Book cover no longer generated on import

[ice70]

I am running calibre 9.6 on windows 11, but this is something that has happened on the last few updates - I don't think it is a problem with the software, more something I have unintentionally done.

When I add a book to calibre, it used to create a thumbnail from the book file [mainly pdf and epub], but now it no longer does - I just a default blue background with a frame and no text.

This started after I altered the regex from some book imports [preferences => import/export -> adding books] - but I do not see anything in this preference setting to might account for the book cover no longer working.

I can set the cover in the book's edit metadata -> individual using the top right icon next to the file format. I can also set it via the download metadata.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to fix this?

It is purely for book covers in calibre - not when transferring books to a kindle which seems to be most of the search results.

[BetterRed]

Works for me in calibre 9.6 on Windows 10.

First thing I'd try is to restore the regex to what it was - not that it should effect the extraction of a cover.

FWIW: I use this regex — (?P<author>[^_]+) - (?P<title>.+) — I think it's one of the defaults that came with calibre.

How do you do the add - i.e. which one of these



Or some other method, such as Windows->File explorer->Send to, which is what I use.

BR

[theducks]

Is the Read Metadata from Contents Ticked? ( does not really make sense if you are using the filename template)

I wonder if Calibre WAS grabbing covers from the internet. IIRC that happened when I used Add from ISBN over a decade ago

[ice70]

Hi,
thank you for your replies.

> Works for me in calibre 9.6 on Windows 10.
yes, I get the feeling I have done something and not realised what...

> First thing I'd try is to restore the regex to what it was
I tried using the regex you supplied and a range of others I have in my dropdown options none of which made any difference to the book cover creation.

> How do you do the add
From windows explorer, drag onto the main calibre window

> Is the Read Metadata from Contents Ticked
No, BUT, when I do check this, the book thumbnail is generated, but then the title / author is not right

If I click on restore defaults, the "Read Metadata from Contents" is enabled - does this mean that I was using this until I changed the regex? If this is the case, is it possible to read the metadate for the book cover then use the regex for everything else?

thank you.

[BetterRed]

I can confirm that drag-drop into book list with "Read metadata from file contents rather than file name" unchecked will not extract the cover.

Bulk Metadata edit is probably easiest way to get the cover after adding:



Might be able to automate with the Action chain plugin.

BR

[ice70]

Hi BetterRed,

fantastic, so looks like I disabled that option while playing around with regex and did not realise the significance. Usually end up doing a bulk update to set my custom genres, so should be simple enough to update the book cover at the same time

thank you so much for your patience and help in getting me to a place of understanding