Easy Creation of Your Own Kindle 3 Documents

I've just started using my new Kindle 3, and one use I plan for it is to contain documents of information I find useful. Since the keyboard leaves something to be desired for any volume of text entry, I prefer to create these documents in my desktop PC and then copy them to the Kindle.

Since I use OpenOffice (now LibreOffice), it is very easy to save documents as PDFs with full formatting and typographic control. Since the default PDF display is fit-to-screen, I wanted to determine the "paper" dimensions that would display fonts the same size they are on my PC screen. I found that 3.3" x 4.4" with 0.1" margins does the job.

Do you have a different approach for creating documents that are easy to make and look good?

Lane

That's helpful for others to provide the page dimensions like that.

So far the only personal docs that I've put on my Kindle are text files. I haven't needed any fancy formatting because they're things like lists, driving directions, address and phone numbers, etc. Text is really the easiest and best way to do it if all you need is the info and not a specific page design.

You could also try creating a normal document in your word processor and have Amazon convert it for you. That ideally should preserve any text formatting, such as italics, while allowing you to adjust font size, highlight, etc. But since I don't know exactly what types of docs you're making, it's hard to say how well that will work. You could try it with a couple of them and see if it ends up being preferable to using a PDF.

For document conversion by Amazon how it's sent will depend on if you pay a fee or not. If you use the @free.kindle.com you will get a link back in email to download the converted doc to your computer. Then you can transfer it over via USB.

If you have access to wifi, my understanding is that you can download it over wifi directly to your Kindle for free using the above method instead of having to manually transfer. Someone who has actually done it can correct me if I'm wrong.

If you send the file for conversion to @kindle.com it will be sent to your Kindle wirelessly and a charge of 15 cents per MB (rounded up) is charged.

All I do is create a doc file and save it as a web page, then email it to my Kindle email address. Formatting comes through fine. If I want hard page breaks, I insert them where I want them. The documents display in whatever font size I have selected on my Kindle.

@ Lane

Your PDF's will not be searchable on the Kindle. If you have a K3, you will have the "Enhanced PDF Reader - With dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights", though. So if that's OK and preferable to the results you get with conversion, good on ya.

BTW & FYI, the chiclet keyboard is only one reason not to think of composing documents on the Kindle; -- the primary one is that there is NO word processor. The only work-around for maybe jotting off a note or list when K's the only thing you have, is to annotate a pre-existing document (or book). That note will be viewable from the document (Menu/my notes and bookmarks) and appended to the MyClippings.txt file in the Kindle. Some people have prepared for wanting to do this by sideloading a blank .txt file or e-mailing their kindle a blank .doc file... title it To-Do or Notes, whatever.

There are two free programs --Calibre and Mobipocket Creator-- which will convert your Html, .doc, etc. files into Kindle formatted 'books'. These are better than pdf's because they are font scalable, searchable, dictionary-able, and can be read out loud to you via the Text-to-Speach function. You can include internal graphics, cover art, and TOC.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread (and those who will in the future). You've given me some good options to consider.

Lane

In pursuing some of the ideas above, I've been looking at Amazon help pages. The ones about document recognition and conversions all have "(1st Generation) sprinkled throughout. Does that mean "all version from the beginning" or "only the original version"? In other words, is there a different list of compatibilities for my Kindle 3? The help says:
The following file formats can be converted via e-mail for viewing on Kindle (1st Generation):
* Microsoft Word (.DOC)
* Structured HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
* RTF (.RTF)
* JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
* GIF (.GIF)
* PNG (.PNG)
* BMP (.BMP)
And as experimental, PDF and DOCX files.

Lane

I'm a bit confused by the emailing thing. Based on the previous response, I assume your method invokes the conversion fee by being sent to yourname@kindle.com, rather than yourname@free.kindle.com. Or do you use the latter address?

Lane

I've used the e-mail function to send .doc & .pdf files to my Kindle. It works great! I've found I use it to carry documents I may need for meetings - saves printing a bunch of stuff out and the Kindle is much lighter and easier to carry around than my laptop.

If you have the wi-fi only version of the Kindle there is no charge. You send the docs via e-mail to xxxx@kindle.com.

If you have the Wi-fi + 3G version there will be a charge if the document is sent over the 3G network.

Here's a link from the Amazon Help section the describes sending documents http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200505520&#email

And here's the pertinent paragraphs:

In general, send personal documents to your "name"@free.kindle.com address to wirelessly transfer personal documents to your Kindle over Wi-Fi as well as to the e-mail address associated with your http://Amazon.com account at no charge.

If you are not able to connect your Kindle via Wi-Fi, send your documents to your "name"@kindle.com address. The files will be sent to your Kindle over Wi-Fi if available. If Wi-Fi is not available, the files will be sent via 3G for a small fee.

