Glo How to kepub-ify my epubs

Joques · 05-13-2013, 01:45 PM

Sorry if this has been gone over a thousand times. I couldn't find the answer with the search function. I am a longtime ebook reader, but new to this forum, so please be gentle

I seems to me that pg/chapter and reading life info is only available to books in Kobo's own kepub format. I seem to have gleaned also that Calibre will convert epubs into kepubs for me. I just can't figure out how. I go to install new plugins, find the KoboTouchExtended (1.3.1) plugin by Joel Gougen and install it.

But I can't find anywhere how to actually use it. There is no icon I can bring to the meny bar. There is nothing in the edit metadata option.

Please help!

Uschiekid · 05-13-2013, 02:02 PM

If it is enabled, it will convert on-the-fly when you send a book to your device.

You don't have to DO any actual conversion. Just enable the driver and send the books.

Edit: Also the Enable Extended Features should be ticked in customize plugin

Joques · 05-13-2013, 02:11 PM

Ah, simple! Ok, just tried this, but Calibre gave me the error message: Error communicating with device.

pidgeon92 · 05-13-2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joques

Ah, simple! Ok, just tried this, but Calibre gave me the error message: Error communicating with device.

I'd make sure that you have the latest version of calibre installed, and then reboot your computer and try again.

Joques · 05-13-2013, 02:24 PM

I downloaded the latest version of Calibre earlier today, and I just booted my pc. The error only pops up when I check the "Enable Extended Features", which I presume is the whole point of the exercise :-)

INCSlayer · 05-13-2013, 02:43 PM

yea i had the same problem i downloaded version 0.9.29 of calibre and the problem went away

Skydog · 05-13-2013, 02:43 PM

Make sure the native Kobo driver is DISabled if you have the KoboTouchExtended plugin enabled.

Uschiekid · 05-13-2013, 02:49 PM

Hmm...I just tried (from scratch...I'd uninstalled the plug-in after trying it out a couple weeks ago), and it worked fine for me.

As long as you have Enable Extended Features ticked, it should work (which I forgot to mention, but clever you figured out anyhow). Especially if you successfully transferred epubs before installing the plugin.

I think we'll have to wait for someone who knows more to troubleshoot.

The only advice I can give at this point is try a different cable. Yes, I know it worked before, but apparently if the data section of the cable is slightly damaged, it can be unpredictable about how and when it will work. Many times when people have had that exact error, the cable has actually been the problem, not the programme. So if you have another cable you could try, it just might work!

Joques · 05-13-2013, 02:55 PM

Hm. I disabled the two original Kobo plugins, but still no luck. Mu Calibre version is 0.9.30.

The detailed error message I get is this:
calibre, version 0.9.30
ERROR: Error: Error communicating with device

Failed to parse 'MZ02: Deadhouse Gates' by 'Steven Erikson' with error: 'character mapping must return integer, None or unicode' (file: calibre_plugins.kobotouch_extended.container, line: 74)

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 85, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 551, in _upload_books
File "calibre_plugins.kobotouch_extended.driver", line 286, in upload_books
InvalidEPub: Failed to parse 'MZ02: Deadhouse Gates' by 'Steven Erikson' with error: 'character mapping must return integer, None or unicode' (file: calibre_plugins.kobotouch_extended.container, line: 74)

PeterT · 05-13-2013, 03:14 PM

This is a known issue with calibre 0.9.30 which did not exist in 0.9.29.

Downgrade and try again

Joques · 05-13-2013, 04:16 PM

Ok, getting closer :-) I downgraded Calibre to 0.9.29, then retransferred the test case book. This time the transfer went well, but there's no book on my home screen, just a tiny dot. When I click it, I get: "Oops! This document couldn't be opened etc"

Any takers? :-)

Uschiekid · 05-13-2013, 05:03 PM

The tiny dot is a known problem of the covers not being created...i have a feeling the fix mighta been in the new version...oops...lose-lose situation?

Does the oops message mention DRM at all?

Ripplinger · 05-13-2013, 06:14 PM

After reading this thread, I decided to experiment with this plugin too. Installed the plugin, made the changes I wanted in options, disabled the Kobo Glo default plugin, and restarted Calibre.

Like Joques, I was getting the error messages and no books were sent to the reader from my usual Calibre Library that is all DRM-free books. So I decided to try and send the free books that came on the Glo since I have never had access to them once I sideloaded books through Calibre. So I added them to Calibre, tried to send to the Glo, and same various errors, couldn't load them.

