Update HTML source in Calibre?

BearMountainBooks · 03-01-2011, 01:32 PM

I don't know if this is a good place to ask or not, but having no better ideas, I thought I'd ask here.

I've used Calibre now a couple of times to create an epub file for my B&N upload. I start with HTML and sometimes the formatting needs a bit of a tweak here and there to look exactly like I want it. So I got to the HTML, make the changed and DELETE the first copy on Calibre (the html and epub). I reupload to Calibre and do the conversion and check it.

My question: Is there a way to say, "Go get the HTML and covert (again) without having to delete all my cover/ePUB files and original HTML along with all the metadata I create?

I know I can edit the ePub file, but I don't like to do that because my master starting point for several files is HTML--so I like the changes in the HTML.

Basically just wondering if it's possible to have the cover data and the metadata retained, but upload and convert a new HTML file.

Hope this makes some kind of sense to someone. There's probably already a way to do it and I"m just overworking. It's a great program and powerful; I'm finding it quite useful as a writer. I can create early ARC copies in mobi or ePub, I can make changes for the final and get it all neatly packaged before uploading to B&N or Kindle if I want (although Amazon's meatgrinder has been working fine for me, it's nice to have calibre for early review copies and beta readers.)

Thanks
Maria

Manichean · 03-01-2011, 01:59 PM

Moderator Notice
Please do not simply hijack threads if you're going to ask a completely unrelated question. Start a new thread instead.

Manichean · 03-01-2011, 02:00 PM

If I understand your question, you want to update the HTML you use as a conversion source without having to delete the book entry? You could simply do that by opening the edit metadata dialog and replacing the HTML (shows up as ZIP) with the new version, then reconverting.

BearMountainBooks · 03-01-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

Please do not simply hijack threads if you're going to ask a completely unrelated question. Start a new thread instead.

Sorry. I tried to find a related thread on Calibre overall and I hate to clog the machine with threads...

Yes, I want to keep the metadata, but shovel another HTML through the conversion without deleting everything.

I think I understand what you are saying because I saw that--but was looking for an html file to 'overwrite' with my new improved one.

Thanks.

Manichean · 03-01-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Sorry. I tried to find a related thread on Calibre overall and I hate to clog the machine with threads...

Hate it or not, it's just the way we do things here to avoid having a few general-purpose monster threads.

MamaSylvia · 03-02-2011, 01:59 PM

Great question! I too use HTML as my "original" ebook file and update it as I go along, and wind up deleting and re-adding in Calibre. Wish someone had had a "how to" update, but at the least, can you put the metadata into the HTML file so Calibre picks it up automagically? You'd still have to delete and re-add the HTML file but at least you wouldn't have to keep adding the metadata.

Archon · 03-02-2011, 02:13 PM

If you delete the HTML (ZIP) and re-add the html to the book and then re-convert (from ZIP to EPUB) how does that delete your metadata?

BearMountainBooks · 03-02-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archon

If you delete the HTML (ZIP) and re-add the html to the book and then re-convert (from ZIP to EPUB) how does that delete your metadata?

When I select Delete (the book) from Calibre, everything goes. I'm not surprised it goes--it warns it will be gone. What I don't quite understand is how to "update" the html and "re-convert." I do want the htlm gone and the epub--but not the metadata or cover. It's really not a huge deal, but I do add tags, all the series information, author and cover each time. I am pretty sure if I play with it more, I can make it work. I am just not sure where to start because if I delete files, all the stuff that goes WITH that file goes too.

Thanks for trying to help though. I think it's more a case of me just not "getting" it than anything else!

theducks · 03-02-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaSylvia

Great question! I too use HTML as my "original" ebook file and update it as I go along, and wind up deleting and re-adding in Calibre. Wish someone had had a "how to" update, but at the least, can you put the metadata into the HTML file so Calibre picks it up automagically? You'd still have to delete and re-add the HTML file but at least you wouldn't have to keep adding the metadata.

Delete the Format (inside the meta-data editor). All the metadat stays.
Add a FORMAT in the same place (drag and drop into the 'Formats' box works)
Do NOT delete the BOOK in the main window

Archon · 03-02-2011, 04:24 PM

Yeah select the book, hit the "E" key, and select the "ZIP" format from the upper right window and hit the green recycle button on the right.

Then just re-add the same book. Make sure the titles are the same and Calibre will add it right into the book.

Then re-convert using the ZIP as the source and the EPUB will be updated to the new version.

DoctorOhh · 03-02-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Delete the Format (inside the meta-data editor). All the metadata stays.

Add a FORMAT in the same place (drag and drop into the 'Formats' box works)

Do NOT delete the BOOK in the main window

Excellent advice

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archon

Yeah select the book, hit the "E" key, and select the "ZIP" format from the upper right window and hit the green recycle button on the right.

Good instruction so far. The upper right hand window is the available formats window.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archon

Then just re-add the same book. Make sure the titles are the same and Calibre will add it right into the book.

This is an extra step that is full of possible points of failure. theducks has already instructed the OP to drag the updated html straight to the available formats window in the edit metadata area.

No need to worry about any name or metadata in the file itself since the metadata in calibre doesn't change at all and there is no chance of duplicate books.

ldolse · 03-02-2011, 08:43 PM

And if you're drag and drop challenged in the edit metadata window you can just click the little book icon with a + sign on it - this allows you to browse your filesystem to get to the new version of the book format.

BearMountainBooks · 03-03-2011, 10:38 AM

Okay, I'm gonna try this. I think I understand all the instructions. But I'm totally blaming y'all for any typos in my next magnus. Of course the typos are unrelated. But I'm not letting such a good excuse go by...think of it as being in the acknowledgments.

