How to Import JWPUB files from JW.org into JW Library using Workflow
It’s hard to believe we’ve been enjoying the JW Library app since October 2013. I still think of it as a new app. Yet considering how many nice updates the app has received, we can appreciate how far it’s come. Along the way, JW Library gained the ability to import its own JWPUB formatted files. These seem to be a version of the popular EPUB format made to work specifically with JW Library. But the question remained, where do you get these JWPUB files?
The answer is from jw.org. But it’s not as obvious as you might think. Hidden in the source code of each individual publication page resides the link to the JWPUB version of the file. Once you’ve got this link, you can download and open the file in JW Library for iOS. Or you might want to share this file with other friends, bible students, or return visits to open right in their JW Library app. We’ve built a workflow that will allow you to do just that.
If you’re a regular reader of AppChasers.com you know we love the automation app called Workflow. You can read all about what it does in our full video review here. Simply put, Workflow let’s you automate many actions on your iPhone or iPad. In this case we want to automate the process of finding the JWPUB link on the publication page, download it, and then share or open the file in JW Library. Here is a workflow we’ve built to do just that. If you already have the Workflow app installed on your iPad simply download this workflow link and you’ll be ready to go.
After getting the workflow at the above link, head on over to jw.org and navigate to a specific publication’s page. That means you need to be on the page of a magazine, brochure or book. The workflow will not work from the “PUBLICATIONS” menu page. Once on the individual page, tap on the Safari share button. Here you will see an option called “Run Workflow”. If you don’t see Workflow available, scroll all the way to the right, tap “More” and enable Workflow. Tap “Run Workflow” and then choose the “Download JWPUB” workflow from the list. This will begin the process of automatically finding the JWPUB file and downloading it. You will then see the option to share the file or Copy to JW Library. Choose either option you want. In our findings, sharing via iMessage doesn’t allow the recipient to open the file. But sharing via email worked perfectly. If you choose Copy to JW Library the file will be imported into the app and will be listed in your downloaded publications tab.
I’ve found importing JWPUB files to be a really easy way to work with multiple language files in JW Library. This is also a nice option if you want to quickly search for a publication or subject on jw.org and then immediately open it with JW Library for offline use. Let me know if you find this workflow helpful or if you have any questions in the comments below.
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January 18, 2017 @ 9:21 pm
Hi thanks for all you do! I realize currently JW Library is device dependent. Wondering if there is a workflow to make things I highlight on one device translate to all my apple devices in this app?
March 8, 2017 @ 5:05 am
Hello
I tried to download the Watchtower from e-pub to PDF, as you did, with File Converter. It would not convert, or download the magazine. I thought I followed your video to the “T”, but evidently I did something wrong or omitted something. Any help?
May 31, 2017 @ 7:25 am
Hi,
Is there anyway using workflow to download Chinese Simplified mandarin pinyin publications into the jw library app?
May 31, 2017 @ 8:50 am
Hi Annette, not that I have found. I don’t think pinyin JWPub files are available yet. I would love to find a way too, as I’m in the Chinese field as well.
May 31, 2017 @ 5:33 pm
Thanks for your response. I am currently using the Equip app for pinyin publications. Since you are also in the Chinese field, do you have any other suggestions?
May 31, 2017 @ 5:36 pm
Thanks for your response. I am currently using the Equipd app for pinyin publications. Since you are also in the Chinese field, do you have any other suggestions
October 4, 2017 @ 10:38 am
Thank you for all your hard work!
I received a jwpub file from my CO, and cannot open it into jwapp., on ios. Any suggestions..?
(Workflows needs it to be taken from jw.org, but I received my pioneer book by email.
Thank you for your help!
October 4, 2017 @ 10:42 am
Hi. In this case you do not need the Workflow app. From within your Mail app you should be able to choose the Share button and then choose open in JW Library.
October 4, 2017 @ 10:47 am
Thanks for your prompt reply!
Actually, that’s the problem, jw app doesn’t appear in the dialogue box. I have checked my settings, and Everything seems okay. I was just wondering if that happened to anyone else before and hiw to fix it.
October 4, 2017 @ 11:06 am
This seems to be a limitation of Apple’s Mail app. If you use another email app (I recommend Spark) you’ll be able to open the file into JW Library without a problem.
November 10, 2017 @ 12:18 am
Yes same here. After I run workflow ‘he pp does not appear. I have tried everything
November 10, 2017 @ 12:19 am
Sorry. I mean jw app
November 24, 2017 @ 12:05 pm
I am trying to download a brochure into JW Library such as ‘the good land’. I have ‘run workflow’ on my share list. And I have the ‘download jw pub’ widget but every time I try to do a workflow and press ‘download jw pub’ a box pops up ….’no URL specified’ I don’t understand. I have watched the video and followed all instructions.
November 26, 2017 @ 8:51 am
Hi Barb. Thank you for the question. I’m wondering if the reason is that there is no JWPUB version available for the Good Land brochure.
November 28, 2017 @ 9:14 pm
Well it’s happening a lot to me. I even just tried to put chapter 21 of the kingdom rule book through workflow into JW Library. Also every time I try to get a page into JW Library it says ‘no URL specified’
November 29, 2017 @ 6:32 am
Dear brother,
Thank you for what you do. I received a link (as an image) for downloading the book for pioneer school that I will attend. I downloaded the workflow and add it as a choice for type of downloading. I have the message “No URL specified. Make sure to pass a URL to the Get content of URL action.” I wood save so much time with book in JW Library.
December 2, 2017 @ 11:19 am
Ok thank you for the reply. Let me see.
December 2, 2017 @ 11:22 am
Thanks so much for letting me know. Let me see. Maybe I need to update the workflow.
December 2, 2017 @ 3:27 pm
Thanks. Please let me know when the update will be done. Actually, I use iBook to prepare the school but it would be good tu use JW Library .
December 7, 2017 @ 1:57 pm
Hello. I want send to my friend publication from jw library but i cant find it on jw.org. How export my publications from JW Library app? (Publication it-P).
December 24, 2017 @ 2:09 am
I’m often serving where there is little or no wireless reception so I have been trying to find a way to download jwpub files to be able to share with RV’s. I tried your workflow on a friends iPad but I wonder if you can share the process, so I might be able to do it on android or PC.
I tried to manually view source code and replace the text in the link like the workflow but I must be missing something.
January 2, 2018 @ 12:07 am
Hi. Thanks for asking the question. Yes I just found the links to Jwpub files within the source code.
January 2, 2018 @ 12:08 am
Hello. I don’t think there is a way to do that. Which publication is it that’s not on JW.org or wol.jw.org?
January 5, 2018 @ 3:34 am
Is the workflow app only for iPad? What about android device
January 6, 2018 @ 8:45 am
Workflow is not available on anything but Apple products.
March 17, 2018 @ 9:35 am
I am also getting the “No URL specified “ message. Today is March 17th. Will you be updating your workflow soon? Thanks.