eBook Viewer recompressing in a non-standard way?

capidamonte · 06-12-2010, 11:08 PM

I'm creating some ePubs via script. They pass ePubCheck validation. They read fine, and seem to be constructed properly.

If I open and close the ePub with Calibre's Viewer, however, I cannot thereafter extract the archive nor read any file in it -- except that I can get a listing/directory structure. If I don't use the Viewer, I can reopen, edit, and recompress at will.

My archiver complains as follows when I try to examine content.opf:

Code:

7-Zip 9.04 beta  Copyright (c) 1999-2009 Igor Pavlov  2009-05-30
p7zip Version 9.04 (locale=en_US.utf8,Utf16=on,HugeFiles=on,2 CPUs)

Processing archive: /home/cap/Desktop/SHARED/Library/Stout_Rex/NeroWolfe/20_PrisonersBase/PrisonersBase.epub

Extracting  content.opf     Unsupported Method

Sub items Errors: 1

ePubCheck validates the file after the Viewer is done, so there's obviously something different in how the files are being decompressed between apps.

"Unsupported Method" is a dead giveaway that it is not a bug, just a difference.

This does not happen if I open it with FBreader first -- only with eBook Viewer.

I'm on Ubuntu 10.04, using Calibre 0.7.2.

Any thoughts on how I can access these "View"ed ePubs?

cap

kovidgoyal · 06-12-2010, 11:29 PM

I dont see this. calibre uses the standard zipfile module (part of the python stdlib) to create zip files,

For example doing

ebook-viewer myfile.epub && unzip -l myfile.epub

works fine for me

theducks · 06-12-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capidamonte

I'm creating some ePubs via script. They pass ePubCheck validation. They read fine, and seem to be constructed properly.

If I open and close the ePub with Calibre's Viewer, however, I cannot thereafter extract the archive nor read any file in it -- except that I can get a listing/directory structure. If I don't use the Viewer, I can reopen, edit, and recompress at will.

My archiver complains as follows when I try to examine content.opf:

Code:

7-Zip 9.04 beta  Copyright (c) 1999-2009 Igor Pavlov  2009-05-30
p7zip Version 9.04 (locale=en_US.utf8,Utf16=on,HugeFiles=on,2 CPUs)

Processing archive: /home/cap/Desktop/SHARED/Library/Stout_Rex/NeroWolfe/20_PrisonersBase/PrisonersBase.epub

Extracting  content.opf     Unsupported Method

Sub items Errors: 1

ePubCheck validates the file after the Viewer is done, so there's obviously something different in how the files are being decompressed between apps.

"Unsupported Method" is a dead giveaway that it is not a bug, just a difference.

This does not happen if I open it with FBreader first -- only with eBook Viewer.

I'm on Ubuntu 10.04, using Calibre 0.7.2.

Any thoughts on how I can access these "View"ed ePubs?

cap

Maybe that version of 7-zip has problems.

I can open a Calibre (viewer modified) EPUB with the standard Ubuntu (Lucid 32 bit) Archive Manager.

capidamonte · 06-13-2010, 12:04 AM

I'm using 7-zip with file-roller, and you're using unzip. That's the clue.

I've tried it from the command line: unzip works, but 7z doesn't. Searching around the web, looks like 7z has bugs -- and the purported fix (install p7zip-rar) doesn't seem to fix it in this instance.

File-roller uses 7z; so it doesn't work, but only after Viewer recompresses it -- it works fine opening WinZip'ped files. (My script runs in a virtual machine.)

Workaround is to ditch file-roller and switch to xarchiver. So thanks for the clue.

cap

capidamonte · 06-13-2010, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Maybe that version of 7-zip has problems.

I can open a Calibre (viewer modified) EPUB with the standard Ubuntu (Lucid 32 bit) Archive Manager.

I'm running Lucid 64-bit, Xubuntu. But mine is an upgrade, not a fresh install. There could be something wacky.

Got a workaround. I'll be doing a fresh install for a computer switch and I'll check it out more.

Thanks for helping,

cap

theducks · 06-13-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capidamonte

I'm running Lucid 64-bit, Xubuntu. But mine is an upgrade, not a fresh install. There could be something wacky.

Got a workaround. I'll be doing a fresh install for a computer switch and I'll check it out more.

