[GUI Plugin] KindleUnpack - The Plugin

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by PeterT

This plugin will work with either the calibre beta (QT5) or production (QT4) versions.

Are you addressing Jon as to the intentions for this beta-version?
Or are you proclaiming it so through personal experimentation?

[PeterT]

I was attempting to address Jon. Sorry I should have made that more clear....

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I was attempting to address Jon. Sorry I should have made that more clear....

Darn! I was hoping for the other (or both).

[PeterT]

Sigh... suppose I should install a portable version of calibre and see how all these new toys work.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Sigh... suppose I should install a portable version of calibre and see how all these new toys work.

I probably tested it enough for both of us if you want to sit this one out.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I probably tested it enough for both of us if you want to sit this one out.

I installed and on initial tests all seems good.

[crich70]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but is there a way to shrink the size of a file after using Kindle Unpack on it? I unpacked a Kindle file that wouldn't work as is on my Kindle (bought from Mobipocket yrs ago) and the HTML file I got as a result is 89 MB in size. It's a bit large to try to make a epub out of it and I have no idea how to convert it to work like it should for reading.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by crich70

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but is there a way to shrink the size of a file after using Kindle Unpack on it? I unpacked a Kindle file that wouldn't work as is on my Kindle (bought from Mobipocket yrs ago) and the HTML file I got as a result is 89 MB in size. It's a bit large to try to make a epub out of it and I have no idea how to convert it to work like it should for reading.

KindleUnpack strives hard to stick to an "Only What's In There" approach. If you're getting a single 89Mb html file out of KindleUnpack, then almost assuredly, an 89Mb html file was given to Kindlegen/mobigen/mobipocket-creator to create that Kindlebook in the first place.

"Shrinking" such a file is not what you want to do. If you want to create an ePub out of it (and KindleUnpack should have created an epub already--regardless of how large the html file is), your best bet will be using calibre's book-edit, or Sigil to split the html file into smaller, logical sections or "chapters."

Hope something there helps.

[shotsky]

I use Calibre to convert from various ebook formats to 'htmlz' at this point, which is the only way I know of to get all the html files into a single file. Unfortunately, Calibre replaces a lot of classes with its own made up classes, which 'breaks' the meaning of various existing classes. All I really need is one single html file, unmodified, and the photos. The htmlz export joins the files, but it converts the classes as well, even though there is no need to do so.
I've just installed the KindleUnpack plugin, and it does exactly what I need - merge the html files into one file, without using Calibre's conversion routines, which renames classes from whatever they were to 'calibexx', which causes a loss of the original class names.
The only problem I still have is that I need the same feature for Epub files. Would it be impossible to add that as an import format?
What would be even better would be to add a 'unpack' feature to Calibre itself, which would take any input format, merge the html files, and provide a zipped output.
So, my three most important needs are:
1. Merge the html files into a single file
2. Not change or rename classes.
3. Run from the command line.
Thanks!

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by shotsky

I've just installed the KindleUnpack plugin, and it does exactly what I need - merge the html files into one file, without using Calibre's conversion routines, which renames classes from whatever they were to 'calibexx', which causes a loss of the original class names.

Be warned: KindleUnpack does not "merge" html files into one file. The older mobi formats (and KF8 Kindlebooks that were created with single html files) will produce one single html file when KindleUnpack runs. But rest assured, if multiple html files (either on their own, or within an epub) were used to create a newer KF8 Kindlebook (with either kindlegen or calibre), multiple html files will be the result when KindleUnpack encounters them.

The only problem I still have is that I need the same feature for Epub files. Would it be impossible to add that as an import format?

KindleUnpack is designed to allow users to study/tweak the internal structures of Kindlebook (MOBI, PRC, KF8, Print Replica) formats. It only produces an ePub as a convenience (and because is it is becoming increasingly more likely that an ePub was used to create the Kindlebook to begin with). I don't think it very likely that the KindleUnpack plugin will ever allow users to select ePubs from their calibre libraries to manipulate. That's just not what it's for.

What would be even better would be to add a 'unpack' feature to Calibre itself, which would take any input format, merge the html files, and provide a zipped output.
So, my three most important needs are:
1. Merge the html files into a single file
2. Not change or rename classes.
3. Run from the command line.
Thanks!

I wish you luck with that. A plugin should certainly be able to do something like that. You might want to post something in the "Plugin Ideas" sticky thread and see if you can drum up any support/development.

[JSWolf]

There are programs available to merge HTML files into one HTML files. Google is your friend.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by shotsky

I use Calibre to convert from various ebook formats to 'htmlz' at this point, which is the only way I know of to get all the html files into a single file. Unfortunately, Calibre replaces a lot of classes with its own made up classes, which 'breaks' the meaning of various existing classes. All I really need is one single html file, unmodified, and the photos. The htmlz export joins the files, but it converts the classes as well, even though there is no need to do so.
I've just installed the KindleUnpack plugin, and it does exactly what I need - merge the html files into one file, without using Calibre's conversion routines, which renames classes from whatever they were to 'calibexx', which causes a loss of the original class names.
The only problem I still have is that I need the same feature for Epub files. Would it be impossible to add that as an import format?
What would be even better would be to add a 'unpack' feature to Calibre itself, which would take any input format, merge the html files, and provide a zipped output.
So, my three most important needs are:
1. Merge the html files into a single file
2. Not change or rename classes.
3. Run from the command line.
Thanks!

A manual way of doing this would be:

- Open the ePub in the calibre editor
- Select all the HTML files
- Right click on them and select "Merge selected text files"
- Press OK when prompted
- Save the changes and close the editor
- Change the file extension to HTMLZ
- Open the file with your favourite zip file manager and remove the extra files

The only issue I can think of is the stylesheets. If there are multiple stylesheets in the epub, they will probably all be referenced in the final HTML file. But, if there are duplicate selectors across the stylesheets, the final result could be interesting. And that is the reason calibre does the renaming.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

KindleUnpack strives hard to stick to an "Only What's In There" approach. If you're getting a single 89Mb html file out of KindleUnpack, then almost assuredly, an 89Mb html file was given to Kindlegen/mobigen/mobipocket-creator to create that Kindlebook in the first place.

"Shrinking" such a file is not what you want to do. If you want to create an ePub out of it (and KindleUnpack should have created an epub already--regardless of how large the html file is), your best bet will be using calibre's book-edit, or Sigil to split the html file into smaller, logical sections or "chapters."

Hope something there helps.

Thanks for the ideas DiapDealer.

[Sesselmann]

Hi,
I've come to realize that the KindleUnpack Icon always vanishes
after a few seconds (see attached video) eventhough the plugin works
(If you're fast enugh).
Does anyone know why?

kind regards,
Sesselmann

Edit: I've now found out that it vanishes, after calibre mounts my kindle.
So I'm not sure if this really is a KindleUnpack bug.
Since i'm new to calibre so: Should I report this somewhere else and if "yes",
where (I'm talking about the vanishing of button(s) after mounting the kindle)?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Sesselmann

Hi,
I've come to realize that the KindleUnpack Icon always vanishes
after a few seconds (see attached video) eventhough the plugin works
(If you're fast enugh).
Does anyone know why?

kind regards,
Sesselmann

Edit: I've now found out that it vanishes, after calibre mounts my kindle.
So I'm not sure if this really is a KindleUnpack bug.
Since i'm new to calibre so: Should I report this somewhere else and if "yes",
where (I'm talking about the vanishing of button(s) after mounting the kindle)?

Calibre has separate toolbars for when there is and isn't a device attached. You clearly only have KindleUnpack displaying on the toolbar without a device attached.