Convert to kepub removes spaces between words and adds unnecessary CSS

[DJeBook]

Hi all, I'm using Calibre 7.23 and sending epubs to the Kobo. In the process, it adds a lot of CSS to the kepub and removes spaces, which results in missing spaces between words. I also have the Kobo plugins Koboutilities and another one (can't remember), both of which were updated recently. When send an epub to the Kobo (using send specific format, kepub), it converts automatically. But in creates errors. This happens on almost every page, 2-3 words per page have this.

I've tried with the standalone Kepubify tool (https://pgaskin.net/kepubify) and get the same results.

I've seen another older thread about this, without a real solution and it is closed.

Here is an example of the original epub text:

Another example is when people focus on their preferred issues.

In the original epub, the html for this is simply:
Another example is when people focus on <i>their</i> preferred issues.

Once sent to the kobo however, CSS classes are added and it removes the spaces:
<span class="koboSpan" id="kobo.31.1">Another example is when people focus on</span><i><span class="koboSpan" id="kobo.32.1">their</span></i><span class="koboSpan" id="kobo.33.1"> preferred issues.</span>

This results in the text on the Kobo doing "focus ontheir preferred issues.

Why is it doing that, and how can I fix it?

Here's another example, this one with a lot of added CSS (where there shouldn't even be any) which also removes spaces. While the span specifies a type "pagebreak", there shouldn't actually be a page break there, it's in the middle of a paragraph.

On the original epub:
This is similar to the people <span aria-label="page xvi" epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_xvi" role="doc-pagebreak"/>who made it.

In the kepub version:
This is similar to the people</span><span aria-label="page xvi" epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_xvi" role="doc-pagebreak"></span><span class="koboSpan" id="kobo.36.1">who made it.

Once converted, the books are a mess with a lot of CSS added.

[Sirtel]

Missing spaces - that's the latest version of the KoboTouch Extended Driver; it has a bug that does this. Downgrade to the previous version until the problem has been fixed.

The added spans are a feature of kepubs. If you don't want them in the css, don't use the extended driver at all and send the books as plain epubs.

[DJeBook]

Can't find how to edit the original post. Additional info:
I just recently updated Kobo Touch Extended and Kepub Output to 3.7.2 (9 December 2024 release).

I will downgrade them both and will try again. Will report on results.

[DJeBook]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Missing spaces - that's the latest version of the KoboTouch Extended Driver; it has a bug that does this. Downgrade to the previous version until the problem has been fixed.

The added spans are a feature of kepubs. If you don't want them in the css, don't use the extended driver at all and send the books as plain epubs.

Downgrading the plugins seems to have worked.

I downgraded (using Time Machine) to older versions of Kobo Touch Extended and Kepub Output (from 3.7.2, reverted to 3.7.0) and that seems to have solved the spacing problem. The cover image was gone, so I just removed the book entirely from the Kobo device and re-sent it, now everything seems fine at first glance (only checked instance of removed space).

[jaceygan]

The space issue caused by 3.7.2 really should be stickied given how widespread the issue is.

For anyone else that found this, this is how you downgrade from 3.7.2:

1. Download 3.7.1 KoboTouchExtended.zip from https://github.com/jgoguen/calibre-kobo-driver/releases

2. In Calibre, go to Preferences -> Plugins and click "Load Plugins from File", select the zip file downloaded from the step above.

3. Restart Calibre.

4. The affected books need to be re-uploaded to your kobo devices.

[JSWolf]

This thread needs to be in the KoboTouchExtended plugin thread and not on it's own.

[Shadowjack]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

This thread needs to be in the KoboTouchExtended plugin thread and not on it's own.

I disagree. If you encounter the problem of removed spaces but don't know what caused it, you wouldn't know where to look. That is indeed what happened to me. Until I saw this (and a similar earlier thread) I had the problem but didn't know it was caused by KTE.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Shadowjack

I disagree. If you encounter the problem of removed spaces but don't know what caused it, you wouldn't know where to look. That is indeed what happened to me. Until I saw this (and a similar earlier thread) I had the problem but didn't know it was caused by KTE.

And that is why I had no problems with the question being posted here since it does concern Kobo ereaders.