HTML Books - How to add to Calibre

JP91306 · 07-05-2018, 02:49 AM

I have downloaded books quite a few times, only to find that instead of a single (or possibly two) files, there are dozens of ".html" files, plus some ".jpgs" and sometimes other small files.

I have tried adding the file that actually has the name of the book in it (that ends in .html) but clicking THAT opens Winzip...even though the files are NOT in a Zip file.

What am I doing wrong here?

Each of the files is a single chapter (usually) and Calibre doesn't seem to "know" how to collect them together as a book that can be converted to Epub, or Mobi, etc.

(One kind user here offered a complicated "edit" that was supposed to do the collecting, but I don't know how to use the editing language, and what I did didn't work.)

Am I making a mistake assuming that this type of book-file is not intended to be managed by Calibre?

Thanks for any help.

jp

kovidgoyal · 07-05-2018, 02:54 AM

If there is an OPF file in the collection add that, otherwise follow the instructions here: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...specific-order

JP91306 · 07-05-2018, 03:17 AM

There is an OPF file, and Calibre just warns that it will create a duplicate file. Trying to CONVERT the entry fails.
The "coding" example in the second choice is what I had before, and that didn't work when I tried it...and there are more than 40 files in each "book"...a huge amount of coding.

A google search for applications to open .opf files indicates that Calibre should be able to open the file...but...something isn't right here...either with me, the files, or Calibre.

Thanks,

jp

kovidgoyal · 07-05-2018, 03:41 AM

Let it create the duplicate book. Once you do, you should have a new book entry with a ZIP format in it, which you can convert.

meghane_e · 10-21-2018, 03:00 AM

Hi, I'm going a little crazy because I'm trying to do what seems like a very basic function but with inconsistent results. I want to load the HTML files of a book using a TOC file. My toc.html files are identical to the FAQ except with my own file names, ie. using the browser I can visit all my files with the toc.html.

Doing everything from the GUI, here's what I've done using one of the book directories with an unchanged toc.html and about 60 HTML files: 1) tried adding the TOC file as a new book "Add book from single directory" and converting using the "Convert" button, 2) tried adding the TOC file to an empty book and converting using the "Convert" button. It only coverts the TOC file. It doesn't load the rest of the HTML files that are listed both in the TOC and the directory. 3) I've also tried adding all of the files to the book (Add books > Add files to selected book records) as well as the "Add books from single directory" and both versions of "Add books from subdictories" but those only add a single file.

I have successfully load all the files once or twice (from SO many attempts), but I obviously did "some thing" different. So please - what step(s) am I missing? Or maybe a flag somewhere isn't set right? Any pointers or help would be greatly appreciated!

JP91306 · 10-21-2018, 03:10 AM

I never got it to work. Read all the comments, tried to follow the instructions. No luck. I’ve just resigned myself to not being able to load HTML books/file sets into Calibre.

jp

kovidgoyal · 10-21-2018, 03:13 AM

If you cannot manage to create a working toc file, simply open the calibre editor,

choose File->Create new empty book->choose a title and click EPUB
then File->Import files into book and pick your html files

you might need to do some drag and drop to re-arrange them after importing.

THen click save and import the saved epub file into calibre.

meghane_e · 10-21-2018, 05:12 PM

Finally got it to work. Here are a few snags I solved before it worked. Some of these might have occurred from working on a PC platform, maybe?

1) In the TOC, file links HAVE to be given no extra path. Calibre didn't like it when I had formats with an absolute path like

Code:

<a href="D:\story\file1.html">file 1</a>

or when it was a 'file://' link format like

Code:

<a href="file://D:\story\file1.html">file 1</a>

I also tried with "/" instead which also didn't work.

