[GUI Plugin] FanFicFare

[JimmXinu]

Originally Posted by Tharos

The SOL admin stated the following in a forum post:

Someone asked why there are so many 503 error messages.

Does it make sense here to increase the `slow_down_sleep_time` to 15 seconds? Within the same story, that’s not really necessary. But if I’m updating more than one story, then I suppose it is. Or am I misunderstanding something here?

If you get a lot of 503 errors, I'd try it.

I tried doing two SOL stories in succession. With default slow_down_sleep_time:1, it took ~13 seconds between the last chapter of the first story and the first chapter of the second and I didn't see a 503.

FFF also hits a couple other pages for the second story metadata in between. I wouldn't be surprised if that makes a difference.

[JimmXinu]

New Test Version Posted

2026/08/02
- Remove python2 support code
- Update included dependencies


There are no functional changes.

This version removes all of the python2 support code and updates the included dependencies -- but only to python 3.8 for Calibre 5 support.

It's all working for me, but I've only been using it for a day.

[MangoRoll]

I've noticed that when I saved works from Ao3 with images in them, the images are saved at their default size as opposed to with the specified width and height on the website. I'm specially referring to situations where the width and height are specified inside the <img> tag, not situations with workskins that have custom class images that would affect this. Is there some setting I'm missing that would allow for images to be saved in the size specified on the website?

[JimmXinu]

Originally Posted by MangoRoll

I've noticed that when I saved works from Ao3 with images in them, the images are saved at their default size as opposed to with the specified width and height on the website. I'm specially referring to situations where the width and height are specified inside the <img> tag, not situations with workskins that have custom class images that would affect this. Is there some setting I'm missing that would allow for images to be saved in the size specified on the website?

No, FFF doesn't have a way to save the images resized using the <img> tag width and height.

FFF, by default, resizes to fit inside the image_max_size setting, preserving aspect ratio.

Considering the size different between web pages and book readers (FFF's primary target), and that I believe most ereaders scale images down to fit their screen, I don't see a lot of value in the <img> tag width and height.

I have, however, been considering increasing the default image_max_size from the current 580, 725. Which was taken from the Nook I used Back in the Day. I've been using 2500, 2500 at least since I switched to Kobo-KOReader.

[DragoLord19d]

I don't know if its just me but if you make a Ao3 Anthology from webpage you can't update it via update anthology epub

[Sickandtiredofyo]

Hello, I am completely new here, so I apologize if my formatting is weird as this is a completely new site for me to post on. I've been using FFF for about 2 years now and have always been able to follow the advice on here to fix the issues I've had, but this last update has me stumped. I have tried every solution on here, adding the browser age cache limit, changing it to different amounts, double checking the opener by scheme and the browser cache path to make sure neither has changed, switching from firefox to chrome and back, clearing my cache, making sure my vpn and ublock origin are off, even double checking the security features and add ons on firefox. Nothing fixes the 428 error. Literally any help would be appreciated I'm losing my mind. My computer is a Mac.
Here is my code for AO3:

[archiveofourown.org]
use_browser_cache:true
use_browser_cache_only:true
browser_cache_age_limit:6.0
open_pages_in_browser:true
slow_down_sleep_time:2
always_login:false

[JimmXinu]

Originally Posted by DragoLord19d

I don't know if its just me but if you make a Ao3 Anthology from webpage you can't update it via update anthology epub

Works for me. Blocking issues continue, apparently.

Originally Posted by Sickandtiredofyo

Hello, I am completely new here, so I apologize if my formatting is weird as this is a completely new site for me to post on. I've been using FFF for about 2 years now and have always been able to follow the advice on here to fix the issues I've had, but this last update has me stumped. I have tried every solution on here, adding the browser age cache limit, changing it to different amounts, double checking the opener by scheme and the browser cache path to make sure neither has changed, switching from firefox to chrome and back, clearing my cache, making sure my vpn and ublock origin are off, even double checking the security features and add ons on firefox. Nothing fixes the 428 error. Literally any help would be appreciated I'm losing my mind. My computer is a Mac.
Here is my code for AO3:

[archiveofourown.org]
use_browser_cache:true
use_browser_cache_only:true
browser_cache_age_limit:6.0
open_pages_in_browser:true
slow_down_sleep_time:2
always_login:false

Do you also have an appropriate browser_cache_path setting for your browser?

On a Mac, many users also have to set the calibre tweak openers_by_scheme . See this post.

Have you tried running in debug mode (under Calibre Preferences dropdown) for more information?

[MangoRoll]

Originally Posted by JimmXinu

No, FFF doesn't have a way to save the images resized using the <img> tag width and height.

FFF, by default, resizes to fit inside the image_max_size setting, preserving aspect ratio.

Considering the size different between web pages and book readers (FFF's primary target), and that I believe most ereaders scale images down to fit their screen, I don't see a lot of value in the <img> tag width and height.

I have, however, been considering increasing the default image_max_size from the current 580, 725. Which was taken from the Nook I used Back in the Day. I've been using 2500, 2500 at least since I switched to Kobo-KOReader.

Understandable. Thank you for taking the time to explain.