Since I really don't want the title up top, that was the end of my experiment. So I disconnected the Glo, uninstalled the Kobo extension plugin, enabled the default Kobo Glo plugin, and made sure all previous settings were unchanged. Calibre didn't prompt me to restart it for a change, so I just plugged the Glo back in, sent the books over without any errors or problems.

When I opened those new books on the Glo, they were indeed Kobofied... title on top was showing, covers were either missing altogether or wrong proportion (even though I had settings the same for the covers as the default plugin). Checked the device and the books were named .kepub.epub. The formatting on the these newly added books were just horrid as well, I figured it was a problem with the originals that I didn't check.

After checking the right plugins were enabled/disabled and options unchanged to get the default Kobo plugin working again, then restarting Calibre again, I check the books and the formatting is near perfect in them, the formatting must have gotten skewed in the transfer with the Kobo extension plugin. Transferred them again and the books were formatted correctly as they should have been and all covers stretched to fit as they should have been.

All I can suggest is keep playing with it... restart Calibre without device plugged in and try it again.

My experience with it was just odd. I'm using Calibre 0.9.29, and main memory on the device, I didn't transfer them to an SDcard.

Joques · 05-14-2013, 02:54 AM

So, it all seems very unpredictable :-(

Uschiekid, no DRM notice there. I've tried both books with and without DRM. And - missing covers is one thing (ok, it's a dealbreaker), but non-functioning books is worse ...

davidfor · 05-14-2013, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joques

So, it all seems very unpredictable :-(

Uschiekid, no DRM notice there. I've tried both books with and without DRM. And - missing covers is one thing (ok, it's a dealbreaker), but non-functioning books is worse ...

The missing cover could be a problem with the source epub. The covers for the two types are generated in different ways by the device. For an epub, the cover is generated from the first page.

For kepubs, if they come from Kobo, the covers are downloaded from the server. If they are sideloaded, the covers are defined in the OPF using the epub3 standard. Something like the following is needed:

Code:

<item href="Images/cover.jpg" id="cover.jpg" media-type="image/jpeg" properties="cover-image" />

The epub3 part of that is the properties. The extended driver adds this. If the cover image isn't defined in the OPF properly, or there isn't one at all, the driver can't do this, and the device can't extract a cover.

If the epub doesn't have the cover defined like this, a conversion in calibre, or adding the cover using Polish Books or the Modify ePub plugin will fix it.

05-13-2013, 01:45 PM	#1
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	How to kepub-ify my epubs Sorry if this has been gone over a thousand times. I couldn't find the answer with the search function. I am a longtime ebook reader, but new to this forum, so please be gentle I seems to me that pg/chapter and reading life info is only available to books in Kobo's own kepub format. I seem to have gleaned also that Calibre will convert epubs into kepubs for me. I just can't figure out how. I go to install new plugins, find the KoboTouchExtended (1.3.1) plugin by Joel Gougen and install it. But I can't find anywhere how to actually use it. There is no icon I can bring to the meny bar. There is nothing in the edit metadata option. Please help!

05-13-2013, 02:02 PM	#2
Uschiekid Tenrec Posts: 724 Karma: 1076988 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Glo	If it is enabled, it will convert on-the-fly when you send a book to your device. You don't have to DO any actual conversion. Just enable the driver and send the books. Edit: Also the Enable Extended Features should be ticked in customize plugin Last edited by Uschiekid; 05-13-2013 at 02:51 PM. Reason: poor grammar :( & left out instructions

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05-13-2013, 02:11 PM	#3
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	Ah, simple! Ok, just tried this, but Calibre gave me the error message: Error communicating with device.

05-13-2013, 02:24 PM	#5
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	I downloaded the latest version of Calibre earlier today, and I just booted my pc. The error only pops up when I check the "Enable Extended Features", which I presume is the whole point of the exercise :-)

05-13-2013, 02:43 PM	#6
INCSlayer Member Posts: 15 Karma: 9794 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 2(626)	yea i had the same problem i downloaded version 0.9.29 of calibre and the problem went away

05-13-2013, 02:43 PM	#7
Skydog Wizard Posts: 2,243 Karma: 7400001 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Circling Earth @ Mach .83 Device: Elipsa 2E, Sage, Forma, Libra 2, Clara 2E, Kindle Oasis3, Voyage	Make sure the native Kobo driver is DISabled if you have the KoboTouchExtended plugin enabled.