MamaSylvia · 03-04-2011, 01:06 AM

Bear Mountain, come back and report how it went! I understood about one word in ten of most of the instructions - I need "click here, type this" instructions. Archon's is the only post I might be able to follow. (Edit metadata window? Add a format? Is someone typing in tongues here?)

And "Executive Lunch" is on my wish list.

Spacejock · 03-04-2011, 01:36 AM

I wrote a quick batch file which re-packs the source HTML into the Calibre zip file (That's where it seems to get the html from. Strangely enough, the zip file is stored in the ebook output folder ...

I use pkzip25 commandline, but you can use 7Zip or Winzip in a similar fashion. Just create the file and make sure the extension is BAT:

pkzip25 -add "C:\My Documents\A - Hal Spacejock\Ebooks\Calibre\Simon Haynes\Hal Spacejock 01 (8)\Hal Spacejock 01 - Simon Haynes.zip" "C:\My Documents\A - Hal Spacejock\Hal Spacejock 01\Master Copy\Export\HalSpacejock01.html"

When I run the bat file it updates that one plus three others.

03-01-2011, 01:32 PM	#1
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	Update HTML source in Calibre? I don't know if this is a good place to ask or not, but having no better ideas, I thought I'd ask here. I've used Calibre now a couple of times to create an epub file for my B&N upload. I start with HTML and sometimes the formatting needs a bit of a tweak here and there to look exactly like I want it. So I got to the HTML, make the changed and DELETE the first copy on Calibre (the html and epub). I reupload to Calibre and do the conversion and check it. My question: Is there a way to say, "Go get the HTML and covert (again) without having to delete all my cover/ePUB files and original HTML along with all the metadata I create? I know I can edit the ePub file, but I don't like to do that because my master starting point for several files is HTML--so I like the changes in the HTML. Basically just wondering if it's possible to have the cover data and the metadata retained, but upload and convert a new HTML file. Hope this makes some kind of sense to someone. There's probably already a way to do it and I"m just overworking. It's a great program and powerful; I'm finding it quite useful as a writer. I can create early ARC copies in mobi or ePub, I can make changes for the final and get it all neatly packaged before uploading to B&N or Kindle if I want (although Amazon's meatgrinder has been working fine for me, it's nice to have calibre for early review copies and beta readers.) Thanks Maria

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03-01-2011, 01:59 PM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	Moderator Notice Please do not simply hijack threads if you're going to ask a completely unrelated question. Start a new thread instead.

03-01-2011, 02:00 PM	#3
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	If I understand your question, you want to update the HTML you use as a conversion source without having to delete the book entry? You could simply do that by opening the edit metadata dialog and replacing the HTML (shows up as ZIP) with the new version, then reconverting.

03-02-2011, 01:59 PM	#6
MamaSylvia Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 124 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Droid 1, Kindle 3	Great question! I too use HTML as my "original" ebook file and update it as I go along, and wind up deleting and re-adding in Calibre. Wish someone had had a "how to" update, but at the least, can you put the metadata into the HTML file so Calibre picks it up automagically? You'd still have to delete and re-add the HTML file but at least you wouldn't have to keep adding the metadata.

03-02-2011, 02:13 PM	#7
Archon Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 5176 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Mac OSX, iPad, iPod, & Nook	If you delete the HTML (ZIP) and re-add the html to the book and then re-convert (from ZIP to EPUB) how does that delete your metadata?

03-02-2011, 04:24 PM	#10
Archon Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 5176 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Mac OSX, iPad, iPod, & Nook	Yeah select the book, hit the "E" key, and select the "ZIP" format from the upper right window and hit the green recycle button on the right. Then just re-add the same book. Make sure the titles are the same and Calibre will add it right into the book. Then re-convert using the ZIP as the source and the EPUB will be updated to the new version.

03-02-2011, 08:43 PM	#12
ldolse Wizard Posts: 1,337 Karma: 123455 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Malaysia Device: PRS-650, iPhone	And if you're drag and drop challenged in the edit metadata window you can just click the little book icon with a + sign on it - this allows you to browse your filesystem to get to the new version of the book format.

03-03-2011, 10:38 AM	#13
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	Okay, I'm gonna try this. I think I understand all the instructions. But I'm totally blaming y'all for any typos in my next magnus. Of course the typos are unrelated. But I'm not letting such a good excuse go by...think of it as being in the acknowledgments.

03-04-2011, 01:06 AM	#14
MamaSylvia Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 124 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Droid 1, Kindle 3	Bear Mountain, come back and report how it went! I understood about one word in ten of most of the instructions - I need "click here, type this" instructions. Archon's is the only post I might be able to follow. (Edit metadata window? Add a format? Is someone typing in tongues here?) And "Executive Lunch" is on my wish list.

03-04-2011, 01:36 AM	#15
Spacejock Hal Spacejock & yWriter Posts: 125 Karma: 1100412 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Device: Kindle	I wrote a quick batch file which re-packs the source HTML into the Calibre zip file (That's where it seems to get the html from. Strangely enough, the zip file is stored in the ebook output folder ... I use pkzip25 commandline, but you can use 7Zip or Winzip in a similar fashion. Just create the file and make sure the extension is BAT: pkzip25 -add "C:\My Documents\A - Hal Spacejock\Ebooks\Calibre\Simon Haynes\Hal Spacejock 01 (8)\Hal Spacejock 01 - Simon Haynes.zip" "C:\My Documents\A - Hal Spacejock\Hal Spacejock 01\Master Copy\Export\HalSpacejock01.html" When I run the bat file it updates that one plus three others.

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