Is it possible to edit an ebook?

dorkmania · 08-10-2011, 07:25 AM

I'm a bit of a weirdo and it bothers me that many ebooks don't have covers. Or they have hideous covers! I was wondering if it was possible edit an ebook and add in a cover?

I'm guessing there isn't but I wanted to check just in case...

It would be pretty awesome to be able to do that and to fix up any spelling/grammar errors.

fjtorres · 08-10-2011, 08:06 AM

If you mean real ebooks and not pdf or djvu files, the answer is yes.

Simple (generalized) process:
1- Strip DRM, if so encumbered. (How? Exercise for the student.

)
2- Run Calibre ebook management software to convert ebook to rtf or html.
3- Load file into word processor/office suite of choice to edit typos or violate copyright at will.
4- Run through Calibre again to specify cover and metadata before converting back to ebook format.

That will work for pretty much any ebook. There are also specific tools and hacks for some formats (i.e., SIGIL epub editor, etc).

Of course, a quality comercial ebook shouldn't need editing.

Toxaris · 08-10-2011, 09:02 AM

One word of advice, try to convert as little as possible. If it is not necessary to convert, don't do it. Conversions bring their own set of peculiarities with them.
If it is an ePUB, do it in Sigil. Covers are easy and the RegEx possibilies will help you.

user_none · 08-10-2011, 12:06 PM

If your just adding a cover there is a good chance calibre can add it without any additional work. Properly built EPUBs for instance can have their covers changed. In cases where it doesn't work an EPUB to EPUB conversation is necessary and this will have minimal changes as a result of conversion.

Changing the cover is really going to come down to the format of the ebook. MOBI for instance is a lot harder to change but it is still possible.

DSpider · 08-10-2011, 12:40 PM

Epub is basically a zip archive. If it's DRM-free, open it with WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc., and replace de JPG image (with the same filename, resolution, etc).

If it's PDF we're talking about you can have a look at my signature. Simply delete the cover page (usually the first one) using Adobe Acrobat X (or whatever) and add the one from Inkscape, or replace it entirely.

JSWolf · 08-10-2011, 12:44 PM

If your source is an ePub, there is no need to convert ePub > ePub at all.

Once you have the DRM stripped, you can edit the XML file that displays the cover and you can replace the generic cover image with a proper cover. Once done, you'll have a cover and the ePub will still be as it was (except for a proper cover).

Converting to HTML or RTF is asking for trouble. If you do not start with ePub, it's not going to be so easy. If you have a Kindle, still start with ePub as when you have the proper cover in the ePub, converting to Mobipocket is easy to do.

user_none · 08-10-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpider

Epub is basically a zip archive. If it's DRM-free, open it with WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc., and replace de JPG image (with the same filename, resolution, etc).

Doing this you can create an EPUB that cannot be opened. The EPUB spec requires the elements to be in a specific order inside of the ZIP archive. If the application you're using changes the order by decompressing to a temporary location and recompressing you will end up with a book that cannot be opened.

JSWolf is correct that EPUB to EPUB conversation is unnecessary because you can edit the XML and add a cover and proper references to yourself. However, in cases where an EPUB does not have a cover properly defined it's easier for most people to do a one click convert than it is to fiddle with XML.

DaleDe · 08-10-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Doing this you can create an EPUB that cannot be opened. The EPUB spec requires the elements to be in a specific order inside of the ZIP archive. If the application you're using changes the order by decompressing to a temporary location and recompressing you will end up with a book that cannot be opened.

7zip does not have this problem. Do not extract, just open and drag the file into or out of the archive. 7zip will fix it without rearranging the file.

Dale

JSWolf · 08-10-2011, 05:00 PM

When you unzip the ePub, leave the directory META-INF and it's contents and the file minetype alone. That way you won't mess the structure of the ePub when you put the rest of the files back in. It's that easy.

If the cover code is not good or the cover XML is missing, I'll use code from Calibre's cover XML. I just have to look for it from a Calibre converted ePub. If I do have to create the cover XML, I'll then have to edit the OPF to add in the cover image and the cover XML and tell the OPF to use the cover XML as the first file opened.

user_none · 08-10-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When you unzip the ePub, leave the directory META-INF and it's contents and the file minetype alone. That way you won't mess the structure of the ePub when you put the rest of the files back in. It's that easy.

No it's not. The spec requires certain file to be in a specific location in the archive. It also requires certain files to be stored uncompressed. Some EPUB readers ignore these requirements and just uncompress the archive but many will refuse to open the file if you just zipped it and didn't follow the above requirements.

JSWolf · 08-10-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

No it's not. The spec requires certain file to be in a specific location in the archive. It also requires certain files to be stored uncompressed. Some EPUB readers ignore these requirements and just uncompress the archive but many will refuse to open the file if you just zipped it and didn't follow the above requirements.

