Get the ubook reader program to read HTMLZ

[Vortex]

Is it possible to use the Open With plugin to launch a batch file to process a book and then open it in a specific reader? I've been trying to set this up, the batch file works perfect outside of Calibre but when I try to use it via the Open With plugin the dos box just flashes and exits with nothing done.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Vortex

Is it possible to use the Open With plugin to launch a batch file to process a book and then open it in a specific reader? I've been trying to set this up, the batch file works perfect outside of Calibre but when I try to use it via the Open With plugin the dos box just flashes and exits with nothing done.

Did your Batch use a 'Call' and pass the variable?

[Vortex]

Sorry, I'm new to this so I dont know what that means. I 've added a 'Pause' to the end of the batch and I can now see the error: "File not found"

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Vortex

Sorry, I'm new to this so I dont know what that means. I 've added a 'Pause' to the end of the batch and I can now see the error: "File not found"

Call is part of the batch system that allows calling another batch without closing the first.

File not found seems to be your problem. Are you passing the filename and extension correctly

[Vortex]

Again I'm not sure what that means so I'd better explain exactly what I'm trying to do.

In the OS I have .htmlz files associated with the batch file so that when one is clicked the batch file creates a copy renamed to .zip and then opens that in my reader, (my reader does not recognize the htmlz file extension and the zip output is incompatible and in use by other programs.)

The batch works perfect out of Calibre. I have the 'Open With' plugin installed and customized so htmlz should open with the batch. If I click the 'HTMLZ' extension link on the right side of Calibre it stops with the error "File not found". If I click on the 'Open With' icon on the top bar of Calibre and click on 'htmlz' the batch just flashes and exits.

The code in the batch is:
::====== script starts here ===============
::
@echo off & setLocal enableDELAYedeXpansioN

:main
for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%a in ('dir/b *.htmlz') do (
copy "%%a" "%%~Na.zip"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\ubook\uBook.exe" "%%~Na.zip"
)
Pause
::====== script ends here =================

With Echo on I get:
================================================
C:\Users\-\Desktop\books\Calibre Portable>for /F "tokens=* delims= " %a in ('dir
/b *.htmlz') do (
copy "%a" "%~Na.zip"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\ubook\uBook.exe" "%~Na.zip"
)
File Not Found

C:\Users\-\Desktop\books\Calibre Portable>Pause
Press any key to continue . . .
============================================

When run outside of Calibre I get:

============================================
C:\Users\-\Desktop\books\Calibre Portable\Calibre Library\Caroline B. Cooney\Fre
eze Tag (6)>for /F "tokens=* delims= " %a in ('dir/b *.htmlz') do (
copy "%a" "%~Na.zip"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\ubook\uBook.exe" "%~Na.zip"
)

C:\Users\-\Desktop\books\Calibre Portable\Calibre Library\Caroline B. Cooney\Fre
eze Tag (6)>(
copy "Freeze Tag - Caroline B. Cooney.htmlz" "Freeze Tag - Caroline B. Cooney.zi
p"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\ubook\uBook.exe" "Freeze Tag - Caroline B. Cooney.zip"

)
1 file(s) copied.
============================================

Looks like it's trying to copy and convert calibre instead of the book? Anyone help me out with this?

[Vortex]

I guess not

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Vortex

Again I'm not sure what that means so I'd better explain exactly what I'm trying to do.

In the OS I have .htmlz files associated with the batch file so that when one is clicked the batch file creates a copy renamed to .zip and then opens that in my reader, (my reader does not recognize the htmlz file extension and the zip output is incompatible and in use by other programs.)

The batch works perfect out of Calibre. I have the 'Open With' plugin installed and customized so htmlz should open with the batch. If I click the 'HTMLZ' extension link on the right side of Calibre it stops with the error "File not found". If I click on the 'Open With' icon on the top bar of Calibre and click on 'htmlz' the batch just flashes and exits.

Is the HTMLZ file in the book folder - to Open the folder press 'o' or click Open the folder in right panel (btw that panel is the Book Details panel)

If it isn't then that's the problem

If it is then to where do you expect your batch file to copy the .HTMLZ and rename it to .ZIP ?

If you run the batch file manually is the .ZIP in that place and is the HTMLZ still in the book folder ?

BR

[Vortex]

Yes, the HTMLZ file is in the book folder.
The batch file copies and renames the file into the same folder as the HTMLZ file.
Yes, if I run the batch manually the .ZIP is in place and the HTMLZ is still in the book folder.

It works perfect out of Calibre (clicking on any .htmlz file in any folder), but does not work when you click the HTMLZ format link beneath "Authors" on the right side of Calibre , or when you click on the HTMLZ link under the Open With button.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Vortex

Yes, the HTMLZ file is in the book folder.
The batch file copies and renames the file into the same folder as the HTMLZ file.
Yes, if I run the batch manually the .ZIP is in place and the HTMLZ is still in the book folder.

It works perfect out of Calibre (clicking on any .htmlz file in any folder), but does not work when you click the HTMLZ format link beneath "Authors" on the right side of Calibre , or when you click on the HTMLZ link under the Open With button.

@Vortex - OK - I'm going to have to go through this step by step, so I may ask for stuff you already posted - sorry but...

