Can't open epub file

[jonesyb]

I am just starting with using Sigil. I want to edit existing eBooks I had originally converted to epub files with Calibre.

When I open the epub it just opens with a blank page called "titlepage.xhtml" - I can't see the contents of the file I opened anywhere.

Sigil version of 1.5.1

I am using Mac OS High Sierra

I have been searching this forum for tutorials and similar problems but can't find anything so making a post.

Any ideas what I should do next?

Thank you very much

[KevinH]

You see no BookBrowser listing the xhtml files, the opf, etc?

Does this happen with just one epub or all of them?

Please try by Opening Digil directly and NOT using calibre's "open wit" feature.

Next try renaming your Sigil preferences "sigil.ini" file to "oldsigil.ini" and thentry launching Sigil again.

[jonesyb]

Originally Posted by KevinH

You see no BookBrowser listing the xhtml files, the opf, etc?

Does this happen with just one epub or all of them?

Please try by Opening Digil directly and NOT using calibre's "open wit" feature.

Next try renaming your Sigil preferences "sigil.ini" file to "oldsigil.ini" and thentry launching Sigil again.

Yes all epub files.

Your last suggestion worked great thank you!

[DiapDealer]

It's unusual that a first time user would have a corrupt ini file, but whatever works!

[Turtle91]

This may happen if you are trying to open DRM'd ePubs.

[jonesyb]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

This may happen if you are trying to open DRM'd ePubs.

I'm opening epubs that I have created myself. Basically my own books.

My process is, I code them by hand, then convert to epub with calibre. My next step is I want to remove the Calibre part of the process as want a deeper understanding of how to put a epub file is put together, without it being done for me.

[jonesyb]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It's unusual that a first time user would have a corrupt ini file, but whatever works!

Yes, definitely first time user. I have literally just installed Sigil and this happened.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jonesyb

I'm opening epubs that I have created myself. Basically my own books.

My process is, I code them by hand, then convert to epub with calibre. My next step is I want to remove the Calibre part of the process as want a deeper understanding of how to put a epub file is put together, without it being done for me.

If your goal is to learn how to put together an epub and remove the Calibre part of the process, skip Calibre altogether and go straight to Sigil.

You can start with almost any type of file (html, txt, docx, etc.), import them into Sigil (using import plugins when necessary), then build your epub from there.

Download Sigil User Guide here: https://github.com/Sigil-Ebook/sigil...tag/2021.05.27

See Tutorial section in particular to learn how to put together an epub. The chapter "Prepare Your File For Sigil" discusses how to import various file formats into Sigil. There is also a "Manage Plugins" chapter that explains how to use plugins.

[exaltedwombat]

Anything more than a simple txt file will require conversion before Sigil can deal with it.

You can do this conversion in Calibre, or you can do it using one of the Import plugins available for use in Sigil.

But sure, if you write your book in un-formatted (apart from linefeeds) text and save as a TXT file you can drop it straight into Sigil and start learning about the subset of HTML markup that is EPUB.

You might learn more about this by looking at what Calibre (or one of the Sigil Inport plugins) creates and modifying it to your requirements. But that's your choice.

[Notjohn]

>skip Calibre altogether and go straight to Sigil.

My opinion also. I generally go from Word doc to clean html to Sigil.

[jonesyb]

Originally Posted by odamizu

If your goal is to learn how to put together an epub and remove the Calibre part of the process, skip Calibre altogether and go straight to Sigil.

You can start with almost any type of file (html, txt, docx, etc.), import them into Sigil (using import plugins when necessary), then build your epub from there.

Download Sigil User Guide here: https://github.com/Sigil-Ebook/sigil...tag/2021.05.27

See Tutorial section in particular to learn how to put together an epub. The chapter "Prepare Your File For Sigil" discusses how to import various file formats into Sigil. There is also a "Manage Plugins" chapter that explains how to use plugins.

Thank you this is super helpful for me!

I will report back with how I get on.

[jonesyb]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

>skip Calibre altogether and go straight to Sigil.

My opinion also. I generally go from Word doc to clean html to Sigil.

Thankyou. My current process is word doc, to html, to calibre. I do have a fairly OK ish understanding of how an epub is packaged together so I don't think it will be too much of a problem.

Thanks again

[DiapDealer]

Calibre does do a really good job of converting docx to epub for those who don't want to get their hands very dirty. There's some Sigil plugins that can get similar results, but there's still a good bit of twiddling and configuring to be done. Try them all (including calibre) and do whatever works best for you.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Calibre does do a really good job of converting docx to epub for those who don't want to get their hands very dirty. There's some Sigil plugins that can get similar results, but there's still some a good bit of twiddling and configuring to be done. Try them all (including calibre) and do whatever works best for you.

I mainly use calibre's DOCX conversion, but if I want to preserve Word's Style inheritance tree I use your DOCX Input plugin.

I'll also put in a plug for ==>> Toxaris' eBook Tools MS Word add-in. It requires Word 2007 or later, and apart from creating ePubs it has several other useful features such as a Dialogue checker and an Embed linked images option.

BR

[Tex2002ans]

Or the great Styles/conversion discussion last year in "eBook formatting in Sigil".