Hi there,

a few questions from an ignoramus here

I have a Kobo, which I love! Before my Kobo even arrived, I had downloaded some magazines to put on it from a website (can't remember the name of it sorry). I also downloaded Calibre, on the recommendations of some EB posts. The trouble is - I don't know how to use it properly! I have the magazines in Calibre waiting for me to put on my Kobo but I can't figure out how to do it.

The Kobo desktop application seems really basic and you can't seem to import any files into it (which makes sense if they just want you to buy THEIR ebooks).

A friend of mine has also just bought a Kindle, and we were hoping we would be able to share books between us. How do we do this?

I realise what I am asking may not be 'legit' so feel free to PM me if you like

You may just have to talk me through it step by step

Thanks so much for any help.

Okay, for sending files from Calibre to your Kobo:

1. Make sure the files are in a Kobo-friendly format.
PDF is apparently Kobo-friendly (Kindles can read them, too), but you might find EPUB an easier format to read. Right click on the book/file on the Calibre home screen, select 'Convert e-book' and follow the prompts. Don't bother changing any of the settings except for where it asks you what brand of ereader you've got.

2. Plug your ereader into your computer.
It should have come with a USB cord. If you leave Calibre on the screen and watch it, an extra icon should appear in the row of big icons up the top of the window.

3. Send the files to your Kobo.
Right-click on the file you want to transfer and choose:
Send to Device -> Send Specific Format To -> Main Memory.
A window will pop up and you can choose which format (PDF or EPUB) you want to send over.
If you've only got the one format, use Send to Device -> Send to Main Memory.

4. Start reading.

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Kindles don't read EPUBs, but Calibre can convert EPUB files to MOBI files (which is what they need). Just follow the same steps as in #1.

I'm not sure how juggling more than one ereader in the same instance of Calibre works, but after you convert the files, you can copy them to a flash drive or burn them to a disc and your friend can just download their own instance of Calibre. Just highlight the ones you want, right click, choose 'Save to Disk' and follow the prompts.

If the books you've got are DRM-protected, you won't be able to convert them. Calibre only does legal conversions.

HTH.

Also going to add that Calibre also won't be able to 'read' DRM books either.

I have a sony eReader. When I connect it to my PC, the sony software automatically pops up. So I just close the Sony Software and open my Calibre.

You can also copy items off your reader into calibre.

So I purchase books (which automatically get downloaded into my Sony library). Put them on the Sony Reader then open Calibre and put them on Calibre, organise the books and then re-import them onto the Sony.

As PP have said and also, with my Kobo, for it to 'register' on my computer, when I plug it into the USB, I have to choose the option 'Manage Books' for it to pop up as a device that has been found.

I use Calibre for my non DRM ebooks and I use Adobe Editions for ebooks with DRM. Very easy. I love it.

I use Calibre with DS1s Kindle. LOVE IT!!!

I type up DS1s readers from school in Open Office, save them, convert them with Calibre and then just copy the MOBI file to the Kindle.

Thanks for the help everyone. Silentmoose - you have been particularily helpful and have taken all the mystery out of Calibre for me