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Calenorn · 08-26-2013, 07:49 AM

I just downloaded calibre for the first time, and I have very limited computer skills, so I hope everyone here won't mind some very basic questions.

Working with free e-books it's clear that they aren't all built the same. Some have a table of contents, and some do not. Some have a cover image, and some do not. When I saw that calibre would allow me to edit the metadata, including the cover image, I tried to improve some of my e-books with better covers.

What I discovered is that if the e-book came with a cover I could, indeed, replace that image with a different one. But I was not able to add a cover to those that had no cover from the start. So I assume that the original e-book was put together without the capacity to include a cover image. Does that sound correct?

If so, how can such an e-book be modified to include a cover image that will display as an icon on the shelves of an e-reader? Does calibre have that capability, or would it require other software, like Sigil? Also, how difficult is it to do such a conversion? Is it something a beginner could learn on his own?

Thanks in advance for your replies, and thanks also for your patience with a newcomer!

08-26-2013, 07:49 AM	#1
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,203 Karma: 9224939 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	Novice Questions I just downloaded calibre for the first time, and I have very limited computer skills, so I hope everyone here won't mind some very basic questions. Working with free e-books it's clear that they aren't all built the same. Some have a table of contents, and some do not. Some have a cover image, and some do not. When I saw that calibre would allow me to edit the metadata, including the cover image, I tried to improve some of my e-books with better covers. What I discovered is that if the e-book came with a cover I could, indeed, replace that image with a different one. But I was not able to add a cover to those that had no cover from the start. So I assume that the original e-book was put together without the capacity to include a cover image. Does that sound correct? If so, how can such an e-book be modified to include a cover image that will display as an icon on the shelves of an e-reader? Does calibre have that capability, or would it require other software, like Sigil? Also, how difficult is it to do such a conversion? Is it something a beginner could learn on his own? Thanks in advance for your replies, and thanks also for your patience with a newcomer!