2) Make sure that each file link is on its own line with no empty lines in the TOC. It has to be exactly

Code:

<a href="file1.html">file 1</a>
<a href="file2.html">file 2</a>

kovidgoyal · 10-21-2018, 09:22 PM

IIRC on windows it needs to be like this for absolute paths

Code:

file:///D:/path/to/file.html

07-05-2018, 02:49 AM	#1
JP91306 Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: iPad	HTML Books - How to add to Calibre I have downloaded books quite a few times, only to find that instead of a single (or possibly two) files, there are dozens of ".html" files, plus some ".jpgs" and sometimes other small files. I have tried adding the file that actually has the name of the book in it (that ends in .html) but clicking THAT opens Winzip...even though the files are NOT in a Zip file. What am I doing wrong here? Each of the files is a single chapter (usually) and Calibre doesn't seem to "know" how to collect them together as a book that can be converted to Epub, or Mobi, etc. (One kind user here offered a complicated "edit" that was supposed to do the collecting, but I don't know how to use the editing language, and what I did didn't work.) Am I making a mistake assuming that this type of book-file is not intended to be managed by Calibre? Thanks for any help. jp

10-21-2018, 03:00 AM	#5
meghane_e Zealot Posts: 105 Karma: 38500 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: San Jose, CA Device: Kindle -> Something new (Kobo or Boox probably)	Converting TOC isn't loading HTML files Hi, I'm going a little crazy because I'm trying to do what seems like a very basic function but with inconsistent results. I want to load the HTML files of a book using a TOC file. My toc.html files are identical to the FAQ except with my own file names, ie. using the browser I can visit all my files with the toc.html. Doing everything from the GUI, here's what I've done using one of the book directories with an unchanged toc.html and about 60 HTML files: 1) tried adding the TOC file as a new book "Add book from single directory" and converting using the "Convert" button, 2) tried adding the TOC file to an empty book and converting using the "Convert" button. It only coverts the TOC file. It doesn't load the rest of the HTML files that are listed both in the TOC and the directory. 3) I've also tried adding all of the files to the book (Add books > Add files to selected book records) as well as the "Add books from single directory" and both versions of "Add books from subdictories" but those only add a single file. I have successfully load all the files once or twice (from SO many attempts), but I obviously did "some thing" different. So please - what step(s) am I missing? Or maybe a flag somewhere isn't set right? Any pointers or help would be greatly appreciated!

10-21-2018, 05:12 PM	#8
meghane_e Zealot Posts: 105 Karma: 38500 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: San Jose, CA Device: Kindle -> Something new (Kobo or Boox probably)	Finally got it to work. Here are a few snags I solved before it worked. Some of these might have occurred from working on a PC platform, maybe? 1) In the TOC, file links HAVE to be given no extra path. Calibre didn't like it when I had formats with an absolute path like Code: <a href="D:\story\file1.html">file 1</a> or when it was a 'file://' link format like Code: <a href="file://D:\story\file1.html">file 1</a> I also tried with "/" instead which also didn't work. 2) Make sure that each file link is on its own line with no empty lines in the TOC. It has to be exactly Code: <a href="file1.html">file 1</a> <a href="file2.html">file 2</a>

10-21-2018, 09:22 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	IIRC on windows it needs to be like this for absolute paths Code: file:///D:/path/to/file.html

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07-05-2018, 02:54 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If there is an OPF file in the collection add that, otherwise follow the instructions here: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...specific-order

07-05-2018, 03:17 AM	#3
JP91306 Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: iPad	There is an OPF file, and Calibre just warns that it will create a duplicate file. Trying to CONVERT the entry fails. The "coding" example in the second choice is what I had before, and that didn't work when I tried it...and there are more than 40 files in each "book"...a huge amount of coding. A google search for applications to open .opf files indicates that Calibre should be able to open the file...but...something isn't right here...either with me, the files, or Calibre. Thanks, jp

07-05-2018, 03:41 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Let it create the duplicate book. Once you do, you should have a new book entry with a ZIP format in it, which you can convert.

10-21-2018, 03:10 AM	#6
JP91306 Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: iPad	I never got it to work. Read all the comments, tried to follow the instructions. No luck. I’ve just resigned myself to not being able to load HTML books/file sets into Calibre. jp

10-21-2018, 03:13 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If you cannot manage to create a working toc file, simply open the calibre editor, choose File->Create new empty book->choose a title and click EPUB then File->Import files into book and pick your html files you might need to do some drag and drop to re-arrange them after importing. THen click save and import the saved epub file into calibre.

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