On the topic of images, however, I've noticed that if I ever update any of my books, the names of the images inside will changed. See, sometimes I will go through my books, find instances where images failed to load, and then add those images back in if the image is still available. I've noticed that on books where I did that in the past and then later updated, the formatting will be completely changed from what I originally had. The image will be remaned from whatever I had it as before to 'ffdl-[uuid]' (at least I assume it's a uuid, but I'm a bit out of my depth here) and the longdesc I added will be replaced by whatever the file was called before instead of the link.

I've also had the file renaming thing happen with books where I've never replaced anything. Along with that, unused images will be straight up removed (which I don't want) and it all somehow results in a bigger file size. And all of this will happen in situations where nothing about the work on the website has actually changed. Is there anyway to keep this from happening?

[Sickandtiredofyo]

Originally Posted by JimmXinu

Do you also have an appropriate browser_cache_path setting for your browser?

On a Mac, many users also have to set the calibre tweak openers_by_scheme . See this post.

Have you tried running in debug mode (under Calibre Preferences dropdown) for more information?

I do have the proper browser cache path set in my defaults and I made sure to switch it and my opening scheme when I tried to switch between chrome and firefox to see if either would work. Here is the debug for each! I am kinda lost on what it means since I'm not great on computer stuff.

calibre-debug-log-Chrome.txt
calibre-debug-log-firefox.txt

[Ryune]

So I am having the oddest problem. Every time I try to update a specific fic on Spacebattles it gives me a 404 error. It's only this single fic that is giving me a problem. It seems to be crashing due to the Media tab and the imgur embed?

Fic link
https://forums.spacebattles.com/thre...e-fic.1243565/
The error is

HTTP Error in FFF '404 Client Error: Not Found for url: https://forums.spacebattles.com/thre...ry=10'(404)

[JimmXinu]

Images

Originally Posted by MangoRoll

On the topic of images, however, I've noticed that if I ever update any of my books, the names of the images inside will changed.
...
Is there anyway to keep this from happening?

FFF expects to control images in epubs it generates. How it does so changed in Jan 2026. This Image Handling Changes wiki page details how FFF saves images. (EDIT: updated wiki page)

Browser Cache

Originally Posted by Sickandtiredofyo

I do have the proper browser cache path set in my defaults and I made sure to switch it and my opening scheme when I tried to switch between chrome and firefox to see if either would work. Here is the debug for each! I am kinda lost on what it means since I'm not great on computer stuff.

Attachment 224844
Attachment 224845

If you have the correct browser_cache_path and openers_by_scheme is opening the browser (and profile) that go with that cache (ie, you see the tabs open in browser), I don't have any answers for you.

You could try setting browser_cache_age_limit:-1 -- some people reported success with that a while back, but it was a bit weird and I'm not sure why.

Personally, I don't need to use browser cache with AO3 lately.

Worst case, you can always download AO3's epub.

One Weird SB Error

Originally Posted by Ryune

So I am having the oddest problem. Every time I try to update a specific fic on Spacebattles it gives me a 404 error. It's only this single fic that is giving me a problem. It seems to be crashing due to the Media tab and the imgur embed?

Fic link
https://forums.spacebattles.com/thre...e-fic.1243565/
The error is

HTTP Error in FFF '404 Client Error: Not Found for url: https://forums.spacebattles.com/thre...ry=10'(404)

Reader mode is broken on site for that threadmark category(Media) on that thread.

Normally, we'd drop back to non-reader mode, but a change in the last version to look for missing posts both forward and backward in reader mode is trying to fetch page -1 which is 404. I will address that.

But even with that, we can't use non-reader mode anymore: we get 403 for all direct post fetches now on SB.

Realistically, your only options right now are:

• Set continue_on_chapter_error:true and accept that story will have one bad chapter.
• Set skip_threadmarks_categories:Media for that one story and skip Media--there's only the one post.

Example:

[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/tread-lightly-a-warhammer-30k-au-si-celestial-forge-fic.1243565/]
skip_threadmarks_categories:Media
## Or, if you already set skip_threadmarks_categories for site or defaults:
#add_to_skip_threadmarks_categories:,Media

[MangoRoll]

I see. Is there anyway built-in for me to just update the title and/or log page without affecting the rest of the .epub file? I'm just trying to have them reflect updated metadata.

[Sickandtiredofyo]

Originally Posted by JimmXinu

If you have the correct browser_cache_path and openers_by_scheme is opening the browser (and profile) that go with that cache (ie, you see the tabs open in browser), I don't have any answers for you.

You could try setting browser_cache_age_limit:-1 -- some people reported success with that a while back, but it was a bit weird and I'm not sure why.

Personally, I don't need to use browser cache with AO3 lately.

Worst case, you can always download AO3's epub.

Ah okay. It opens the navigation page twice then throws the error. Same issue with both Firefox and chrome even with it set to -1. I even tried manually opening the pages to see if it would help and no luck. And when I don't use the browser cache about half the time it throws the 525 error. So I have been just continuing to try it until it goes through lol.

[JimmXinu]

Originally Posted by MangoRoll

I see. Is there anyway built-in for me to just update the title and/or log page without affecting the rest of the .epub file? I'm just trying to have them reflect updated metadata.

Calibre's Edit book? With the understanding if you update the epub in FFF, FFF will overwrite the title page. Log page is added to, but not overwritten.

A similar question came up recently again.