How to use [Editor] Tools: add a cover?

Skydog · 08-03-2023, 01:08 PM

There seems to be more action here than in the Editor sub-forum, hence my question. I'm editing a new book that contains and identifies cover.jpg but there is no reference to it. Selecting Tools => Add a cover, points to the image but then what? Do I create an empty file, i.e., text/cover.html? Then what?

Calibre's manual on the subject is meaningless to me:

This allows you to either choose an existing image in the book as the cover or import a new image into the book and make it the cover. When editing EPUB files, the HTML wrapper for the cover is automatically generated.

When the exising image file is selected, nothing is automatically generated. I'm sure I am missing something but it is not obvious to me.

BetterRed · 08-03-2023, 01:51 PM

Moderator Notice

Moved to Editor subforum,

BR

theducks · 08-03-2023, 02:54 PM

How I do it (when I don't use Calibre to add Metadata and Cover)

1) File Add:Empty HTML file
2) File Add Existing (Image) (as needed)
2b) Right-click the (cover) file in the book browser: mark as cover
3) Place the image in the HTML file (icon looks like a picture of a mountain)
3b) Style the image (SVG wrapper)
4) Right-click the (cover) HTML file in the book browser: Add semantics:Cover

Skydog · 08-04-2023, 01:21 AM

Thank you, @theducks.

An image file marked as cover was already present. Specifically, i have no idea how to accomplish #3, nor do I know what a SVG wrapper is in #3B.

kovidgoyal · 08-04-2023, 01:27 AM

The HTML file (named titlepage.xhtml) will be auto generated and linked for you. Simply Go to Tools->Add cover select the cover image and click OK

phossler · 08-04-2023, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The HTML file (named titlepage.xhtml) will be auto generated and linked for you. Simply Go to Tools->Add cover select the cover image and click OK

Minor - I always rename the added cover's .html as cover.html since there's semantics for Cover and for Title and most times the book has a Title or at least Half Title page/file.

Possibly adding the cover image to a page named cover.html would be more logical (to me at least) and/or more obvious

Skydog · 08-04-2023, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The HTML file (named titlepage.xhtml) will be auto generated and linked for you. Simply Go to Tools->Add cover select the cover image and click OK

Thank you, Kovid. This is precisely what led me to post my question. The steps you cite result in a blank page, nothing between <body> and <body>. I'm trying to figure out how to place the image in the blank file. I'll repeat the process when back on the computer but I suspect the result will be the same.

Skydog · 08-04-2023, 10:44 AM

@phossler

I always rename from "titlepage" to "cover" as well.

kovidgoyal · 08-04-2023, 11:19 AM

That sounds like a bug to me, open a bug report and attach an epub file where this happens.

Skydog · 08-04-2023, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That sounds like a bug to me, open a bug report and attach an epub file where this happens.

Full disclosure: I'm still running v6.16

To be fair, I should, at the very least, update to the current version and test on more than one book before burdening you with a bug report.

Karellen · 08-04-2023, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The HTML file (named titlepage.xhtml) will be auto generated and linked for you. Simply Go to Tools->Add cover select the cover image and click OK

I've never used this option before.
I created a new xhtml file - cover.xhtml
I then ran the Tools>Add cover.
Nothing happened.
v6.23 / Win10

I also rename titlepage.xhtml to cover.xhtml
Then I use titlepage.xhtml for the book title/author/publisher you normally see 2 or 3 pages in from the cover of a print book

Skydog · 08-04-2023, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

I've never used this option before.
I created a new xhtml file - cover.xhtml
I then ran the Tools>Add cover.
Nothing happened.
v6.23 / Win10

I also rename titlepage.xhtml to cover.xhtml
Then I use titlepage.xhtml for the book title/author/publisher you normally see 2 or 3 pages in from the cover of a print book

Thanks for the report. Are you saying there was no response after selecting an image, or did you end up with an empty file (nothing between <body> and <body>?

