Epub metadata embedding tools

ostrichguts · Yesterday, 08:48 PM

Hi all,
have recently decided to move away from calibre re: ai 'features' (lol) and honestly just personal preference for 'file over app' software. have set up komga for management + koreader sync and it is working like a charm but I am curious about what the other options are for metadata, particularly for actually embedding it into the epubs (calibre seems to have just created it's OPFs and own database and not done anything to actually associate them with the files besides sticking them near each other?)

CLI, selfhosted, desktop windows, are all fine for me, just want to fix some author names and series ordering. I have a small collection of epubs and some .cbzs so its OK if bulk features aren't the greatest. would prefer something that is metadata management only and not library management (as i am running komga for that.) if calibre is my only option ig i can use one of the new forks but i would rather avoid doing so. i have archived my per-book metadata files but not my database if that matters.
thanks,
- tim

Karellen · Today, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostrichguts

(calibre seems to have just created it's OPFs and own database and not done anything to actually associate them with the files besides sticking them near each other?)

That is not correct. Calibre also embeds the metadata into the opf of the epub, unless you have specifically disabled that function.
Normally when you open the epub in the editor, the metadata is written to the epub.

Aleron Ives · Today, 03:10 AM

Technically you don't need any specialised program to edit the metadata. EPUB is just a zip file, so you can unzip it, edit the OPF file in a text editor, and recompress the book again. A common alternative for EPUB editing is Sigil, but strictly speaking you don't need anything beyond a text editor.

JSWolf · Today, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

That is not correct. Calibre also embeds the metadata into the opf of the epub, unless you have specifically disabled that function.
Normally when you open the epub in the editor, the metadata is written to the epub.

You can also disable the editor from automatically updating the metadata for ePub. I've done this because I prefer to do it myself.

Yesterday, 08:48 PM	#1
ostrichguts Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: springville zoo 'Safari Paddock' (big ups to my warthog bros) Device: kobo clara bw	Epub metadata embedding tools Hi all, have recently decided to move away from calibre re: ai 'features' (lol) and honestly just personal preference for 'file over app' software. have set up komga for management + koreader sync and it is working like a charm but I am curious about what the other options are for metadata, particularly for actually embedding it into the epubs (calibre seems to have just created it's OPFs and own database and not done anything to actually associate them with the files besides sticking them near each other?) CLI, selfhosted, desktop windows, are all fine for me, just want to fix some author names and series ordering. I have a small collection of epubs and some .cbzs so its OK if bulk features aren't the greatest. would prefer something that is metadata management only and not library management (as i am running komga for that.) if calibre is my only option ig i can use one of the new forks but i would rather avoid doing so. i have archived my per-book metadata files but not my database if that matters. thanks, - tim

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Today, 03:10 AM	#3
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,796 Karma: 16583650 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Technically you don't need any specialised program to edit the metadata. EPUB is just a zip file, so you can unzip it, edit the OPF file in a text editor, and recompress the book again. A common alternative for EPUB editing is Sigil, but strictly speaking you don't need anything beyond a text editor.