epub attachment corrupted by Outlook?

exaltedwombat · 04-07-2012, 12:37 PM

I'm swapping epub files with another user, working on them in Sigil. When he sends me an epub file as an attachment to an email, Microsoft Outlook seems to be changing them! Not complete corruption - the files still work. But I just received one with half a chapter missing! Filesize of the epub is well inside the permissable limits - much bigger pictures arrive OK.

If I go to my isp's webmail interface, the same file downloads intact.

OK, so use the webmail interface. But does anyone know what's going on?

kevinp · 04-07-2012, 08:21 PM

I use Outlook 2007 and have no problem sending epubs. I'm sure you couldn't care less, but I'm just letting you know it does work.

Try sending your email as plain text. I don't know what version of Outlook you're using, but in 2007 from a new email, click on the Options tab and look for the Format box. Choose Plain Text, add your attachment and try sending it.

taming · 04-07-2012, 08:25 PM

zip/RAR the files.

exaltedwombat · 04-07-2012, 08:45 PM

Thank you both for the interest and suggestions.

I'm getting the problem when receiving epub attachments. I'm not sure what the other guy is using to send them.

I tried asking him to send it zipped. Amasingly, no difference. Or maybe not so amazingly, considering an epub file (like a docx) essentially IS a zip file already.

Belfaborac · 04-07-2012, 10:12 PM

I would think this is a problem originating with the sender, considering it happens with both ePUBs and zips. Ask someone else to send you an ePUB and a zip and see if the same thing happens then. If not, the sender is the one with the problem; if the problem persists, you're the problem (well, your Outloook or your PC, or something).

I use Outlook too by the way and have never seen anything of the kind you describe.

Rob Lister · 04-08-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exaltedwombat

Thank you both for the interest and suggestions.

I'm getting the problem when receiving epub attachments. I'm not sure what the other guy is using to send them.

I tried asking him to send it zipped. Amasingly, no difference. Or maybe not so amazingly, considering an epub file (like a docx) essentially IS a zip file already.

Isolate. Send an epub to yourself. Does it work? No: your machine. Yes: his machine.

MmavisO · 04-08-2012, 10:31 AM

Or bypass the email problem entirely--get an cloud storage account (like Box--link in my siggy). Give both you access. Upload and download from there. No size restrictions, no email problems. There are several different providers, and most have quite large accounts for free. Box is the one I'm familiar with, and last I checked you start out with 5 gig free. In the interest of full disclosure, if you use the link in my siggy, we both get some extra space.

dwig · 04-08-2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exaltedwombat

...
If I go to my isp's webmail interface, the same file downloads intact.
...

This indicates that the problem is not caused by something on the sender's end. It limits the issue to Outlook and/or any Outlook addin. I suspect that it is an Outlook addin that is the issue, quite possibly a virus scanner that is recognizing the epub as being the archive that it is and scanning its contents.

theducks · 04-08-2012, 10:31 PM

Are these UTF8 encoded? Sending as 'text' may strip high order bits.
It would be safer to go the Zip/RAR route.

Also beware the anti-virus that fixes files without asking

vxf · 04-08-2012, 11:46 PM

I am not sure that is relevant, but I use Outlook 2007 and have no problems sending/receiving epubs.

exaltedwombat · 04-09-2012, 12:07 PM

I un-zipped the epub file and looked at the source code directly. His version was there.

It was HTML Tidy. He had it off, I had it on. Rather frightening that it decided to truncate a chapter though!

The difference between two methods of downloading must have been my wishful thinking, struggling towards a solution!

04-07-2012, 12:37 PM	#1
exaltedwombat Guru Posts: 878 Karma: 2457540 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	epub attachment corrupted by Outlook? I'm swapping epub files with another user, working on them in Sigil. When he sends me an epub file as an attachment to an email, Microsoft Outlook seems to be changing them! Not complete corruption - the files still work. But I just received one with half a chapter missing! Filesize of the epub is well inside the permissable limits - much bigger pictures arrive OK. If I go to my isp's webmail interface, the same file downloads intact. OK, so use the webmail interface. But does anyone know what's going on?

04-07-2012, 10:12 PM	#5
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	I would think this is a problem originating with the sender, considering it happens with both ePUBs and zips. Ask someone else to send you an ePUB and a zip and see if the same thing happens then. If not, the sender is the one with the problem; if the problem persists, you're the problem (well, your Outloook or your PC, or something). I use Outlook too by the way and have never seen anything of the kind you describe. Last edited by Belfaborac; 04-07-2012 at 10:15 PM.

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04-07-2012, 08:21 PM	#2
kevinp Fanatic Posts: 583 Karma: 3549018 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle PW (10th & 11th gen); Fire HD 10	I use Outlook 2007 and have no problem sending epubs. I'm sure you couldn't care less, but I'm just letting you know it does work. Try sending your email as plain text. I don't know what version of Outlook you're using, but in 2007 from a new email, click on the Options tab and look for the Format box. Choose Plain Text, add your attachment and try sending it.

04-07-2012, 08:25 PM	#3
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	zip/RAR the files.

04-07-2012, 08:45 PM	#4
exaltedwombat Guru Posts: 878 Karma: 2457540 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	Thank you both for the interest and suggestions. I'm getting the problem when receiving epub attachments. I'm not sure what the other guy is using to send them. I tried asking him to send it zipped. Amasingly, no difference. Or maybe not so amazingly, considering an epub file (like a docx) essentially IS a zip file already.

04-08-2012, 10:31 AM	#7
MmavisO Seeker Posts: 349 Karma: 479648 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Liberty, MO USA Device: Asus TF, PB 360, Jetbook Lite	Or bypass the email problem entirely--get an cloud storage account (like Box--link in my siggy). Give both you access. Upload and download from there. No size restrictions, no email problems. There are several different providers, and most have quite large accounts for free. Box is the one I'm familiar with, and last I checked you start out with 5 gig free. In the interest of full disclosure, if you use the link in my siggy, we both get some extra space.

04-08-2012, 10:31 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,913 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Are these UTF8 encoded? Sending as 'text' may strip high order bits. It would be safer to go the Zip/RAR route. Also beware the anti-virus that fixes files without asking

04-08-2012, 11:46 PM	#10
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I am not sure that is relevant, but I use Outlook 2007 and have no problems sending/receiving epubs.

04-09-2012, 12:07 PM	#11
exaltedwombat Guru Posts: 878 Karma: 2457540 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	I un-zipped the epub file and looked at the source code directly. His version was there. It was HTML Tidy. He had it off, I had it on. Rather frightening that it decided to truncate a chapter though! The difference between two methods of downloading must have been my wishful thinking, struggling towards a solution!