CalibreSoftware for the eBook obsessed

Introduction

I was in a meeting recently and a colleague asked how to download and print a Kindle eBook. (Don’t question it, just go with the flow.)When I started to explain the procedure, the group members clutched their heads in collective agony and asked me to put it in writing. That initiative became this presentation.I use Windows 7 so if you are working in an awesome Mac or Windows 8 environment, these steps might not work for you.

Converting eBooks with Calibre

There are three things you need to do this procedure: Amazon Kindle software for your PC. Calibre software. An eBook

I’m assuming you’ve already downloaded and installed the software. I’m looking for an excuse to buy a new eBook, so I’ll show how you can purchase one.

Purchase an eBook for your Kindle

Be sure you have the book sent to your Kindle for PC. Sometimes (especially if the book has multi-media elements in it) this option won’t be available. If it is not available, that means the Kindlebook can only be viewed on an iOS or Android device. Sorry.

Open the Kindle for PC app and make sure your eBook is there

My book!

Find the Kindle File

It should be in the My Kindle Content folder.

The file name will be a gobbeldygook alphabet soup name.

Look for an .azw file and sort by date to see when you downloaded it.

Launch Calibre

Drag that .azw file into Calibre

Behold! Your file is in Calibre!

Notice that in the thumbnail for the eBook there is a Formats listing. Notice that it only has AZW3 listed in the Format section. This is the Amazon format. We want it in .pdf format for printing, right? Right!

Convert books!

Make sure the appropriate eBook file is selected and click Convert individually from the sub-menu.

Select the Conversion Format

As you can see, there are a lot of supported formats. I suggest selecting the .pdf file format because that’s easiest to print.

Click OK and you are good to go.

Behold! Your converted file!

The new formats are now listed. Click the Click to open option by the Path heading, and it opens a folder where the eBook files are stored.

There is your .pdf ready for printing!