[MacOS] Calibre won't read epubs anymore

Waters75 · 05-04-2019, 11:53 AM

Hi, I'm having a problem with all my epubs in calibre (I'm talking about purchased ones, all of epubs basically). PDF, even pdf versions of those epubs, always work just fine.
Everytime I try to open one with ebook-viewer, there's a blue question mark either covering the whole page, or a small one on the upper left corner. If I open the pdf version, which I always create, it work. The weird thing is, thinking it very unlikely that they all were corrupted at the same time, I downloaded Adobe digital edition, which reads all of them correctly. That's a big relief, but I do not want to use ADG: i like Calibre much more.
The version is the latest (3.42 at the moment) and I own a mac version with my macbook air, updated as well. I have been noticing the issue in the past, but I realized just now that this affects all ebooks with this format.
Can you help me figure out what is wrong? I'm a very basic user, I use a lot the basic features, but I'm not experienced with codes and programming. I can follow instructions, however

Thanks in advance for any help!

kovidgoyal · 05-04-2019, 01:31 PM

this issue usually occurs if something on your computer is deleting the temporary files the calibre viewer creates. You can try using a different temporary directory for calibre, it might help. See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cus...t-variablesfor how to change the calibre temporary directory via an environment variable.

Waters75 · 05-05-2019, 10:31 AM

Thank you very much for your answer, but I'm a bit confused: I read the link and that CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR is not an actual directory, but an envoronment variable, which I don't know what it is... I clicked then on "HowTo: Set an Environment Variable in Mac OS X - launchd.plist", but with the same result: I don0t know what those codes are and where or how should I write them

However, since you say it is a matter of temporary files, It may be cleanmymmac's fault. On this app I see I can exclude some folders. I you could tell me where those temporary files not to be deleted are stored, I could give a try

theducks · 05-05-2019, 11:17 AM

Environment variables are the POINTER to the (existing) location to use
You must create the location, the set the ENV

Waters75 · 05-05-2019, 11:51 AM

I'm really willing to understand, but I do not... I have neverr typed a code in my life... should I write something on the terminal? I read here https://www.dowdandassociates.com/bl...launchd-plist/ a series of lines that should be written maybe on the terminal, to "set the variable FOO to the value of BAR" which is chinese language to me. I know there are files and apps, I've used the terminal following step to step instructions for determined purposes, but I don't have a clue of anything else about programming. Doesn't Calibre create all temporary files in a determined folder I can somehow protect from file deletion?

However, I have just uninstalled and reinstalled calibre, without using cleanmymac in the meantime, hoping to be able to see them again, but the result is the same... might the mac have deleted those temporary files in the meantime?

05-04-2019, 11:53 AM	#1
Waters75 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Ipad	[MacOS] Calibre won't read epubs anymore Hi, I'm having a problem with all my epubs in calibre (I'm talking about purchased ones, all of epubs basically). PDF, even pdf versions of those epubs, always work just fine. Everytime I try to open one with ebook-viewer, there's a blue question mark either covering the whole page, or a small one on the upper left corner. If I open the pdf version, which I always create, it work. The weird thing is, thinking it very unlikely that they all were corrupted at the same time, I downloaded Adobe digital edition, which reads all of them correctly. That's a big relief, but I do not want to use ADG: i like Calibre much more. The version is the latest (3.42 at the moment) and I own a mac version with my macbook air, updated as well. I have been noticing the issue in the past, but I realized just now that this affects all ebooks with this format. Can you help me figure out what is wrong? I'm a very basic user, I use a lot the basic features, but I'm not experienced with codes and programming. I can follow instructions, however Thanks in advance for any help!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Moon+ Reader won‘t read merged epubs	yakuri-moe	Android Devices	0	06-29-2013 09:09 AM
Kindle won't read epubs	littlebe	Kindle Developer's Corner	13	06-18-2012 09:57 AM
Can't 'rightclick' open epubs with Calibre anymore	Lucky Lady	Library Management	1	02-13-2012 09:02 AM
Nook app for Android: won't read my non-BN epubs	varelov	Barnes & Noble NOOK	4	07-28-2011 10:25 PM
Calibre won't DL metata anymore	thendude	Calibre	5	05-15-2010 11:58 AM

05-04-2019, 01:31 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,373 Karma: 27230406 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	this issue usually occurs if something on your computer is deleting the temporary files the calibre viewer creates. You can try using a different temporary directory for calibre, it might help. See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cus...t-variablesfor how to change the calibre temporary directory via an environment variable.

05-05-2019, 10:31 AM	#3
Waters75 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Ipad	Thank you very much for your answer, but I'm a bit confused: I read the link and that CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR is not an actual directory, but an envoronment variable, which I don't know what it is... I clicked then on "HowTo: Set an Environment Variable in Mac OS X - launchd.plist", but with the same result: I don0t know what those codes are and where or how should I write them However, since you say it is a matter of temporary files, It may be cleanmymmac's fault. On this app I see I can exclude some folders. I you could tell me where those temporary files not to be deleted are stored, I could give a try

05-05-2019, 11:17 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,078 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Environment variables are the POINTER to the (existing) location to use You must create the location, the set the ENV

05-05-2019, 11:51 AM	#5
Waters75 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Ipad	I'm really willing to understand, but I do not... I have neverr typed a code in my life... should I write something on the terminal? I read here https://www.dowdandassociates.com/bl...launchd-plist/ a series of lines that should be written maybe on the terminal, to "set the variable FOO to the value of BAR" which is chinese language to me. I know there are files and apps, I've used the terminal following step to step instructions for determined purposes, but I don't have a clue of anything else about programming. Doesn't Calibre create all temporary files in a determined folder I can somehow protect from file deletion? However, I have just uninstalled and reinstalled calibre, without using cleanmymac in the meantime, hoping to be able to see them again, but the result is the same... might the mac have deleted those temporary files in the meantime?

Advert

Advert