converting to any format from epub always uses epub_original if present?

arpeggioaccele · 10-22-2023, 06:33 PM

My process of making pdfs from epub files is to convert the epub to epub first, so that I can save a copy of the original epub in case I mess up.

But when I convert to pdf, calibre tries to use the epub_original file, which doesn't have any of the edits I've made.

I feel like I'm missing a easy step to select the right epub to convert from, but I can't figure it out. Input format only lets you select epub, not epub or epub_original.

My fix right now is to open the folder and temporarily move the epub_original file to desktop.

kovidgoyal · 10-22-2023, 10:00 PM

There is a atweak in Preferences->Tweaks to control this

fogice · 10-23-2023, 09:11 AM

Thanks for asking this question, arpeggioaccele! This behavior had bothered me as well, but I wasn't aware of the Tweaks section, so I just put up with it. Now to find out what other cool things live in Tweaks...

JSWolf · 10-23-2023, 01:01 PM

Is there an option to not use original_format when it exists? For example, if I polish and then polish again, I lose the first polish as it's used the original_format instead of non-original version.

BetterRed · 10-23-2023, 05:59 PM

If I get the result I want from the action that created the ORIGINAL_XXXX I Remove it, otherwise I Restore it.

If I want to retain the real original (i.e. what I downloaded with original file name, unwanted embedded metadata etc) I store it in the book's 'data' folder.

BR

arpeggioaccele · 10-24-2023, 12:59 AM

Thanks! Looking back I also did EPUB -> HTMLZ -> PDF lol

Edit: Does anyone know which tweak changes the behavior?

Wait I think I found it:

Quote:

save_original_format = True

save_original_format_when_polishing = False

arpeggioaccele · 10-29-2023, 02:07 AM

Actually I don't believe the tweak is what I was looking for. Now I'm trying to convert a pdf to be inverted colors, so I had to edit the epub to get rid of any defined colors. However, when converting calibre still is using original_epub with the tweak set as I posted above.

Still have to move the original_epub somewhere else.

kovidgoyal · 10-29-2023, 03:44 AM

Once you set save_original_format = False no more original_EPUB will be created, just delete the existing ones and you will be fine.

arpeggioaccele · 11-04-2023, 12:35 PM

I wanted to keep the original_EPUB as a backup. Thanks for the info though!

JSWolf · 11-04-2023, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Once you set save_original_format = False no more original_EPUB will be created, just delete the existing ones and you will be fine.

Can you please build in a way to not use the original_EPUB and just leave it be unless I restore or delete it? If I was to polish and then want to polish again, I would be using the original_EPUB for the second polish (losing the changes in the first polish) when what I want is to keep the original ePub until I'm done making changes and can then delete the original_EPUB.

BetterRed · 11-04-2023, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpeggioaccele

I wanted to keep the original_EPUB as a backup. Thanks for the info though!

Copy it to the book's data folder and then remove it.

@Kovid - Suggestion: option to move a format file to the data folder, with timestamp prepended to file name.

BR

arpeggioaccele · 11-05-2023, 09:16 PM

That's what I've been doing, in essence— I move the original_EPUB file somewhere else, then just do the conversion and Calibre has no choice but to use the EPUB file.

Then I can just move the original_EPUB back, without having to delete it or copy it.

So the data folder solution really doesn't simplify the process. I was just wondering if I could avoid moving stuff around and just ask Calibre to ignore the original_EPUB file.

BetterRed · 11-05-2023, 10:40 PM

If the epub->epub convert worked to your satisfaction why do you want to retain the ORIGINAL_EPUB in the book folder?

BR

arpeggioaccele · 11-07-2023, 12:34 PM

I retain the original_epub as an archive.

I have found sometimes that I decide that I had removed too much formatting, or I simply want to see how the epub looked originally. In that case, I still have the original file to use.

But regardless of my intentions, I only wanted to know if there was a setting so I could skip the process of moving the original_epub file manually.

The calibre convert menu allows you to choose which file you want to convert from and does not tell you it will use original_EPUB. It only specifies EPUB, so logically I thought it would use the EPUB that I had edited.

DNSB · 11-07-2023, 02:20 PM

I suspect the logic there is if you are converting a book that was already converted, you have hooped the converted copy and want to start from the beginning.

Personally, since calibre copies the ebook into the library leaving the original copy in place, I keep the original copy as my fallback if the fan gets splattered.