Karellen · 08-04-2023, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skydog

Are you saying there was no response after selecting an image, or did you end up with an empty file (nothing between <body> and <body>?

As I have never used it before, I wasn't sure the correct process.
So I first created the cover.xhtml file. Then I ran the tool, selected the image and nothing happened. Nothing was added. It still remained as a freshly created xhtml file.

thiago.eec · 08-05-2023, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

As I have never used it before, I wasn't sure the correct process.
So I first created the cover.xhtml file. Then I ran the tool, selected the image and nothing happened. Nothing was added. It still remained as a freshly created xhtml file.

You don't need to create the file before running the tool. Also, it will not add code to your cover.xhtml. It creates a new file, named titlepage.xhtml.

It works as expected here (calibre 6.24).

theducks · 08-05-2023, 08:51 AM

Personally, I avoid using file names used/created BY Calibre. This avoids possible clashes.

And Why the need? The viewer uses the Manifest

My name convention (strictly for this human) is just an abbreviated name(numbered if needed
cvr, cvr-old, cvr-back
toc
ded
cop
pro
ch001...
epi
...you got it

08-03-2023, 01:08 PM	#1
Skydog Wizard Posts: 2,286 Karma: 7409537 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Circling Earth @ Mach .83 Device: Elipsa 2E, Sage, Libra Colour, Libra 2, Clara 2E, Oasis3, Voyage	How to use [Editor] Tools: add a cover? There seems to be more action here than in the Editor sub-forum, hence my question. I'm editing a new book that contains and identifies cover.jpg but there is no reference to it. Selecting Tools => Add a cover, points to the image but then what? Do I create an empty file, i.e., text/cover.html? Then what? Calibre's manual on the subject is meaningless to me: This allows you to either choose an existing image in the book as the cover or import a new image into the book and make it the cover. When editing EPUB files, the HTML wrapper for the cover is automatically generated. When the exising image file is selected, nothing is automatically generated. I'm sure I am missing something but it is not obvious to me.

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08-03-2023, 01:51 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,718 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Moderator Notice Moved to Editor subforum, BR

08-03-2023, 02:54 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	How I do it (when I don't use Calibre to add Metadata and Cover) 1) File Add:Empty HTML file 2) File Add Existing (Image) (as needed) 2b) Right-click the (cover) file in the book browser: mark as cover 3) Place the image in the HTML file (icon looks like a picture of a mountain) 3b) Style the image (SVG wrapper) 4) Right-click the (cover) HTML file in the book browser: Add semantics:Cover

08-04-2023, 01:21 AM	#4
Skydog Wizard Posts: 2,286 Karma: 7409537 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Circling Earth @ Mach .83 Device: Elipsa 2E, Sage, Libra Colour, Libra 2, Clara 2E, Oasis3, Voyage	Thank you, @theducks. An image file marked as cover was already present. Specifically, i have no idea how to accomplish #3, nor do I know what a SVG wrapper is in #3B.

08-04-2023, 01:27 AM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The HTML file (named titlepage.xhtml) will be auto generated and linked for you. Simply Go to Tools->Add cover select the cover image and click OK

08-04-2023, 10:44 AM	#8
Skydog Wizard Posts: 2,286 Karma: 7409537 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Circling Earth @ Mach .83 Device: Elipsa 2E, Sage, Libra Colour, Libra 2, Clara 2E, Oasis3, Voyage	@phossler I always rename from "titlepage" to "cover" as well.

08-04-2023, 11:19 AM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	That sounds like a bug to me, open a bug report and attach an epub file where this happens.

08-05-2023, 08:51 AM	#15
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Personally, I avoid using file names used/created BY Calibre. This avoids possible clashes. And Why the need? The viewer uses the Manifest My name convention (strictly for this human) is just an abbreviated name(numbered if needed cvr, cvr-old, cvr-back toc ded cop pro ch001... epi ...you got it

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