sigil will not open book.original_epub

cybmole · 07-04-2013, 01:34 AM

it would be handy to be able to peek into calibre conversion epub backups - file type original_epub occasionally, without having to go thru the copy.. rename.. palava. but sigail will not open them as is, even though they are just epubs with a different file type.

I get a no opener for... error

is this an easy future fix ?

Toxaris · 07-04-2013, 06:24 AM

I think that you need to manually rename the file to the correct extension. Perhaps a change request to Calbre to have backups renamed to: <filename>_original.epub?

cybmole · 07-04-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

I think that you need to manually rename the file to the correct extension. Perhaps a change request to Calbre to have backups renamed to: <filename>_original.epub?

I thought that telling windows to open file type original_epub with sigil as the default program would suffice.

what exactly is sigil objecting to, as the contents of such a file are fine - as proven by the fact that a rename works. but that requires taking a copy from within calibre library - bcause renaming it within the library will mess up calibre - so it's open path, select backup copy, copy to desktop - rename - open - 5 steps.

DiapDealer · 07-04-2013, 08:39 AM

It's just a line drawn in the sand. Nothing more nothing less. Sigil's apparently coded to open .epub files... not ePubs disguised with other file extensions. Should it also open files named *.zip -- provided there's a valid epub structure within?

I can certainly see the convenience (for you and possibly others) of your request, but I don't think it's a good idea to start catering to the whims of external programs' backup/failsafe naming conventions--regardless of how popular said program might be.

But in the end, it wouldn't really affect me in the least if Sigil was modified to allow the opening *.original_epub files, so ... whatever.

cybmole · 07-04-2013, 09:05 AM

I take your point but sigil is an epub processor and an epub with a strange file type is still really an epub, inside....

is there not something inside a file that tells windows what it "really" is & could not sigil not look at that, rather than at the filetype shell.

& yes I think it should open zips if the zip is really an epub. I am surprised it does not already do zip.

is it not just a case of removing the line of code that inspects file type & says "quit already" ? & let sigil at least try to open it

DiapDealer · 07-04-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

I take your point but sigil is an epub processor and an epub with a strange file type is still really an epub, inside....

Yes. And by that same logic, surely you can load the "book.original_epub" file onto all epub devices (or into all epub reading apps) and it will handle/read it just fine, right? Why not? It's still really an epub isn't it? Can you submit a "book.original_epub" file to online retailers who accept ePub submissions? Will online ePub validators work with it?

Quote:

is there not something inside a file that tells windows what it "really" is & could not sigil not look at that, rather than at the filetype shell.

I've thought of several responses here, but ultimately, I feel that "No" is the best one. Also keep in mind ... same code, three different platforms.

Quote:

& yes I think it should open zips if the zip is really an epub. I am surprised it does not already do zip.

Again... does your reading device/app (beside calibre) read *.zip files (if they contain a valid ePub structure)? Why not?

Quote:

is it not just a case of removing the line of code that inspects file type & says "quit already" ? & let sigil at least try to open it

Quite possibly. Don't know for sure, though.

mrmikel · 07-04-2013, 09:50 AM

Sounds like a lot of work for the developers to protect Sigil from zip files that may be anything from viruses to somebody's list of kazoos.

With epub, at least somebody thought it was a epub.

theducks · 07-04-2013, 10:12 AM

No!
For all the reasons DiapDealer gave

Unless,
of coarse,

you manage to convince all those other apps to change, making Sigil the one that was out of step

cybmole · 07-04-2013, 10:46 AM

well, many programs are willing to at least try to open anything you throw at them e.g. notepad, most of MS office suite; the results may be useless but they at least try.

And what's this nonsense about "protecting sigil" from viruses. the only thing at risk here is the user's PC, nothing is going to zap across cyberspace & infect the program authors! If the right kind of virus is loose on a pC it can infect sigil or any other exe with malicious add-ons anyway. it does not matter what formats sigil is set to open as infection can happen to exe files that are not in active use, just on the local hard drive.

but I seem well outvoted ( 3:1 and counting) so I'll drop the idea

user_none · 07-10-2013, 08:56 PM

Sigil can open .html, .txt and .epub. How does Sigil know what handler to use for the file? By the file extension.

cybmole · 07-11-2013, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Sigil can open .html, .txt and .epub. How does Sigil know what handler to use for the file? By the file extension.

so add 1 line of code telling it to apply epub handler to file type original_epub. surely that's all that's needed ???

