What are the benefits of Calibre converting epub to kepub?

Colonel Cathcart · 01-13-2021, 03:02 AM

I'm both new to the e-reader world and Calibre. I installed Calibre 5.9.0 and a buncha plugins for use with my recently purchased Kobo Libra H2O:
Kobo utilities
Kobo touch extended
KePub metadata reader/writer

I tried comparing a few epubs transferred to the Libra twice: once by coping the files directly, renaming them to kepub.epub; and by converting them to kepub by Calibre.
I also tried to diff the two files, which shows some significant changes to formatting. ( I set Calibre's Common Options -> Page setup's output profile to Tablet so that it'll not mess with images).

The results, so far, seem indistinguishable to my untrained eye, which is good. But the question arises: What are the benefits of all these changes Calibre does to the text. Isn't kepub a super-set of epub? can't I simply transfer the file over? Can I tweak Calibre to simply copy epubs over and just rename them to kepub.epub?

Colonel Cathcart · 01-13-2021, 03:10 AM

Can no longer edit the OP, I should've added that I disabled the Kobo touch plugin.

davidfor · 01-13-2021, 03:28 AM

Kepubs are epubs with some extra spans. These are used by the kepub reader for the location in the books. If they are not added, the device cannot record the position correctly for either the reading location or for annotations. For the reading location, it will always open the book to the start of the chapter that you were reading rather than the correct location.

For annotations, I can't remember if you just won't be able to make them, if they won't be save, or if they won't be displayed in the book later. It has been a while since I tried this.

Without the spans, the book should display correctly. I cannot think of anything that won't work if you just read from the start to the end of the book.

Sirtel · 01-13-2021, 05:04 AM

The advantages of kepub:

it's faster
the images can be zoomed
there's all kinds of reading stats available

The advantages of epub:

typography and layout are somewhat better, so it looks a bit nicer

Most people prefer kepub, but a few (myself included) use mostly epub.

Uncle Robin · 01-13-2021, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Most people prefer kepub, but a few (myself included) use mostly epub.

Given the Ligature love here, I wouldn't be surprised if most MR users were epub readers

01-13-2021, 03:02 AM	#1
Colonel Cathcart Addict Posts: 207 Karma: 340434 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Israel Device: Kobo Libra H2O	What are the benefits of Calibre converting epub to kepub? I'm both new to the e-reader world and Calibre. I installed Calibre 5.9.0 and a buncha plugins for use with my recently purchased Kobo Libra H2O: Kobo utilities Kobo touch extended KePub metadata reader/writer I tried comparing a few epubs transferred to the Libra twice: once by coping the files directly, renaming them to kepub.epub; and by converting them to kepub by Calibre. I also tried to diff the two files, which shows some significant changes to formatting. ( I set Calibre's Common Options -> Page setup's output profile to Tablet so that it'll not mess with images). The results, so far, seem indistinguishable to my untrained eye, which is good. But the question arises: What are the benefits of all these changes Calibre does to the text. Isn't kepub a super-set of epub? can't I simply transfer the file over? Can I tweak Calibre to simply copy epubs over and just rename them to kepub.epub?

01-13-2021, 05:04 AM	#4
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,129 Karma: 224760044 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	The advantages of kepub: it's faster the images can be zoomed there's all kinds of reading stats available The advantages of epub: typography and layout are somewhat better, so it looks a bit nicer Most people prefer kepub, but a few (myself included) use mostly epub.

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01-13-2021, 03:10 AM	#2
Colonel Cathcart Addict Posts: 207 Karma: 340434 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Israel Device: Kobo Libra H2O	Can no longer edit the OP, I should've added that I disabled the Kobo touch plugin.

01-13-2021, 03:28 AM	#3
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Kepubs are epubs with some extra spans. These are used by the kepub reader for the location in the books. If they are not added, the device cannot record the position correctly for either the reading location or for annotations. For the reading location, it will always open the book to the start of the chapter that you were reading rather than the correct location. For annotations, I can't remember if you just won't be able to make them, if they won't be save, or if they won't be displayed in the book later. It has been a while since I tried this. Without the spans, the book should display correctly. I cannot think of anything that won't work if you just read from the start to the end of the book.

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