As far as I know the file type HTMLZ is peculiar to calibre see ==>> http://www.fileinfo.com/extension/htmlz

The default handler within calibre itself for HTMLZ is the calibre ebook-viewer i.e. Preferences->Behaviour->Use internal viewer->HTMLZ is checked. Can you confirm that you have unchecked that setting ?

Assuming you've done that, then when you click on the HTMLZ link in the Book Details panel calibre will ask Windows to open the file with whatever it has in its File Association table for HTMLZ. By default Windows wont have anything for HTMLZ so it will report an error to calibre, and calibre will display an error - see first attachment.

So when you say

does not work when you click the HTMLZ format link beneath "Authors" on the right side of Calibre

What do you mean by does not work - does it report an error or just do nothing

It works perfect out of Calibre clicking on any .htmlz file in any folder.

This implies that you have set a Windows File Association for HTMLZ, presumably to your batch file - that's not something I've ever needed to do.

I need to see the details of the file association, IMO Windows tools are inadequate for this, so could you download this program http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html. The download links are towards the bottom of the page. Nir Sofer's programs are 'as safe as houses', you don't have to install them just unzip to a folder and run the executable.

The second attachment shows what I have associated for ZIP files (WinRAR), to get the Properties panel right click the HTLMZ line in the top panel and select Properties

Take a screen shot and post here via Manage Attachments. I mainly use the Windows Snipper Tool - search for snipper in start menu, suggest you pin it to taskbar (IMO the handiest), or start menu or create a shortcut on desktop.

BR

[Vortex]

BR, Thanks for taking the time to help

The default handler within calibre itself for HTMLZ is the calibre ebook-viewer i.e. Preferences->Behaviour->Use internal viewer->HTMLZ is checked. Can you confirm that you have unchecked that setting ?

Yes settings unchecked.

Assuming you've done that, then when you click on the HTMLZ link in the Book Details panel calibre will ask Windows to open the file with whatever it has in its File Association table for HTMLZ. By default Windows wont have anything for HTMLZ so it will report an error to calibre, and calibre will display an error - see first attachment.

What do you mean by does not work - does it report an error or just do nothing

This implies that you have set a Windows File Association for HTMLZ, presumably to your batch file - that's not something I've ever needed to do.

In Windows 7 "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Associations" I have .htmlz files set to open with my batch file (htmlz2zip.bat). It tries to execute the batch file but it fails with the error:

================================================
C:\Users\-\Desktop\books\Calibre Portable>for /F "tokens=* delims= " %a in ('dir
/b *.htmlz') do (
copy "%a" "%~Na.zip"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\ubook\uBook.exe" "%~Na.zip"
)
File Not Found

C:\Users\-\Desktop\books\Calibre Portable>Pause
Press any key to continue . . .
============================================

Screenshot from File Types Manager attached.

[BetterRed]

@Vortex - Darn - I need to see what's in the lower pane of File Types Manager - especially the Command Line column - I have an inkling that's where the problem will be.

Another little test - put a shortcut to your batch file into your Send To folder, right click an HTMLZ and select Send To->your batch file - does it work?

BR

[Vortex]

Another little test - put a shortcut to your batch file into your Send To folder, right click an HTMLZ and select Send To->your batch file - does it work?

No it doesn't, I get the error:

================================================
C:\>for /F "tokens=* delims= " %a in ('dir/b *.htmlz') do (
copy "%a" "%~Na.zip"
"C:\Program Files\Program Files Portable\ubook\uBook.exe" "%~Na.zip"
)
File Not Found

C:\>Pause
Press any key to continue . . .
================================================

File Types Manager attached again below:

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Vortex

No it doesn't, I get the error:

That's 'good' because now we have a situation where we get the same error via an out-of-the-box Windows feature. So if you can get a solution for Send To then you'll probably have a solution for Calibre.

Batch files can be obstreperous, maybe it would work if it was a Powershell, or VB script or something. But, I'm hopeless at figuring out scripting problems, if one doesn't work I write the equivalent in C.

I'm not sure what to suggest - other than using something other than a .bat script.

Hopefully someone will happen along and help you over the last hurdle. Or now that you've got it happening in Send To you could take the problem to a scripting forum - there used to be one at MS called Scripting Guys, but I'm not sure whether its still there - it was part of Technet.

There is one guy here who could give you answer in a flash, but his handle escapes me. I'll PM you if I remember - I did remember his handle and I sent a you a PM

Sorry I can't help any further. Maybe when you get an answer you'll make post here and tell what it was, in case someone else runs into a similar issue

Good luck BR

[PeterT]

Why not change the copy command to prepend the word "echo " to it; this way we should see the command that is about to be executed.

[Vortex]

I'm not sure exactly what that means but if I add echo infront of the copy command I get:

================================================
C:\Program Files\Program Files Portable\Calibre Portable>for /F "tokens=* delims= " %a in ('dir/b *.htmlz') do (
echo copy "%a" "%~Na.zip"
"C:\Program Files\Program Files Portable\ubook\uBook.exe" "%~Na.zip"
)
File Not Found

C:\Program Files\Program Files Portable\Calibre Portable>Pause
Press any key to continue . . .
============================================