find/replace function no longer useful

Dan__ · 12-23-2025, 09:38 PM

calibre 8.16.1
see the screen shot
calibre on left, sigil on right
calibre shows result of command-F (this is mac)

My goal was to search within the css files for some text and remove it. Doing this is sigil is straightforwared

In the calibre editor, the find is so dumbed-down that compared to the sigil find and replace the current implementation in calibre is, from my humble point of view, totally useless. It apparently can only search open files whereas sigil gives you a wide choice of file types to search and it will search them all without needing to open each one.

Perhaps this is taking simplification too far?

Sigil is always an option but it entails a more complex workflow: open book folder, rt-click open with sigil. Not a biggy

Maybe all that's needed is an option sto specify what epub editor to use when choosing edit book from the rt-click options in calibre?

If, as usual, I'm way off target and totally inappropriate, just tell me and I will go away.

Thank you

Comfy.n · 12-23-2025, 10:19 PM

There are no screenshots in your post, but I am guessing what you're missing is the "All text style files"option:

BetterRed · Yesterday, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan__

. . .
Sigil is always an option but it entails a more complex workflow: open book folder, rt-click open with sigil.

I use Calibre's built in Open with custom shortcuts - Shift+S for Sigil, Shift+E for calibre editor etc.

Click image for larger version

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BR

Dan__ · Yesterday, 02:39 AM

Thank ou. i will look for that It's in the pref I suppose

BetterRed · Yesterday, 04:26 AM

See ==>> Configuring and using Calibre's built in Open With

lomkiri · Yesterday, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan__

calibre 8.16.1
My goal was to search within the css files for some text and remove it. Doing this is sigil is straightforwared

Comfy.n · Yesterday, 07:34 AM

@lomkiri yeah I missed the search "within the css files" bit

theducks · Yesterday, 11:43 AM

??? I have Calibre editor saved searches that run against CSS all the time.
I even run 3 as a group selection . They work as long as yo remember to make sure the scope is set to All Style files (the file does not need to be the current window in the editor with this choice)

My only mumble is why the saved search does not allow it to remember the scope setting. The default should be No change)

Dan__ · Yesterday, 02:07 PM

That's useful information

There is one thing that has me terminally confused. I have the latest calibre installed on several computers. They are all running Debian 13 with Cinnamon. The UI in the book editor is different on each of them. The one from which the screenshot was taken yestercay looks completely different from the one I'm looking at today. It's find/replace looks almost exactly like the one in sigil. It is obvious how to have it search all CSS. The otherone has a completely different file-type dropdown that only has 4 options and none of those are "All CSS Files".

I can't begin to fathom how the same app can yield such wildely different results on 2 ostensibly identical systems.

Any thoughts?

Dan__ · Yesterday, 02:10 PM

Also, and maybe related. Opening some epubs in Sigil get a warning about malformed content which it fixed. The Calibre editor, so far, has not shown me messages like that on the same books.

Dan__ · Yesterday, 02:19 PM

also, I not that when sigil opens it always opens the first text or html file in the book and the find/replace area is populated. When the Calibre Editor opens a book it selects no file and ^F will not display the find/replace area until you open a file in the edit area. This is an unnecessary extra step if one, for example, knew that one wanted to search all css files and knew what the search string would be. Not critical but I find it an odd and less helpful approach that the one that sigil has taken

Karellen · Yesterday, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan__

Also, and maybe related. Opening some epubs in Sigil get a warning about malformed content which it fixed. The Calibre editor, so far, has not shown me messages like that on the same books.

Sigil checks for a <!DOCTYPE html> declaration
Calibre does not.

Dan__ · Yesterday, 03:24 PM

I learn something every day

KevinH · Yesterday, 03:36 PM

And it checks for and adds if missing the top line xml declaration as well.

lomkiri · Yesterday, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

Sigil checks for a <!DOCTYPE html> declaration
Calibre does not.

... and Sigil (optionally) adds it if missing, and Calibre editor removes it when "beautifying" the file[s]

12-23-2025, 09:38 PM	#1
Dan__ Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 39754 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook - Simple Touch	find/replace function no longer useful calibre 8.16.1 see the screen shot calibre on left, sigil on right calibre shows result of command-F (this is mac) My goal was to search within the css files for some text and remove it. Doing this is sigil is straightforwared In the calibre editor, the find is so dumbed-down that compared to the sigil find and replace the current implementation in calibre is, from my humble point of view, totally useless. It apparently can only search open files whereas sigil gives you a wide choice of file types to search and it will search them all without needing to open each one. Perhaps this is taking simplification too far? Sigil is always an option but it entails a more complex workflow: open book folder, rt-click open with sigil. Not a biggy Maybe all that's needed is an option sto specify what epub editor to use when choosing edit book from the rt-click options in calibre? If, as usual, I'm way off target and totally inappropriate, just tell me and I will go away. Thank you

12-23-2025, 10:19 PM	#2
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,734 Karma: 7927573 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	There are no screenshots in your post, but I am guessing what you're missing is the "All text style files"option: Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Comfy.n; Yesterday at 07:32 AM.

Yesterday, 03:24 PM	#13
Dan__ Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 39754 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook - Simple Touch	thank you I learn something every day

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Yesterday, 02:39 AM	#4
Dan__ Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 39754 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook - Simple Touch	Thank ou. i will look for that It's in the pref I suppose

Yesterday, 04:26 AM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,092 Karma: 30277960 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	See ==>> Configuring and using Calibre's built in Open With

Yesterday, 07:34 AM	#7
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,734 Karma: 7927573 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	@lomkiri yeah I missed the search "within the css files" bit

Yesterday, 11:43 AM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,375 Karma: 62500000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	??? I have Calibre editor saved searches that run against CSS all the time. I even run 3 as a group selection . They work as long as yo remember to make sure the scope is set to All Style files (the file does not need to be the current window in the editor with this choice) My only mumble is why the saved search does not allow it to remember the scope setting. The default should be No change)

Yesterday, 02:07 PM	#9
Dan__ Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 39754 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook - Simple Touch	That's useful information There is one thing that has me terminally confused. I have the latest calibre installed on several computers. They are all running Debian 13 with Cinnamon. The UI in the book editor is different on each of them. The one from which the screenshot was taken yestercay looks completely different from the one I'm looking at today. It's find/replace looks almost exactly like the one in sigil. It is obvious how to have it search all CSS. The otherone has a completely different file-type dropdown that only has 4 options and none of those are "All CSS Files". I can't begin to fathom how the same app can yield such wildely different results on 2 ostensibly identical systems. Any thoughts?

Yesterday, 02:10 PM	#10
Dan__ Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 39754 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook - Simple Touch	Also, and maybe related. Opening some epubs in Sigil get a warning about malformed content which it fixed. The Calibre editor, so far, has not shown me messages like that on the same books.

Yesterday, 02:19 PM	#11
Dan__ Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 39754 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook - Simple Touch	also, I not that when sigil opens it always opens the first text or html file in the book and the find/replace area is populated. When the Calibre Editor opens a book it selects no file and ^F will not display the find/replace area until you open a file in the edit area. This is an unnecessary extra step if one, for example, knew that one wanted to search all css files and knew what the search string would be. Not critical but I find it an odd and less helpful approach that the one that sigil has taken

Yesterday, 03:36 PM	#14
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 9,166 Karma: 6565346 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	And it checks for and adds if missing the top line xml declaration as well.