Many program have a main association and also a backup association. e,g, excel opens .xlb as well as .xls. MS word also has a backup file type, & I am sure that a rummage though installed programs would find other examples...

elibrarian · 07-11-2013, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

Many program have a main association and also a backup association. e,g, excel opens .xlb as well as .xls. MS word also has a backup file type, & I am sure that a rummage though installed programs would find other examples...

Yes, but those extensions/associations are meaningfull to the program, as they are files produced by Excel/whatever. To open backup files produced by another program is not a function, you'll find in many pieces of software.

Just my two pennies worth opinion

Regards,

Kim

theducks · 07-11-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

so add 1 line of code telling it to apply epub handler to file type original_epub. surely that's all that's needed ???

Many program have a main association and also a backup association. e,g, excel opens .xlb as well as .xls. MS word also has a backup file type, & I am sure that a rummage though installed programs would find other examples...

I think the extension was chosen so it would NOT be associated with any other program. In essence, it is a BAK file and I know of no other program that opens BAK files.

Kirtai · 07-11-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Sigil can open .html, .txt and .epub. How does Sigil know what handler to use for the file? By the file extension.

Aren't epubs identifiable by the contents of the mimetype file that is required to be uncompressed at the start of the zip?

DaleDe · 07-11-2013, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirtai

Aren't epubs identifiable by the contents of the mimetype file that is required to be uncompressed at the start of the zip?

True enough. This is how a Unix programmer would approach this problem. The file command in Unix uses the first bytes in a file to determine the type, while a windows programmer depends on the file extension. Even the Windows OS depends on the file extension, so it is at least consistent.

Dale

07-04-2013, 01:34 AM	#1
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	sigil will not open book.original_epub it would be handy to be able to peek into calibre conversion epub backups - file type original_epub occasionally, without having to go thru the copy.. rename.. palava. but sigail will not open them as is, even though they are just epubs with a different file type. I get a no opener for... error is this an easy future fix ?

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07-04-2013, 06:24 AM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I think that you need to manually rename the file to the correct extension. Perhaps a change request to Calbre to have backups renamed to: <filename>_original.epub?

07-04-2013, 08:39 AM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,547 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	It's just a line drawn in the sand. Nothing more nothing less. Sigil's apparently coded to open .epub files... not ePubs disguised with other file extensions. Should it also open files named .zip -- provided there's a valid epub structure within? I can certainly see the convenience (for you and possibly others) of your request, but I don't think it's a good idea to start catering to the whims of external programs' backup/failsafe naming conventions--regardless of how popular said program might be. But in the end, it wouldn't really affect me in the least if Sigil was modified to allow the opening .original_epub files, so ... whatever.

07-04-2013, 09:05 AM	#5
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	I take your point but sigil is an epub processor and an epub with a strange file type is still really an epub, inside.... is there not something inside a file that tells windows what it "really" is & could not sigil not look at that, rather than at the filetype shell. & yes I think it should open zips if the zip is really an epub. I am surprised it does not already do zip. is it not just a case of removing the line of code that inspects file type & says "quit already" ? & let sigil at least try to open it

07-04-2013, 09:50 AM	#7
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	Sounds like a lot of work for the developers to protect Sigil from zip files that may be anything from viruses to somebody's list of kazoos. With epub, at least somebody thought it was a epub.

07-04-2013, 10:12 AM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,792 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	No! For all the reasons DiapDealer gave Unless, of coarse, you manage to convince all those other apps to change, making Sigil the one that was out of step

07-04-2013, 10:46 AM	#9
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	well, many programs are willing to at least try to open anything you throw at them e.g. notepad, most of MS office suite; the results may be useless but they at least try. And what's this nonsense about "protecting sigil" from viruses. the only thing at risk here is the user's PC, nothing is going to zap across cyberspace & infect the program authors! If the right kind of virus is loose on a pC it can infect sigil or any other exe with malicious add-ons anyway. it does not matter what formats sigil is set to open as infection can happen to exe files that are not in active use, just on the local hard drive. but I seem well outvoted ( 3:1 and counting) so I'll drop the idea

07-10-2013, 08:56 PM	#10
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,488 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	Sigil can open .html, .txt and .epub. How does Sigil know what handler to use for the file? By the file extension.