Thanks for helping,

cap

Mine is multi- time upgrade (started out as Hardy or Gutsy)

I probably will re-instal since I managed to do something bad to the startup of the "Windows Manager" After Log-on, I have to always click on Appearance, and set "effects" before it will start.

capidamonte · 06-13-2010, 04:52 PM

You mean Compiz?

cap

theducks · 06-13-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capidamonte

You mean Compiz?

cap

I think so. I reinstalled Compiz, but it still fails to start until I select: Appearence, effects Normal., then it starts but it does not last through a reboot.
Many versions ago had this problem according to the Ubuntu Forum, but there are no reports for Lucid.
I probably Screwed with something I shouldn't have

and broke it.

capidamonte · 06-13-2010, 05:55 PM

It's probably some sort of inherited setting, that didn't get upgraded.

I use Xubuntu, which doesn't really use Compiz -- there are some simple compositing effects available, built-in.

Do the reinstall, it's worth it and if you export Synaptic markings to your home-directory, back it up and then copy it back after the install (and import the markings to Synaptic) you are at least 90% back to normal (and the last 10% are pretty minor.)

I usually do an app-by-app restore of my home-directory, though, especially if there are some settings issues.

cap

06-12-2010, 11:08 PM	#1
capidamonte Not who you think I am... Posts: 374 Karma: 30283 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Honolulu Device: PocketBook 360 -- Ivory	eBook Viewer recompressing in a non-standard way? I'm creating some ePubs via script. They pass ePubCheck validation. They read fine, and seem to be constructed properly. If I open and close the ePub with Calibre's Viewer, however, I cannot thereafter extract the archive nor read any file in it -- except that I can get a listing/directory structure. If I don't use the Viewer, I can reopen, edit, and recompress at will. My archiver complains as follows when I try to examine content.opf: Code: 7-Zip 9.04 beta Copyright (c) 1999-2009 Igor Pavlov 2009-05-30 p7zip Version 9.04 (locale=en_US.utf8,Utf16=on,HugeFiles=on,2 CPUs) Processing archive: /home/cap/Desktop/SHARED/Library/Stout_Rex/NeroWolfe/20_PrisonersBase/PrisonersBase.epub Extracting content.opf Unsupported Method Sub items Errors: 1 ePubCheck validates the file after the Viewer is done, so there's obviously something different in how the files are being decompressed between apps. "Unsupported Method" is a dead giveaway that it is not a bug, just a difference. This does not happen if I open it with FBreader first -- only with eBook Viewer. I'm on Ubuntu 10.04, using Calibre 0.7.2. Any thoughts on how I can access these "View"ed ePubs? cap

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06-12-2010, 11:29 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,036 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I dont see this. calibre uses the standard zipfile module (part of the python stdlib) to create zip files, For example doing ebook-viewer myfile.epub && unzip -l myfile.epub works fine for me

06-13-2010, 12:04 AM	#4
capidamonte Not who you think I am... Posts: 374 Karma: 30283 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Honolulu Device: PocketBook 360 -- Ivory	I'm using 7-zip with file-roller, and you're using unzip. That's the clue. I've tried it from the command line: unzip works, but 7z doesn't. Searching around the web, looks like 7z has bugs -- and the purported fix (install p7zip-rar) doesn't seem to fix it in this instance. File-roller uses 7z; so it doesn't work, but only after Viewer recompresses it -- it works fine opening WinZip'ped files. (My script runs in a virtual machine.) Workaround is to ditch file-roller and switch to xarchiver. So thanks for the clue. cap

06-13-2010, 04:52 PM	#7
capidamonte Not who you think I am... Posts: 374 Karma: 30283 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Honolulu Device: PocketBook 360 -- Ivory	You mean Compiz? cap

06-13-2010, 05:55 PM	#9
capidamonte Not who you think I am... Posts: 374 Karma: 30283 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Honolulu Device: PocketBook 360 -- Ivory	It's probably some sort of inherited setting, that didn't get upgraded. I use Xubuntu, which doesn't really use Compiz -- there are some simple compositing effects available, built-in. Do the reinstall, it's worth it and if you export Synaptic markings to your home-directory, back it up and then copy it back after the install (and import the markings to Synaptic) you are at least 90% back to normal (and the last 10% are pretty minor.) I usually do an app-by-app restore of my home-directory, though, especially if there are some settings issues. cap