calibre ebook-meta adds unwanted cover

julo · 10-27-2024, 10:01 AM

I have EPUBs generated from txt files. When I add/correct the meta of author/title with ebook-meta an image is also generated and added to the file. This is an image of the first x text lines of the book.
I do not want that image but do not see any option for that in the ebook-meta CLI options (https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gen...a.html#options).
Calibre > Preferences > Output options > EPUB output > No default cover: is checked

Using ebook-meta.exe in a bat file this generates that image

Quote:

"...\ebook-meta.exe" "%~1" --authors %author% --title %title%

this plus variations: fails with FileNotFoundError and does nothing to meta

Quote:

"...\ebook-meta.exe" "%~1" --authors %author% --title %title% --cover ""

Is there a way to prevent generating the text image cover and if so how?

kovidgoyal · 10-27-2024, 12:07 PM

EPUBs have a default cover of the first page when no cover is present. ebook-meta works by reading the metadata and then updating it, this read metadata includes the default cover. Instead of trying to change the metadata with ebook-meta after creating the epub, simply specify the title and authors in the book-convert command line.

julo · 10-27-2024, 08:25 PM

I had originally planned to use epub-convert but then I thought, since I only wanted to change author and title, that ebook-meta might be the more appropriate and easier route.

Bummer, so ebook-meta is out. I am not too keen to always add a cover since the size of a file, if converted from text, gives me an indication of how many pages a book has. It doesn't add anything else, just makes it bigger. A test file went from 30kb (~30 pages) to 540 kb.

BetterRed · 10-27-2024, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julo

I had originally planned to use epub-convert but then I thought, since I only wanted to change author and title, that ebook-meta might be the more appropriate and easier route.

Bummer, so ebook-meta is out. I am not too keen to always add a cover since the size of a file, if converted from text, gives me an indication of how many pages a book has. It doesn't add anything else, just makes it bigger. A test file went from 30kb (~30 pages) to 540 kb.

You can remove the cover with the Modify ePub plugin. It can be run from the command line - see last para of the Help text.

BR

kovidgoyal · 10-27-2024, 11:02 PM

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...245df66b6ce0ff

julo · 10-28-2024, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...245df66b6ce0ff

This looks promising. Thank you. When will it become available?

DNSB · 10-28-2024, 04:18 PM

If you are running from source, it's available today. If not, it will be available in the calibre preview release if that happens, otherwise the next calibre release. Either release tends to happen on Fridays.

ownedbycats · 10-30-2024, 05:42 PM

Unless Kovid pushes back the usual biweekly schedule for whatever reason, the next full release should be this Friday.

EDIT: It was a preview release for this week: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...50#post4464350

julo · 11-04-2024, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...245df66b6ce0ff

Thank you, thank you. First test runs look very promising. Thanks again!

10-30-2024, 05:42 PM	#8
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,974 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Unless Kovid pushes back the usual biweekly schedule for whatever reason, the next full release should be this Friday. EDIT: It was a preview release for this week: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...50#post4464350 Last edited by ownedbycats; 11-01-2024 at 06:05 PM.

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10-27-2024, 12:07 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,353 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	EPUBs have a default cover of the first page when no cover is present. ebook-meta works by reading the metadata and then updating it, this read metadata includes the default cover. Instead of trying to change the metadata with ebook-meta after creating the epub, simply specify the title and authors in the book-convert command line.

10-27-2024, 08:25 PM	#3
julo Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 12 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh area Device: prs-505,900,T2	I had originally planned to use epub-convert but then I thought, since I only wanted to change author and title, that ebook-meta might be the more appropriate and easier route. Bummer, so ebook-meta is out. I am not too keen to always add a cover since the size of a file, if converted from text, gives me an indication of how many pages a book has. It doesn't add anything else, just makes it bigger. A test file went from 30kb (~30 pages) to 540 kb.

10-27-2024, 11:02 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,353 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...245df66b6ce0ff

10-28-2024, 04:18 PM	#7
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,210 Karma: 168983734 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	If you are running from source, it's available today. If not, it will be available in the calibre preview release if that happens, otherwise the next calibre release. Either release tends to happen on Fridays.

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