05-13-2013, 02:49 PM	#8
Uschiekid Tenrec Posts: 724 Karma: 1076988 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Glo	Hmm...I just tried (from scratch...I'd uninstalled the plug-in after trying it out a couple weeks ago), and it worked fine for me. As long as you have Enable Extended Features ticked, it should work (which I forgot to mention, but clever you figured out anyhow). Especially if you successfully transferred epubs before installing the plugin. I think we'll have to wait for someone who knows more to troubleshoot. The only advice I can give at this point is try a different cable. Yes, I know it worked before, but apparently if the data section of the cable is slightly damaged, it can be unpredictable about how and when it will work. Many times when people have had that exact error, the cable has actually been the problem, not the programme. So if you have another cable you could try, it just might work!

05-13-2013, 02:55 PM	#9
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	Hm. I disabled the two original Kobo plugins, but still no luck. Mu Calibre version is 0.9.30. The detailed error message I get is this: calibre, version 0.9.30 ERROR: Error: Error communicating with device Failed to parse 'MZ02: Deadhouse Gates' by 'Steven Erikson' with error: 'character mapping must return integer, None or unicode' (file: calibre_plugins.kobotouch_extended.container, line: 74) Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 85, in run File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 551, in _upload_books File "calibre_plugins.kobotouch_extended.driver", line 286, in upload_books InvalidEPub: Failed to parse 'MZ02: Deadhouse Gates' by 'Steven Erikson' with error: 'character mapping must return integer, None or unicode' (file: calibre_plugins.kobotouch_extended.container, line: 74)

05-13-2013, 03:14 PM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	This is a known issue with calibre 0.9.30 which did not exist in 0.9.29. Downgrade and try again

05-13-2013, 04:16 PM	#11
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	Ok, getting closer :-) I downgraded Calibre to 0.9.29, then retransferred the test case book. This time the transfer went well, but there's no book on my home screen, just a tiny dot. When I click it, I get: "Oops! This document couldn't be opened etc" Any takers? :-)

05-13-2013, 05:03 PM	#12
Uschiekid Tenrec Posts: 724 Karma: 1076988 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Glo	The tiny dot is a known problem of the covers not being created...i have a feeling the fix mighta been in the new version...oops...lose-lose situation? Does the oops message mention DRM at all?

05-13-2013, 06:14 PM	#13
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	After reading this thread, I decided to experiment with this plugin too. Installed the plugin, made the changes I wanted in options, disabled the Kobo Glo default plugin, and restarted Calibre. Like Joques, I was getting the error messages and no books were sent to the reader from my usual Calibre Library that is all DRM-free books. So I decided to try and send the free books that came on the Glo since I have never had access to them once I sideloaded books through Calibre. So I added them to Calibre, tried to send to the Glo, and same various errors, couldn't load them. Since I really don't want the title up top, that was the end of my experiment. So I disconnected the Glo, uninstalled the Kobo extension plugin, enabled the default Kobo Glo plugin, and made sure all previous settings were unchanged. Calibre didn't prompt me to restart it for a change, so I just plugged the Glo back in, sent the books over without any errors or problems. When I opened those new books on the Glo, they were indeed Kobofied... title on top was showing, covers were either missing altogether or wrong proportion (even though I had settings the same for the covers as the default plugin). Checked the device and the books were named .kepub.epub. The formatting on the these newly added books were just horrid as well, I figured it was a problem with the originals that I didn't check. After checking the right plugins were enabled/disabled and options unchanged to get the default Kobo plugin working again, then restarting Calibre again, I check the books and the formatting is near perfect in them, the formatting must have gotten skewed in the transfer with the Kobo extension plugin. Transferred them again and the books were formatted correctly as they should have been and all covers stretched to fit as they should have been. All I can suggest is keep playing with it... restart Calibre without device plugged in and try it again. My experience with it was just odd. I'm using Calibre 0.9.29, and main memory on the device, I didn't transfer them to an SDcard.

05-14-2013, 02:54 AM	#14
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	So, it all seems very unpredictable :-( Uschiekid, no DRM notice there. I've tried both books with and without DRM. And - missing covers is one thing (ok, it's a dealbreaker), but non-functioning books is worse ...