Bug in marking image as the cover with ePub2.

JSWolf · 03-27-2026, 04:21 PM

Then I mark an image as the cover in an ePub2, I get lines like...

This one is in the metadata.
<meta name="cover" content="coverimg"/>

This one is in the guide.
<reference type="cover" href="images/9781984818553_cover.jpg"/>

The line in the guide triggers an error in the latest epubcheck. So it would be a good idea not to add it to the guide so it won't have to be removed. The error is not a valid "OPS Content Document".

kovidgoyal · 03-27-2026, 09:01 PM

Does not replicate for me. Steps I tried:

1) Open an epub2 file in the editor
2) Right click on an image file and markit as the cover
3) There is no entry in the guide pointing to it, as expected.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Does not replicate for me. Steps I tried:

1) Open an epub2 file in the editor
2) Right click on an image file and markit as the cover
3) There is no entry in the guide pointing to it, as expected.

This scrambled eBook shows the issue. Just mark the cover image as the cover and you'll see the error in the guide.

DNSB · Yesterday, 06:05 PM

I checked the book. When I marked the file as the cover image, a item was added to guide section of the opf file pointing at the image and the metadata entry was also created.

Karellen · Yesterday, 06:17 PM

When you mark the xhtml file as the Cover, then that guide entry is overwritten with the correct entry.

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 11:14 PM

yes if there is no proper html cover marked then the image is used as a fallback.So it will be fine when you mark the html cover.

JSWolf · Today, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

yes if there is no proper html cover marked then the image is used as a fallback.So it will be fine when you mark the html cover.

You don't mark the HTML file that displays the cover as the cover. You mark just the cover image as the cover.

Now that I've provided proof that this is a bug, is this going to be fixed?

03-27-2026, 04:21 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 82,670 Karma: 151278869 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Bug in marking image as the cover with ePub2. Then I mark an image as the cover in an ePub2, I get lines like... This one is in the metadata. <meta name="cover" content="coverimg"/> This one is in the guide. <reference type="cover" href="images/9781984818553_cover.jpg"/> The line in the guide triggers an error in the latest epubcheck. So it would be a good idea not to add it to the guide so it won't have to be removed. The error is not a valid "OPS Content Document".

Yesterday, 06:05 PM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 50,931 Karma: 179232776 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I checked the book. When I marked the file as the cover image, a item was added to guide section of the opf file pointing at the image and the metadata entry was also created. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by DNSB; Yesterday at 06:11 PM. Reason: removed comment about alternative ePub editor

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03-27-2026, 09:01 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 46,142 Karma: 29626604 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Does not replicate for me. Steps I tried: 1) Open an epub2 file in the editor 2) Right click on an image file and markit as the cover 3) There is no entry in the guide pointing to it, as expected.

Yesterday, 06:17 PM	#5
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,807 Karma: 9501034 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	When you mark the xhtml file as the Cover, then that guide entry is overwritten with the correct entry.

Yesterday, 11:14 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 46,142 Karma: 29626604 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	yes if there is no proper html cover marked then the image is used as a fallback.So it will be fine when you mark the html cover.