No, I get no conversion fee. I have the K3 wifi. I just email it without "free" in the address and moments later it shows up on my Kindle looking just like the books I download. I had to enter my regular email address on the "manage your kindle" page so the Kindle would accept incoming email from me. Then I just send it to somebody@kindle.com (well, not really that address, but you get the idea). The coverting part must be that I'm saving the file as web page, not a doc, when preparing to send it. My word program offers two types of web page savings -- the one that says "single web page" doesnt' work. It's the option that just says "web page". I also save the file single spaced and I reset the tabs by clearing all labs and entering a new tab setting of 0.01". I've found that tabs I would use on paper indent too much when seen on the Kindle screen.

Somebody, have you included any graphics in your personal documents?

I've tried but it didn't work. I wanted to put some family photos in it in a doc I was going to email to a friend who also has a Kindle. The photos would show up in the Word program, but not on the Kindle. I'd love to learn how to add them if it's not too technical.

I have done this with MobiCreator. It takes an html file with formatting, pictures. etc. and creates a ".PRC" file (which you can change to mobi if you prefer), and that keeps all the pictures you added.

If I had to transmit photos, I'd upload them to my flickr.com account. Flickr (and probably every other online photo site) will give you a URL that you can imbed as a link in your kindle document. You should get a clickable link in your document that will load the photo in the kindle's browser, and you could just hit the Back button to get back to your document. Flickr can give you two types of links, one which loads the photo with a lot of Flickr headers, but you can also get a link that only loads the photograph with no other headers (I'd prefer this type of link).

Once I went to the page to get MobiCreator after seeing people praise it here. It looked way too complicated for a technophobe like me. I also don't know a thing about PRC or mobi files. Does that format have to be manipulated by Amazon to be readable on the Kindle?

Thanks Somebody and Paxton. I don't have a Windows computer but perhaps Mobi Creator will work for Somebody.

Somebody, .mobi and .prc are supported by Kindle directly. I download books from non-Amazon sites and choose the .mobi file format. Then I just drag it to the Kindle's documents folder. (Actually, I used to do that; now I send it via Wi-Fi.)

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

I've sent two pdfs to xxx@kindle.com and they were wirelessly downloaded to my K3 on WiFi. No charge when using WiFi and no need to send it to free.kindle.com. I've also used Calibre to send them as well. Both work fine and the pdfs are readable.

There is no conversion fee. (Go figure!!)
The only fee is for cellular-network ("3G") sending of either straight-through or converted documents.

If you have a WiFi-only K3 it doesn't matter which address you use.

If you have a 3G Kindle, send to @kindle.com, and the file is delivered by WiFi, it supposedly is free, BUT if your WiFi kicks out (or you wander away from it) and the 3G kicks in, you will be charged. So use @free.kindle.com unless you are prepared to be charged. It's not much anyway (in the states) -- $0.15/Mb.

@ Lane 6:00 AM
There are three (or four, maybe one for DX's as well) versions of that page. You've brought up the 1st generation one. Here is Latest Gen one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200505520&#email

which reads:
"Personal Documents

Kindle's Personal Document Service allows you to e-mail the following approved file types to your Kindle's e-mail address:

* Microsoft Word (.DOC)
* HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
* RTF (.RTF)
* JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
* GIF (.GIF)
* PNG (.PNG)
* BMP (.BMP)
* PDF (.PDF): See below for details. [with or w/o CONVERT as subject]
* Microsoft Word (.DOCX) is supported in our experimental category.

The above file types can also be combined in a compressed ZIP (.ZIP) file. ZIP files are automatically opened up by the conversion service, converted to the Kindle format, and sent to your Kindle or computer as specified. Some complex PDF and DOCX files might not format correctly on your Kindle."

I believe you can also e-mail any non-conversion-needed document file types to your Kindle:
Documents: Kindle (.AZW, .AZW1). Text (.TXT), Unprotected Mobipocket (.MOBI, .PRC)

and that .TXT can be either converted or not, like PDF... but I haven't tested this.

Aha, I understand what is going on now. I am using the free address for my dx, so it does not go to my dx because it is not wifi, it sends me an email so I can get my file from amazon and transfer it to my kindle.

I am trying to put documents on my kindle and am very confused at this point. My dx is 3g only and my k3 is both.

I remember at one point dragging text files to my dx and having them work but for some reason it isn't working now. I am using rich text format, I must have used regular text before.

Right, TXT works either "straight" or converted. RTF must be converted. Drag the [.AZW] copies you get back from Amazon to the DX.

Hi All,
I'm downloading Mobi-pocket creator as I type. I live in an area that - yes, it's really true - doesn't receive wi-fi. Thus I must transfer Kindle books from Amazon, Gutenburg, etc, to Kindle via usb. I'm assuming this is also possible with M.P Creator?

Thanks.

Lane, you may find this thread helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_search_res_ti?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdMsgNo=10&cdPage=1&cdSort=oldest&cdThread=Tx61DOA0GYBCV7&cdMsgID=Mx2T1R1H9TPOZNB#Mx2T1R1H9TPOZNB

(Amazon thread relevant to the discussion)

The short answer is that it is different on the K1 and subsequent Kindles, since the later ones can display pdfs without conversion. That doesn't exactly change your list, but it does change the approach.

Bufo Calvin
Amazon Author Central page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002E0NBIW