Extracting files from ePub on iPad/iMac

[AlanHK]

I've got a Mac-centric client that I make ePubs for.

It would be useful if he could extract the html files and images for his website as he needs them. I could do it for him, but is there a simple way he can do this on an iPad or iMac?
I know how fussy Macs are about filetypes so I don't know if an unzipper would work easily.

I guess Sigil or Calibre would work, but I'd rather not complicate things.

[eschwartz]

Rename the *.epub to *.zip and you can use any unzipper to open it up.

Some unzippers don't like the renamed file -- it's not just Mac, Linux's file-roller program (part of Gnome) at least used to choke on it for no good reason.
But the command-line `unzip` utility can definitely handle any file extension whatsoever.

[AlanHK]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Rename the *.epub to *.zip and you can use any unzipper to open it up.

That's the kind of hack I was looking to avoid. Then he has to change it back. (Would the system or iTunes try to stop him or give a warning?) And I thought that filetypes on Mac weren't that easy to change -- it's been a long time since I used Macs much, but it needed a special utility.

Ideally I was hoping for an unzipper that will work regardless of nominal filetype.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

Ideally I was hoping for an unzipper that will work regardless of nominal filetype.

There's a free 7Zip clone for Macs that'll do the trick.

Tell your client to try the following:

1. Install and run Keka.
2. Select Preferences > General > Actions > Always extract.
3. Select Preferences > Extraction > Extract to location > Next to original file.
4. Close Keka.

Once these preferences have been selected you can unpack ePubs by right-clicking the ePub and selecting Open with > Other > Keka > Open.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

That's the kind of hack I was looking to avoid. Then he has to change it back. (Would the system or iTunes try to stop him or give a warning?) And I thought that filetypes on Mac weren't that easy to change -- it's been a long time since I used Macs much, but it needed a special utility.

Ideally I was hoping for an unzipper that will work regardless of nominal filetype.

Well, I don't know what options there are for OSX, so I can't help you with finding a sane unzipper.
But changing fixing a filetype really is as easy as renaming it -- an EPUB is a renamed ZIP to begin with, so renaming it back ensures that applications will recognize it as a ZIP.

And as I said, the command-line unzip utility can handle arbitrary filenames.
You could also use pdurrant's ePub Zip/Unzip AppleScript application for Mac OS X. It is a drag-and-drop AppleScript which simply acts as a wrapper around `unzip`.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

I've got a Mac-centric client that I make ePubs for.

It would be useful if he could extract the html files and images for his website as he needs them. I could do it for him, but is there a simple way he can do this on an iPad or iMac?
I know how fussy Macs are about filetypes so I don't know if an unzipper would work easily.

I guess Sigil or Calibre would work, but I'd rather not complicate things.

Complicated
Oh! Right! MAC
"Simple enough, even a Manager can use one" -- Me (1988)

e-book viewer (the Calibre CLI tool) allows copy (and paste...someplace else )

[BryanK]

Fwiw, unzip works just fine on .epub files from the Terminal. But that would be *scary*.

[AlanHK]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

You could also use pdurrant's ePub Zip/Unzip AppleScript application for Mac OS X. It is a drag-and-drop AppleScript which simply acts as a wrapper around `unzip`.

Thanks, that sounds like the best option (i.e., that will require the least amount of explanation from me).

[dwig]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

That's the kind of hack I was looking to avoid. ...

Not the case if you modify eschwartz' method slightly.

Simply make a copy of the ePub first and change the extension on the copy only. Unzip the copy, extract the needed images, and delete the copy and left over extracted contents. That way there is no need to reassemble the ePub afterward.

[BetterRed]

@AlanHK - Assuming the epub is not ridiculously large and your client knows how to unpack a zip archive on his/her Mac, why not send two files, 'whatever.epub' and 'what's-in-whatever.zip'. The fact that the second is a rebadged copy of the first is hardly likely to be here or there. It would also deter your client from tinkering with the epub - a'la Hitch's recent 'Anyone here ever seen..." thread.

You could even remove the components that make it an epub -- mimetype, opf etc --- from the zip.

BR

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@AlanHK - Assuming the epub is not ridiculously large and your client knows how to unpack a zip archive on his/her Mac, why not send two files, 'whatever.epub' and 'what's-in-whatever.zip'. The fact that the second is a rebadged copy of the first is hardly likely to be here or there. It would also deter your client from tinkering with the epub - a'la Hitch's recent 'Anyone here ever seen..." thread.

You could even remove the components that make it an epub -- mimetype, opf etc --- from the zip.

BR

Indeed. My initial question on seeing this thread is: why the hell does he have to zip it BACK? Why not just copy the ePUB, and unzip it? Or, hell, for that matter, just copy it, unzip it, and send him the folder? No?

Hitch

[AlanHK]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Indeed. My initial question on seeing this thread is: why the hell does he have to zip it BACK? Why not just copy the ePUB, and unzip it? Or, hell, for that matter, just copy it, unzip it, and send him the folder? No?

Hitch

I don't appreciate the insulting tone.
Especially as it's predicated by you clearly not bothering to read my initial post, which explained exactly what I wanted to do and why.

Find something better to do than skimming old threads to look for opportunities to inject unhelpful sneering remarks.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

I don't appreciate the insulting tone.
Especially as it's predicated by you clearly not bothering to read my initial post, which explained exactly what I wanted to do and why.

Find something better to do than skimming old threads to look for opportunities to inject unhelpful sneering remarks.

First, I wasn't being snide, or insulting, and I didn't particularly think it was unhelpful. I genuinely don't understand, if your client is exceedingly unlikely to be able to do what you tell him, why it wouldn't be easier for you, and of course, for him, if you simply give him two ePUBs, or, to be explicit, one "real" ePUB and one "folder" ePUB that's now an unzipped folder.

NOR did I particularly think that a thread started 5 days ago was "old."

I deal with excruciatingly non-tech clients all day long. YES, I would by far rather that they manage their needs themselves, but half the time, no matter how much I try to foster independence, for their own sakes, not mine, it almost inevitably ends up causing more grief than it saves and twice the time.

I read your initial post, and eschwartz' response to you, AND this line, particularly:

That's the kind of hack I was looking to avoid. Then he has to change it back.

Given that that's not even a "hack," yes, of course, I wondered why he had to "change it back." Isn't that simply over-thinking it? Creating obstacles where none do exist?

I'm surprised that he can't copy an ePUB on a Mac, and change the file extension. Yes, I know that many Mac users don't display file extensions, and thus don't understand them, but this is rote stuff. One simple Screencast, saying "copy this, change that, and unzip it," and I'd think it would solve the issues. OR, as suggested elsewhere, send him both.

Of course--obviously--you know your client best. If it's too much for him, it's too much.

I'll simply point out that several different flavors of browser will, fairly routinely, save down an ePUB as a zipped archive. I know that Exploder does it, and I've been told, but not witnessed first-hand, that Safari will. That's one of the thoughts that I had, when asking what I thought was a perfectly reasonable question: WHY?

But, as you patently have all the feedback you want now, I'll leave you to it.



Hitch