Book covers not "taking"

SeaBookGuy · 11-05-2011, 01:55 PM

When I first started with Calibre, I would have to convert the book to get the downloaded (from internet search) or uploaded (from my hard drive) image to become the first page of the book, not just appearing at Calibre itself. A few Calibre upgrades later, the problem was resolved. Unfortunately, now it's back!

itimpi · 11-05-2011, 02:01 PM

Not sure what you are saying - that the convert is not inserting the cover or something else?

Calibre has never updated the copy of a cover embedded in a book that it is stored in its library. Normally the cover is updated on exporting a book from Calibre (either via Save to Disk or Send to Device) as long as the cover is clearly identified in the source book. The cover is not updated by these action sif the cover is not identified, or if the format does not support the concept of a cover (e.g. pdf), and in this case a conversion is necessary to embed the cover.

For epubs there is the new plugin available that allows the cover of an epub to be modified 'in situ' in the copy of the book that is actually in the calibre library.

SeaBookGuy · 11-06-2011, 12:27 AM

I had thought one didn't have to convert a book to get the cover to be linked. I had thought adding it as metadata would be enough.

DoctorOhh · 11-06-2011, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I had thought one didn't have to convert a book to get the cover to be linked. I had thought adding it as metadata would be enough.

Strictly speaking the cover is not metadata.

Here is the scoop on metadata and covers being inserted into an epub.

Metadata will not be inserted into the ePub until you do one of the following.

Use the Save to disk feature to export the book from calibre.
Use the Send to device to export the book from calibre.
Use the Connect to folder feature to export the book from calibre.
Use the Content server to export the book from calibre.

The above 4 methods will insert the metadata into the book as the book leaves the confines of the calibre environment. The below 2 methods will update the book inside the calibre file structure.

Use the modify ePub plugin to update the metadata in the book.
Convert the file, epub to epub would work.

Additionally covers will only get inserted into the ePub with the first 5 options above if there is an existing cover in the ePub that is properly structured and identified as a cover.

Currently if a cover doesn't already exist in the ePub or if the cover is not properly identified the easiest way to insert the cover is via a conversion, an ePub - ePub conversion would work.

I imagine you could add the cover via a third party app such as Sigil without converting the book, but I'm not versed in its use for this purpose.

theducks · 11-06-2011, 05:58 AM

If all you want to do is CHANGE a cover image.: Tweak is probably for you.

In the Library: select book, tap the T key.
"Explode_epub" the book.
Locate the existing covers filename (it may be in a top level or a folder).

the file browser thumbnail view may show the image.
Delete that file and replace it with your new file in the same folder you found the OLD version.
Note: The new file must be of the same image type and you must use the exact (including case) filename.
(back on the Tweak_epub control window) "Rebuild_epub"
Enjoy your new cover

SeaBookGuy · 11-06-2011, 01:49 PM

Thanks folks - I convert Epub-to-Epub for justification, but adding covers to PDF books hasn't been so easy. Converting PDF-to-PDF tends to mess up the book.

opitzs · 11-06-2011, 07:08 PM

I use the "Modify ePub" Plugin, that tries to update the cover without completely reconverting the book.

DoctorOhh · 11-06-2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

adding covers to PDF books hasn't been so easy. Converting PDF-to-PDF tends to mess up the book.

I have no experience with PDFs since the pdfs I want to read (technical PDFs) require reading on a PC to get the full effect. Read this sticky post for PDF conversion difficulties.

I may be wrong but I do not believe there is an easy solution in calibre to insert a cover into a pdf file. You may need Adobe software to easily accomplish this.

If it is just the thumbnail your looking for won't checking the box to push thumbnails in the Device interface plugin accomplish this?

Good Luck.

Starson17 · 11-07-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Strictly speaking the cover is not metadata.

This comment is just for background: Within calibre code, the cover is handled as metadata. Merging books, it gets merged using the same method as other metadata, the same is true for Copy to Library, etc. I'm not disagreeing with dwanthny - he's right that it's handled differently (there's a special parameter used for handling the cover when handling metadata) and the "Strictly speaking" part of the quote reflects that difference. I'm just pointing out that it depends on the perspective as to whether one considers the cover to be metadata or not.

kovidgoyal · 11-07-2011, 11:08 AM

Many ebook formats dont treat covers as metadata, which causes endless problems. Witness the epub covers or pdfs.

Starson17 · 11-07-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Many ebook formats dont treat covers as metadata, which causes endless problems. Witness the epub covers or pdfs.

Dwanthny wrote "if the cover is not properly identified" in an epub, it doesn't get updated, and that's the way I express that concept, too, when explaining why a cover isn't always updated during a transfer. Is the "properly identified" phrase a shorthand for the epub treating it as metadata? Or does the epub format entirely lack the concept of cover as metadata?

