Covers not changing

mocheesehead · 04-13-2011, 01:43 PM

Hello All,

This is my first post. I've been doing eBooks for a couple of years but new to Calibre!

Many of the books I have, have covers that I'd like to change. When I go to "Edit Meta Information" and assign a new cover, it shows up just fine. When I double click the book to view it in the little reader utility it shows the old cover.

How do I delete the old cover and insure that the new cover works?

Thanks,

mocheesehead

user_none · 04-13-2011, 03:37 PM

Changing the metadata in calibre does not change it in the file. Metadata is only written when using: save to disk, send to device or downloadinf using the content server. Since your viewing the book in calibre the metadata changes have not been written to the file. Do note that metadata writing is highly dependent on the format. PDF for instance cannot have a new cover set.

kiwidude · 04-13-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Changing the metadata in calibre does not change it in the file. Metadata is only written when using: save to disk, send to device or downloadinf using the content server.

Doesn't it also get written when converting as well? Since the common remedy to for instance fix an out of date EPUB cover is to just do an EPUB->EPUB conversion...

user_none · 04-13-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwidude

Doesn't it also get written when converting as well? Since the common remedy to for instance fix an out of date EPUB cover is to just do an EPUB->EPUB conversion...

Yes, conversion sets metadata. I knew I was missing some.

mocheesehead · 04-13-2011, 04:41 PM

Thanks for your quick response User!

I should have provided more information. Most of my files are mobi's converted to epubs or just straight epubs. I guess my question is what is the point of being able to edit metadata or covers if it won't save to a file? Shouldn't a warning pop up and say something like, "you are changing "cover". The epub (or mobi) format does not support editing of metadata".

Calibre is a nice piece of software, but if I cannot save metadata / cover edits, it's utility drops significantly.

Thanks again,
mocheesehead

mocheesehead · 04-13-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Yes, conversion sets metadata. I knew I was missing some.

So what your saying is if I edit everything (metadata / covers) in the mobi format, then covert to epub, the changes should stick!

That would be really cool!
Thanks,
mocheesehead

user_none · 04-13-2011, 04:48 PM

Metadata editing can be a very intensive and slow process so calibre only saves the changes to the file when absolutely necessary. Most of the time that means when taking the file out of calibre.

EPUB supports changing the cover. However when you use the viewer it just opens the book within calibre. Since it's not leaving calibre the metadata in the file itself isn't updated.

DoctorOhh · 04-13-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mocheesehead

So what your saying is if I edit everything (metadata / covers) in the mobi format, then covert to epub, the changes should stick!

Yes, editing all of the metadata/covers in calibre prior to conversion will set everything in the ePub just fine.

Janette55 · 04-15-2011, 07:29 PM

I have a question in this area.

I had downloaded books to Calibre, sent them to my reader. Realized that some didn't have covers and so picked some off the internet using the metadata and put new covers on them.

Now, I know that doing so on Calibre doesn't do anything on my reader.

I have downloaded some more books and am fixing the covers before I send them to my reader.

Is there a way I can fix the old covers (from the previous downloads) when I send over the new books? Can I just highlight them and send them again, or will that cause problems?

I guess what I am wondering is, if I send them again, will they "copy" themselves with the new covers?
I am thinking of when you make a change to a document you have saved in word it just overwrites the old one, so does this happen also?

kiwidude · 04-15-2011, 08:06 PM

Provided you haven't changed the book metadata (like giving it a different title/author name) and you haven't adjusted your settings for the device (like setting a different file template path) it should just overwrite the copy on your device.

Janette55 · 04-15-2011, 08:27 PM

nope, haven't done any of that. Only thing I have done is continue to feed my addiction for books by downloading another hundred books, I am now up to 296 (133 for grandkids).

I have changed some of the tags, but that has been it. Sheesh, some of the books had over 10 tags. A bit much, in my opinion. Unless that fits what you are saying, as it is Greek to me.

kiwidude · 04-15-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janette55

nope, haven't done any of that. Only thing I have done is continue to feed my addiction for books by downloading another hundred books, I am now up to 296 (133 for grandkids).

