Searching contents of epubs

skb · 01-12-2015, 05:21 PM

I'm using a Mac (10.10) and I don't seem to be able to search the contents of epubs.

Does anyone know of a search program that could work (I've tried Tembo).

I have around 4,000 epubs and it's difficult to remember which is the one with the morse code and the telescope...

eschwartz · 01-12-2015, 05:28 PM

https://github.com/jaketmp/ePub-quicklook/

Lets spotlight handle it all on its own -- no need for third-party indexers.

skb · 01-12-2015, 05:30 PM

eschwartz,, you legend! That is fantastic. Wow.

Thank you so much.

BetterRed · 01-12-2015, 05:34 PM

@skb - What's wrong with Spotlight it indexes Epubs, and there are plugins that will index the metadata such as ==>> Spotlight importer for Mac OS X

Its the one big advantage my Mac using colleagues have over us poor Windows & Linux plebs - built-in full text search of ePubs.

@e-s - we did it again

BR

theducks · 01-12-2015, 06:47 PM

The Quality check PI has a (content) Search.
--- -.-

skb · 01-13-2015, 02:00 PM

BR, no epubs ever get returned with Spotlight for me on my old MBP (10.6.8) or the iMac of Doom (10.10) except if the search term is in the filename. Weird.

To be honest, I've never really understood why - aren't epubs just zipped(ish) HTML? It (the search) has no issues with zip file's contents.

Anyway, since using the suggested thingammy, Spotlight is now showing epub results (although, ironically, still not the one I'm looking for - not sure if it has to index the collection and if so, how long it takes) so I am a very happy camper!

Edited to add: Stop the press. There may be a problem, Huston. epubs are being returned by Spotlight now, but ONLY ones that are contained in my (abandoned) iTunes "library" (don't get me started on how much I loathe iTunes with epubs).

Does this suggest that I may have to wait for indexing?

skb · 01-13-2015, 02:17 PM

Ah, I had to run the indexer. Doh! Seems to be searching beautifully now.

BetterRed · 01-13-2015, 02:27 PM

@skb -

thanks for letting us know - you're now the designated calibre spotlight guru

In Windows I can save the search criteria to a file and add that file to the library. When I view that 'format', Windows runs the search - and its quick, 2-3 secs on average to search 60+K 'books'.

BR

skb · 01-13-2015, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@skb -

thanks for letting us know - you're now the designated calibre spotlight guru

Okay, that's just disturbing...

The indexing takes a little while, but it's worth it. It's now almost as good as google desktop was on my old Win PC ten years ago (oh, apple, I wish I knew how to quit you).

01-12-2015, 05:21 PM	#1
skb Evangelist Posts: 401 Karma: 1597305 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Ipod G4, MacOS 10.12, Calibre, Pocketbook Touch HD 3	Searching contents of epubs I'm using a Mac (10.10) and I don't seem to be able to search the contents of epubs. Does anyone know of a search program that could work (I've tried Tembo). I have around 4,000 epubs and it's difficult to remember which is the one with the morse code and the telescope...

01-13-2015, 02:00 PM	#6
skb Evangelist Posts: 401 Karma: 1597305 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Ipod G4, MacOS 10.12, Calibre, Pocketbook Touch HD 3	BR, no epubs ever get returned with Spotlight for me on my old MBP (10.6.8) or the iMac of Doom (10.10) except if the search term is in the filename. Weird. To be honest, I've never really understood why - aren't epubs just zipped(ish) HTML? It (the search) has no issues with zip file's contents. Anyway, since using the suggested thingammy, Spotlight is now showing epub results (although, ironically, still not the one I'm looking for - not sure if it has to index the collection and if so, how long it takes) so I am a very happy camper! Edited to add: Stop the press. There may be a problem, Huston. epubs are being returned by Spotlight now, but ONLY ones that are contained in my (abandoned) iTunes "library" (don't get me started on how much I loathe iTunes with epubs). Does this suggest that I may have to wait for indexing? Last edited by skb; 01-13-2015 at 02:05 PM.

01-13-2015, 02:27 PM	#8
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,693 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@skb - thanks for letting us know - you're now the designated calibre spotlight guru In Windows I can save the search criteria to a file and add that file to the library. When I view that 'format', Windows runs the search - and its quick, 2-3 secs on average to search 60+K 'books'. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 01-13-2015 at 02:50 PM.

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01-12-2015, 05:28 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	https://github.com/jaketmp/ePub-quicklook/ Lets spotlight handle it all on its own -- no need for third-party indexers.

01-12-2015, 05:30 PM	#3
skb Evangelist Posts: 401 Karma: 1597305 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Ipod G4, MacOS 10.12, Calibre, Pocketbook Touch HD 3	eschwartz,, you legend! That is fantastic. Wow. Thank you so much.

01-12-2015, 05:34 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,693 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@skb - What's wrong with Spotlight it indexes Epubs, and there are plugins that will index the metadata such as ==>> Spotlight importer for Mac OS X Its the one big advantage my Mac using colleagues have over us poor Windows & Linux plebs - built-in full text search of ePubs. @e-s - we did it again BR

01-12-2015, 06:47 PM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,001 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The Quality check PI has a (content) Search. --- -.-

01-13-2015, 02:17 PM	#7
skb Evangelist Posts: 401 Karma: 1597305 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Ipod G4, MacOS 10.12, Calibre, Pocketbook Touch HD 3	Ah, I had to run the indexer. Doh! Seems to be searching beautifully now.

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