Need help with workflow

Docno · 08-28-2021, 01:40 AM

OK, this is not easy to explain. The intent of my workflow is to save out highlights in a separate file to be able to refer to as a book 'summary' in the future.

So I convert my epubs to PDF for reading on my iPad using an app ('PDFexpert') that allows one to save out one's highlights into a separate HTML file. Ideally, I would like to convert this HTML summary file to PDF and store it 'beside' the book PDF and EPUB.

Currently, when I finish a book, I moved the annotated PDF back to my Calibre library (replacing the 'clean' original, which is fine). Then I drag the HTML summary to the same book in my Calibre library where it displays as a .zip file. When I open that zip, I have the HTML file and an .OPF file that I can open in the Calibre reader. All good.

But I would like to save out that summary as a PDF stored alongside the book PDF or else save it in a different folder/library (perhaps with all my summaries). If I convert the zip to PDF, it replaces the book PDF, so that's not a solution. If I open the OPF in the calibre reader and try to print to PDF, it fails ('spine is empty').

Any ideas? Thanks.

kovidgoyal · 08-28-2021, 02:15 AM

You can store only a single file of a given format such as pdf in a single book record. I suggest you simply copy the zip file out of the library and then either add it to your separate library or create a new book record to store the annotations pdf.

Docno · 08-28-2021, 01:16 PM

Thank you, Kovid. Makes sense. I'll figure out how to create a separate library for my summaries, which is just as a good a solution. Thanks.

Docno · 08-29-2021, 05:34 AM

I was thinking too rigidly, it turns out. I can convert the zip to a Docx file, which preserves the cover at the start and is still very usable. The only 'odd' thing is that, at conversion, I need to set the font size to 14pt to get 12pt text. Maybe the font size is being applied to the chapter titles, which is typically the first text in the document. Trivial issue.

theducks · 08-29-2021, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docno

I was thinking too rigidly, it turns out. I can convert the zip to a Docx file, which preserves the cover at the start and is still very usable. The only 'odd' thing is that, at conversion, I need to set the font size to 14pt to get 12pt text. Maybe the font size is being applied to the chapter titles, which is typically the first text in the document. Trivial issue.

Look at the code generated.
I frequently see (nightmares) Body font 1.xx, p font 0.788. Multiple spans around the same phrase Raising and lowering the size

Conversion has the ability to rescale font sizes , which may cause a bit of the above. Personally, I gave up and leave it OFF and simply edit the CSS of the Converted book to fit my tastes (usually takes a couple of minutes for an otherwise clean Convert)

08-28-2021, 01:40 AM	#1
Docno Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 96 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: iPad2	Need help with workflow OK, this is not easy to explain. The intent of my workflow is to save out highlights in a separate file to be able to refer to as a book 'summary' in the future. So I convert my epubs to PDF for reading on my iPad using an app ('PDFexpert') that allows one to save out one's highlights into a separate HTML file. Ideally, I would like to convert this HTML summary file to PDF and store it 'beside' the book PDF and EPUB. Currently, when I finish a book, I moved the annotated PDF back to my Calibre library (replacing the 'clean' original, which is fine). Then I drag the HTML summary to the same book in my Calibre library where it displays as a .zip file. When I open that zip, I have the HTML file and an .OPF file that I can open in the Calibre reader. All good. But I would like to save out that summary as a PDF stored alongside the book PDF or else save it in a different folder/library (perhaps with all my summaries). If I convert the zip to PDF, it replaces the book PDF, so that's not a solution. If I open the OPF in the calibre reader and try to print to PDF, it fails ('spine is empty'). Any ideas? Thanks.

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08-28-2021, 02:15 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You can store only a single file of a given format such as pdf in a single book record. I suggest you simply copy the zip file out of the library and then either add it to your separate library or create a new book record to store the annotations pdf.

08-28-2021, 01:16 PM	#3
Docno Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 96 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: iPad2	Thank you, Kovid. Makes sense. I'll figure out how to create a separate library for my summaries, which is just as a good a solution. Thanks.

08-29-2021, 05:34 AM	#4
Docno Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 96 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: iPad2	I was thinking too rigidly, it turns out. I can convert the zip to a Docx file, which preserves the cover at the start and is still very usable. The only 'odd' thing is that, at conversion, I need to set the font size to 14pt to get 12pt text. Maybe the font size is being applied to the chapter titles, which is typically the first text in the document. Trivial issue.

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