Fundamentally, I'm asking what it takes to be "properly identified," and whether that identification is part of the epub spec.

kovidgoyal · 11-07-2011, 12:22 PM

The EPUB specification has no well defined concept of a cover. In EPUB the "first screenful" is the cover. To work around this limitation, most ebook processing systems use a custom tag in the OPF that points to an image identified as the cover. In addition some epubs use an item in the guide to point to an HTML file as the "titlepage". In this case the first screenful (usually rendered at 800x600) is taken as the cover. In both these cases calibre can manipulate the cover. In the former it just replaces the image pointed to by the custom tag. In the latter it replaces the entire HTML file pointed to by the titlepage item.

However, if neither of these is present, there is no way to be sure that the first HTML file contains only the cover, so it cannot be safely manipulated.

Starson17 · 11-07-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The EPUB specification has no well defined concept of a cover.

Thanks!

moolyn · 11-07-2011, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Strictly speaking the cover is not metadata.

Here is the scoop on metadata and covers being inserted into an epub.

Metadata will not be inserted into the ePub until you do one of the following.

Use the Save to disk feature to export the book from calibre.
Use the Send to device to export the book from calibre.
Use the Connect to folder feature to export the book from calibre.
Use the Content server to export the book from calibre.

The above 4 methods will insert the metadata into the book as the book leaves the confines of the calibre environment. The below 2 methods will update the book inside the calibre file structure.

Use the modify ePub plugin to update the metadata in the book.
Convert the file, epub to epub would work.

Additionally covers will only get inserted into the ePub with the first 5 options above if there is an existing cover in the ePub that is properly structured and identified as a cover.

Currently if a cover doesn't already exist in the ePub or if the cover is not properly identified the easiest way to insert the cover is via a conversion, an ePub - ePub conversion would work.

I imagine you could add the cover via a third party app such as Sigil without converting the book, but I'm not versed in its use for this purpose.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I very carefully followed the method of adding covers to coverless books, as shown in the Caliber videos, before transferring them to my Kobo Vox but it just didn't work, in spite of several attempts using different computers.

The trick for me was to convert the books from EPUB to EPUB, as you suggested. Now my library shelves are looking pretty colourful.

Many thanks for sharing your expertise!

DoctorOhh · 11-08-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moolyn

Many thanks for sharing your expertise!

You're Welcome.

11-05-2011, 01:55 PM	#1
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Book covers not "taking" When I first started with Calibre, I would have to convert the book to get the downloaded (from internet search) or uploaded (from my hard drive) image to become the first page of the book, not just appearing at Calibre itself. A few Calibre upgrades later, the problem was resolved. Unfortunately, now it's back!

11-07-2011, 12:22 PM	#12
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,258 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The EPUB specification has no well defined concept of a cover. In EPUB the "first screenful" is the cover. To work around this limitation, most ebook processing systems use a custom tag in the OPF that points to an image identified as the cover. In addition some epubs use an item in the guide to point to an HTML file as the "titlepage". In this case the first screenful (usually rendered at 800x600) is taken as the cover. In both these cases calibre can manipulate the cover. In the former it just replaces the image pointed to by the custom tag. In the latter it replaces the entire HTML file pointed to by the titlepage item. However, if neither of these is present, there is no way to be sure that the first HTML file contains only the cover, so it cannot be safely manipulated. Last edited by kovidgoyal; 11-08-2011 at 12:04 AM.

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11-05-2011, 02:01 PM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Not sure what you are saying - that the convert is not inserting the cover or something else? Calibre has never updated the copy of a cover embedded in a book that it is stored in its library. Normally the cover is updated on exporting a book from Calibre (either via Save to Disk or Send to Device) as long as the cover is clearly identified in the source book. The cover is not updated by these action sif the cover is not identified, or if the format does not support the concept of a cover (e.g. pdf), and in this case a conversion is necessary to embed the cover. For epubs there is the new plugin available that allows the cover of an epub to be modified 'in situ' in the copy of the book that is actually in the calibre library.

11-06-2011, 12:27 AM	#3
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I had thought one didn't have to convert a book to get the cover to be linked. I had thought adding it as metadata would be enough.

11-06-2011, 05:58 AM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,950 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	If all you want to do is CHANGE a cover image.: Tweak is probably for you. In the Library: select book, tap the T key. "Explode_epub" the book. Locate the existing covers filename (it may be in a top level or a folder). the file browser thumbnail view may show the image. Delete that file and replace it with your new file in the same folder you found the OLD version. Note: The new file must be of the same image type and you must use the exact (including case) filename. (back on the Tweak_epub control window) "Rebuild_epub" Enjoy your new cover

11-06-2011, 01:49 PM	#6
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Thanks folks - I convert Epub-to-Epub for justification, but adding covers to PDF books hasn't been so easy. Converting PDF-to-PDF tends to mess up the book.

11-06-2011, 07:08 PM	#7
opitzs Avid Reader Posts: 161 Karma: 36472 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Look for rain, hail and snow... Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS T1, Kobo Glo	I use the "Modify ePub" Plugin, that tries to update the cover without completely reconverting the book.

11-07-2011, 11:08 AM	#10
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,258 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Many ebook formats dont treat covers as metadata, which causes endless problems. Witness the epub covers or pdfs.

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