. It may take some time depending on the size of the PDF, but it will eventually give you the file format you need. You can ignore any errors that pop up along the conversion process. While the file will not be perfect, it lacks a table of contents for instance, you will still be able to view a legible version of it on your Kindle.
If you are on a Mac, Stanza makes the process even easier. Simply find your file in the database and choose the Export Book As option. You will see that Amazon Kindle is one of the conversion choices.
You should note that these file conversions are not always perfect. As stated earlier, you will not get a table of contents standard with the conversion. The program comes with the option to create one, however. If your PDF is large or you need it to be properly organized, it might be worth your time to build a table of contents yourself. You may also experience some clunky conversion sectors, but they shouldn’t make the document illegible. If everything goes smoothly, you should end up with a readable Kindle PDF document.
Of course, you could always take that option of having your files converted by Amazon, but if you have numerous files, this could cost some, and there’s also the waiting time to consider. If you want to just go ahead and do the conversion yourself, Mobipocket and Stanza are just two of the programs you can use. There may be other conversion tools that you can find if you take the time to find them. The important thing is that you will be able to do your Kindle PDF conversion to make the most of your device.