10-22-2023, 06:33 PM	#1
arpeggioaccele light mode user Posts: 66 Karma: 16268 Join Date: May 2023 Location: New England Device: I use the Calibre ebook-viewer on macos and Apple Books on ios.	converting to any format from epub always uses epub_original if present? My process of making pdfs from epub files is to convert the epub to epub first, so that I can save a copy of the original epub in case I mess up. But when I convert to pdf, calibre tries to use the epub_original file, which doesn't have any of the edits I've made. I feel like I'm missing a easy step to select the right epub to convert from, but I can't figure it out. Input format only lets you select epub, not epub or epub_original. My fix right now is to open the folder and temporarily move the epub_original file to desktop.

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10-22-2023, 10:00 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,930 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	There is a atweak in Preferences->Tweaks to control this

10-23-2023, 09:11 AM	#3
fogice Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 12092 Join Date: May 2014 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Thanks for asking this question, arpeggioaccele! This behavior had bothered me as well, but I wasn't aware of the Tweaks section, so I just put up with it. Now to find out what other cool things live in Tweaks...

10-23-2023, 01:01 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,349 Karma: 129333690 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Is there an option to not use original_format when it exists? For example, if I polish and then polish again, I lose the first polish as it's used the original_format instead of non-original version.

10-23-2023, 05:59 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,625 Karma: 26960534 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If I get the result I want from the action that created the ORIGINAL_XXXX I Remove it, otherwise I Restore it. If I want to retain the real original (i.e. what I downloaded with original file name, unwanted embedded metadata etc) I store it in the book's 'data' folder. BR

10-29-2023, 02:07 AM	#7
arpeggioaccele light mode user Posts: 66 Karma: 16268 Join Date: May 2023 Location: New England Device: I use the Calibre ebook-viewer on macos and Apple Books on ios.	Actually I don't believe the tweak is what I was looking for. Now I'm trying to convert a pdf to be inverted colors, so I had to edit the epub to get rid of any defined colors. However, when converting calibre still is using original_epub with the tweak set as I posted above. Still have to move the original_epub somewhere else.

10-29-2023, 03:44 AM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,930 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Once you set save_original_format = False no more original_EPUB will be created, just delete the existing ones and you will be fine.

11-04-2023, 12:35 PM	#9
arpeggioaccele light mode user Posts: 66 Karma: 16268 Join Date: May 2023 Location: New England Device: I use the Calibre ebook-viewer on macos and Apple Books on ios.	I wanted to keep the original_EPUB as a backup. Thanks for the info though!

11-05-2023, 09:16 PM	#12
arpeggioaccele light mode user Posts: 66 Karma: 16268 Join Date: May 2023 Location: New England Device: I use the Calibre ebook-viewer on macos and Apple Books on ios.	That's what I've been doing, in essence— I move the original_EPUB file somewhere else, then just do the conversion and Calibre has no choice but to use the EPUB file. Then I can just move the original_EPUB back, without having to delete it or copy it. So the data folder solution really doesn't simplify the process. I was just wondering if I could avoid moving stuff around and just ask Calibre to ignore the original_EPUB file.

11-05-2023, 10:40 PM	#13
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,625 Karma: 26960534 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If the epub->epub convert worked to your satisfaction why do you want to retain the ORIGINAL_EPUB in the book folder? BR

11-07-2023, 12:34 PM	#14
arpeggioaccele light mode user Posts: 66 Karma: 16268 Join Date: May 2023 Location: New England Device: I use the Calibre ebook-viewer on macos and Apple Books on ios.	I retain the original_epub as an archive. I have found sometimes that I decide that I had removed too much formatting, or I simply want to see how the epub looked originally. In that case, I still have the original file to use. But regardless of my intentions, I only wanted to know if there was a setting so I could skip the process of moving the original_epub file manually. The calibre convert menu allows you to choose which file you want to convert from and does not tell you it will use original_EPUB. It only specifies EPUB, so logically I thought it would use the EPUB that I had edited.

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11-07-2023, 02:20 PM	#15
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,977 Karma: 145678910 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I suspect the logic there is if you are converting a book that was already converted, you have hooped the converted copy and want to start from the beginning. Personally, since calibre copies the ebook into the library leaving the original copy in place, I keep the original copy as my fallback if the fan gets splattered.