Transferring Notes From Kindle for PC Between Machines

This is a huge huge huge thing for me.  Between acting as a publisher and as an eBook converter, I often have clients, editors, and authors who proof digital copies.  They frequently have to send me the corrections back in a separate text file or e-mail message… and it’s a pain. Hell, the only reason that I keep Microsoft Word around is due to the comments functionality. (LibreOffice – you caught up on that yet?)

However, if you are using a DRM-Free book, it’s quite easy to transfer your notes.

Please note – I am using Kindle for PC (Windows version) here.  I run it in a virtual machine on my linux box;  most of my clients and authors run Windows, so that’s what this guide focuses on.  Click to embiggen pictures.

First, make sure you are showing hidden files. You’ll simply move the .mobi file to My Kindle Content – and when you make notes (or highlights) it will create a file with the same name but a .mbp extension.

Then, it’s as simple as sending both files (and you can probably get away with just the MBP file) to the other person, and they’ll see your notes throughout the book:

BDAOW. No confusion, no muss, no fuss.

I’m sure there’s a way to get the MDP file from a Kindle and/or (unlocked) phone; if anyone has guides to that, it’d be vastly appreciated.

2 thoughts on “Transferring Notes From Kindle for PC Between Machines

  1. Steve, if I may ask, what virtualware are you using? I'm going to have the bite the bullet and install something on my main Linux box too (I only have one Windows machine and I hates it, hates it my precioussssssssssssss!) but was worried about a performance hit.

    Have you tried Calligra Author yet?

  2. Oracle VM; whichever version runs on Ubuntu 10.04. I've used free and nonfree versions, and they're essentially the same.

    I don't often run it – and it's a very, very stripped down version of XP, with hardly anything on it except for what I absolutely have to use it for. (That said, I find using Guest Additions and shared folders to be absolutely essential… so I can keep it as minimal as possible.)

    I've not tried Calligra – hadn't heard of it – but I'm more of a GTK boy. I might try it out later this year; it'll just have to be when I have a chance to deal with a change in workflow.

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