When I remove all the files except META-INF and mimetype, FlightCrew has no issue with them at all after I've then put back the rest of the files.

If one uses Windows, ePubPack can be used to remake the ePub archive.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84675

user_none · 08-10-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When I remove all the files except META-INF and mimetype, FlightCrew has no issue with them at all after I've then put back the rest of the files.

Then you have gotten very lucky because FC checks for the packaging. For instance, the mimetype file must be at location 30, be uncompressed and contain exactly "application/epub+zip" without the quotes. This is on page 19(?) of the OCF spec.

mr ploppy · 08-10-2011, 06:20 PM

For mobi you can use mobiunpack to extract the html and edit it with notepad or whatever your favourite html editor is before putting it back together again with mobipocket creator. You can add or change the cover image at that stage.

dorkmania · 08-10-2011, 06:36 PM

The books are all in ePub, just for clarification.

JSWolf · 08-10-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Then you have gotten very lucky because FC checks for the packaging. For instance, the mimetype file must be at location 30, be uncompressed and contain exactly "application/epub+zip" without the quotes. This is on page 19(?) of the OCF spec.

I don't think it's lucky. I think it's because I've not readded mimetype and META-INF that they stay where they are meant to be.

08-10-2011, 07:25 AM	#1
dorkmania Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Is it possible to edit an ebook? I'm a bit of a weirdo and it bothers me that many ebooks don't have covers. Or they have hideous covers! I was wondering if it was possible edit an ebook and add in a cover? I'm guessing there isn't but I wanted to check just in case... It would be pretty awesome to be able to do that and to fix up any spelling/grammar errors.

08-10-2011, 05:00 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,740 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	When you unzip the ePub, leave the directory META-INF and it's contents and the file minetype alone. That way you won't mess the structure of the ePub when you put the rest of the files back in. It's that easy. If the cover code is not good or the cover XML is missing, I'll use code from Calibre's cover XML. I just have to look for it from a Calibre converted ePub. If I do have to create the cover XML, I'll then have to edit the OPF to add in the cover image and the cover XML and tell the OPF to use the cover XML as the first file opened. Last edited by JSWolf; 08-10-2011 at 05:02 PM.

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08-10-2011, 08:06 AM	#2
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	If you mean real ebooks and not pdf or djvu files, the answer is yes. Simple (generalized) process: 1- Strip DRM, if so encumbered. (How? Exercise for the student. ) 2- Run Calibre ebook management software to convert ebook to rtf or html. 3- Load file into word processor/office suite of choice to edit typos or violate copyright at will. 4- Run through Calibre again to specify cover and metadata before converting back to ebook format. That will work for pretty much any ebook. There are also specific tools and hacks for some formats (i.e., SIGIL epub editor, etc). Of course, a quality comercial ebook shouldn't need editing.

08-10-2011, 09:02 AM	#3
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	One word of advice, try to convert as little as possible. If it is not necessary to convert, don't do it. Conversions bring their own set of peculiarities with them. If it is an ePUB, do it in Sigil. Covers are easy and the RegEx possibilies will help you.

08-10-2011, 12:06 PM	#4
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	If your just adding a cover there is a good chance calibre can add it without any additional work. Properly built EPUBs for instance can have their covers changed. In cases where it doesn't work an EPUB to EPUB conversation is necessary and this will have minimal changes as a result of conversion. Changing the cover is really going to come down to the format of the ebook. MOBI for instance is a lot harder to change but it is still possible.

08-10-2011, 12:40 PM	#5
DSpider Evangelist Posts: 450 Karma: 343115 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Romania Device: PW2 2014	Epub is basically a zip archive. If it's DRM-free, open it with WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc., and replace de JPG image (with the same filename, resolution, etc). If it's PDF we're talking about you can have a look at my signature. Simply delete the cover page (usually the first one) using Adobe Acrobat X (or whatever) and add the one from Inkscape, or replace it entirely.

08-10-2011, 12:44 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,740 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If your source is an ePub, there is no need to convert ePub > ePub at all. Once you have the DRM stripped, you can edit the XML file that displays the cover and you can replace the generic cover image with a proper cover. Once done, you'll have a cover and the ePub will still be as it was (except for a proper cover). Converting to HTML or RTF is asking for trouble. If you do not start with ePub, it's not going to be so easy. If you have a Kindle, still start with ePub as when you have the proper cover in the ePub, converting to Mobipocket is easy to do.

08-10-2011, 06:20 PM	#13
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	For mobi you can use mobiunpack to extract the html and edit it with notepad or whatever your favourite html editor is before putting it back together again with mobipocket creator. You can add or change the cover image at that stage.

08-10-2011, 06:36 PM	#14
dorkmania Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	The books are all in ePub, just for clarification.