Catalog Cover

[phossler]

How do I get DefaultCover.jpg from my C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\calibre\resources\cat alog to be used in the epub catalog that I create?

I can use the editor or course, but I thought that in [Create Catalog], [E-book options] the 'Use Existing Cover' would do it.

I have my own css files in C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\calibre\resources\cat alog also (total of 3)

C:\Program Files\Calibre2\resources\catalog has DefaultCover.jpg, and the 2 css files so I thought that's all I needed to do

(https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/catalogs.html)

[theducks]

I use the Generate Cover Plugin, then Polish it into the book

Or If you want to reuse the current coec,
there is a cover option on the second tab (EPUB Catalog)

[phossler]

I have a jpg that I'd like to use, and I can use the editor to insert it

If I have no catalog, then it would seem that 'Use Existing Cover' wouldn't work

I thought that's what the purpose of DefaultCover.jpg was in the
C:\Program Files\Calibre2\resources\catalog folder

More experimenting -- It seems that IF I already have a catalog AND the 'Reuse' option is selected AND I generate another with the same name THEN the cover is re-used.

I still don't understand what DefaultCover.jpg is for, if it's not used when there is no existing catalog

[theducks]

It says No cover Available

I think that one is for the CONTENT of the catalog

The one you appear to want is the traditional 'Metadata Cover' AKA Jacket

Try my way, it is just 3 clicks to update with a fresh cover (I have a cover PI template that includes the Date of the Catalog)

[phossler]

I might not be using the correct terms, but I am a little familiar with the PI (used it a few times to see)

In the calibre program folder in resources in catalog, there are 2 css files and a DefaultCover.jpg that does say "No Cover Available". I thought that (RTFM) putting those in my AppData would 'override' the vanilla ones. My AppData CSS do, but DefaultCover.jpg doesn't

Since the catalog is just an epub in the calibre database with it's own metadata, etc. (screen shot), I had been in the (probably bad) habit of deleting the old catalog and then making a new one.

Each time I did that my AppData DefaultCover.jpg would not be used. Just to be fancy I edited the metadata to add my own cover each time.

I did find out that if I regenerate the catalog it will replace the one that's there and it will re-use the cover that already in it.

I was asking why DefaultCover.jpg wasn't being picked up (i.e. was I doing it wrong?) but since I'll now replace it shouldn't be an issue.

I do like your idea about the PI template with the generated date, but didn't see how to have the date update on the cover. Would you please expand on that for me since I think I'll use my jpg with the PI generated cover?

Thanks

[theducks]

Reading that FAQ
It says Replace is the way to reuse a cover

Then it goes on to tell you how you can make the cover (a slight red herring. It does not indicate any permanent replacement technique)

[phossler]

I'm getting there ... slowly

Thanks

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by theducks

It says No cover Available

I think that one is for the CONTENT of the catalog

Yup. It is only used by this method:

$ cat src/calibre/library/catalogs/epub_mobi_builder.py
...
    def generate_thumbnails(self):
        """ Generate a thumbnail cover for each book.

        Generate or retrieve a thumbnail for each cover. If nonexistent or faulty
        cover data, substitute default cover. Checks for updated default cover.
        At completion, writes self.opts.thumb_width to archive.

        Inputs:
         books_by_title (list): books to catalog

        Output:
         thumbs (list): list of referenced thumbnails
        """
...

[phossler]

Yea

Since I like to have at least something as a cover on my books, I never saw the 'No Cover Available' from DefaultCover.jpg used when I made my catalogues

I was thinking that the file was the cover for the catalog.epub and couldn't figure out why the jpg I renamed to DefaultCover.jpg and put in my AppData wasn't being used.

Thanks to theducks (again) I got it