Lucky them

Quote:

I have changed some of the tags, but that has been it. Sheesh, some of the books had over 10 tags. A bit much, in my opinion.

If you want more info on handling tags, there are loads of threads about it. Here is a fairly recently active one from today with some suggestions in it. I would suggest you post in that if you have further questions on that particular topic.

Janette55 · 04-15-2011, 09:21 PM

Thanks,

I get a kick sometimes when I read some of the tags, and I go sheesh, whoever it was was really stretching for that one. Silly,really. Just keep it simple; science fiction, murder, romance, and such.

Thanks for the help.

04-13-2011, 01:43 PM	#1
mocheesehead Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Viewsonic G-Tablet	Covers not changing Hello All, This is my first post. I've been doing eBooks for a couple of years but new to Calibre! Many of the books I have, have covers that I'd like to change. When I go to "Edit Meta Information" and assign a new cover, it shows up just fine. When I double click the book to view it in the little reader utility it shows the old cover. How do I delete the old cover and insure that the new cover works? Thanks, mocheesehead

04-15-2011, 08:27 PM	#11
Janette55 Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 2056 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ohio Device: Sony 900	nope, haven't done any of that. Only thing I have done is continue to feed my addiction for books by downloading another hundred books, I am now up to 296 (133 for grandkids). I have changed some of the tags, but that has been it. Sheesh, some of the books had over 10 tags. A bit much, in my opinion. Unless that fits what you are saying, as it is Greek to me. Last edited by Janette55; 04-15-2011 at 08:32 PM.

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04-13-2011, 03:37 PM	#2
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,488 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	Changing the metadata in calibre does not change it in the file. Metadata is only written when using: save to disk, send to device or downloadinf using the content server. Since your viewing the book in calibre the metadata changes have not been written to the file. Do note that metadata writing is highly dependent on the format. PDF for instance cannot have a new cover set.

04-13-2011, 04:41 PM	#5
mocheesehead Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Viewsonic G-Tablet	Thanks for your quick response User! I should have provided more information. Most of my files are mobi's converted to epubs or just straight epubs. I guess my question is what is the point of being able to edit metadata or covers if it won't save to a file? Shouldn't a warning pop up and say something like, "you are changing "cover". The epub (or mobi) format does not support editing of metadata". Calibre is a nice piece of software, but if I cannot save metadata / cover edits, it's utility drops significantly. Thanks again, mocheesehead

04-13-2011, 04:48 PM	#7
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,488 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	Metadata editing can be a very intensive and slow process so calibre only saves the changes to the file when absolutely necessary. Most of the time that means when taking the file out of calibre. EPUB supports changing the cover. However when you use the viewer it just opens the book within calibre. Since it's not leaving calibre the metadata in the file itself isn't updated.

04-15-2011, 07:29 PM	#9
Janette55 Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 2056 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ohio Device: Sony 900	I have a question in this area. I had downloaded books to Calibre, sent them to my reader. Realized that some didn't have covers and so picked some off the internet using the metadata and put new covers on them. Now, I know that doing so on Calibre doesn't do anything on my reader. I have downloaded some more books and am fixing the covers before I send them to my reader. Is there a way I can fix the old covers (from the previous downloads) when I send over the new books? Can I just highlight them and send them again, or will that cause problems? I guess what I am wondering is, if I send them again, will they "copy" themselves with the new covers? I am thinking of when you make a change to a document you have saved in word it just overwrites the old one, so does this happen also?

04-15-2011, 08:06 PM	#10
kiwidude Calibre Plugins Developer Posts: 4,635 Karma: 2162064 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis	Provided you haven't changed the book metadata (like giving it a different title/author name) and you haven't adjusted your settings for the device (like setting a different file template path) it should just overwrite the copy on your device.

04-15-2011, 09:21 PM	#13
Janette55 Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 2056 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ohio Device: Sony 900	Thanks, I get a kick sometimes when I read some of the tags, and I go sheesh, whoever it was was really stretching for that one. Silly,really. Just keep it simple; science fiction, murder, romance, and such. Thanks for the help.