08-10-2011, 07:25 AM | #1 |
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Is it possible to edit an ebook?
I'm a bit of a weirdo and it bothers me that many ebooks don't have covers. Or they have hideous covers! I was wondering if it was possible edit an ebook and add in a cover?
I'm guessing there isn't but I wanted to check just in case... It would be pretty awesome to be able to do that and to fix up any spelling/grammar errors. |
08-10-2011, 08:06 AM | #2 |
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If you mean real ebooks and not pdf or djvu files, the answer is yes.
Simple (generalized) process: 1- Strip DRM, if so encumbered. (How? Exercise for the student. ) 2- Run Calibre ebook management software to convert ebook to rtf or html. 3- Load file into word processor/office suite of choice to edit typos or violate copyright at will. 4- Run through Calibre again to specify cover and metadata before converting back to ebook format. That will work for pretty much any ebook. There are also specific tools and hacks for some formats (i.e., SIGIL epub editor, etc). Of course, a quality comercial ebook shouldn't need editing. |
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08-10-2011, 09:02 AM | #3 |
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One word of advice, try to convert as little as possible. If it is not necessary to convert, don't do it. Conversions bring their own set of peculiarities with them.
If it is an ePUB, do it in Sigil. Covers are easy and the RegEx possibilies will help you. |
08-10-2011, 12:06 PM | #4 |
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If your just adding a cover there is a good chance calibre can add it without any additional work. Properly built EPUBs for instance can have their covers changed. In cases where it doesn't work an EPUB to EPUB conversation is necessary and this will have minimal changes as a result of conversion.
Changing the cover is really going to come down to the format of the ebook. MOBI for instance is a lot harder to change but it is still possible. |
08-10-2011, 12:40 PM | #5 |
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Epub is basically a zip archive. If it's DRM-free, open it with WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc., and replace de JPG image (with the same filename, resolution, etc).
If it's PDF we're talking about you can have a look at my signature. Simply delete the cover page (usually the first one) using Adobe Acrobat X (or whatever) and add the one from Inkscape, or replace it entirely. |
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08-10-2011, 12:44 PM | #6 |
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If your source is an ePub, there is no need to convert ePub > ePub at all.
Once you have the DRM stripped, you can edit the XML file that displays the cover and you can replace the generic cover image with a proper cover. Once done, you'll have a cover and the ePub will still be as it was (except for a proper cover). Converting to HTML or RTF is asking for trouble. If you do not start with ePub, it's not going to be so easy. If you have a Kindle, still start with ePub as when you have the proper cover in the ePub, converting to Mobipocket is easy to do. |
08-10-2011, 01:02 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
JSWolf is correct that EPUB to EPUB conversation is unnecessary because you can edit the XML and add a cover and proper references to yourself. However, in cases where an EPUB does not have a cover properly defined it's easier for most people to do a one click convert than it is to fiddle with XML. |
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08-10-2011, 02:05 PM | #8 | |
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08-10-2011, 05:00 PM | #9 |
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When you unzip the ePub, leave the directory META-INF and it's contents and the file minetype alone. That way you won't mess the structure of the ePub when you put the rest of the files back in. It's that easy.
If the cover code is not good or the cover XML is missing, I'll use code from Calibre's cover XML. I just have to look for it from a Calibre converted ePub. If I do have to create the cover XML, I'll then have to edit the OPF to add in the cover image and the cover XML and tell the OPF to use the cover XML as the first file opened. Last edited by JSWolf; 08-10-2011 at 05:02 PM. |
08-10-2011, 05:07 PM | #10 |
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No it's not. The spec requires certain file to be in a specific location in the archive. It also requires certain files to be stored uncompressed. Some EPUB readers ignore these requirements and just uncompress the archive but many will refuse to open the file if you just zipped it and didn't follow the above requirements.
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08-10-2011, 05:31 PM | #11 | |
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If one uses Windows, ePubPack can be used to remake the ePub archive. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84675 Last edited by JSWolf; 08-10-2011 at 05:37 PM. |
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08-10-2011, 05:48 PM | #12 | |
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08-10-2011, 06:20 PM | #13 |
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For mobi you can use mobiunpack to extract the html and edit it with notepad or whatever your favourite html editor is before putting it back together again with mobipocket creator. You can add or change the cover image at that stage.
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08-10-2011, 06:36 PM | #14 |
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The books are all in ePub, just for clarification.
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08-10-2011, 07:23 PM | #15 | |
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