Epub cover won't display as preview thumbnail in file explorer

alexia.k · 12-15-2017, 05:19 PM

Hello everyone!

I am editing an epub file in Calibre so that I can read it using ADE.

I have inserted a new cover for it and in the Edit Book section I have set this image as cover (both cover.jpg & cover_page.html) and saved to disk.

The problem is that the preview thumbnail on Windows doesn't display the updated cover, but a random image from the book. I have many books and I would like to be able to see their original covers in file explorer.

I tried converting the original epub file to EPUB and it updatesthe cover, but it dramatically reduces the quality of the file.

I also tried to polish the book by using "Update the cover", but no luck.

Is there a way that I can achieve this?

BetterRed · 12-15-2017, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexia.k

Is there a way that I can achieve this?

Maybe, see ==>> Thumbnail previews for epub files in Window explorer folders?

BR

alexia.k · 12-15-2017, 06:10 PM

I can see epub preview thumbnails in general, just not the book cover.

BetterRed · 12-15-2017, 06:37 PM

The solution in the thread I posted made reference (via some links) to a windows shell extension called CBX Shell and a registry hack - it worked for me and others in 2014. I didn't keep it for myself, so I don't know if it will work today. See the MR Wiki link in that thread.

BR

jbacelar · 12-15-2017, 07:13 PM

The preview thumbnail on Windows shows the first image of all the ordered images.
The solution is to name the cover image: 001.jpg (for example).

alexia.k · 12-15-2017, 11:59 PM

It worked. A very easy solution, thanks a lot jbacelar!

jbacelar · 12-16-2017, 01:02 AM

You're welcome!

caseym54 · 02-05-2018, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbacelar

The preview thumbnail on Windows shows the first image of all the ordered images.
The solution is to name the cover image: 001.jpg (for example).

Yes, but that requires modifying files and sometimes you don't want to do that. Also it doesn't support azw3. CDisplayEx and similar assume that the first image is the cover, which it is in comics, but that is usually not true in an epub.

The Calibre program ALWAYS finds the cover, if present, in any supported format. It would be great if the Calibre cover function could be made into a shell preview.

caseym54 · 03-19-2018, 02:39 AM

There is a "cover" attribute in epub files that Calibre looks for.

You can test this by opening a file in the (free) Sigil epub editor, selecting an image file and right-clicking. Only one image has the cover attribute set.

If you change it, then drop into Calibre, Calibre will extract the new "cover" and use that.

12-15-2017, 05:19 PM	#1
alexia.k Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2017 Device: none	Epub cover won't display as preview thumbnail in file explorer Hello everyone! I am editing an epub file in Calibre so that I can read it using ADE. I have inserted a new cover for it and in the Edit Book section I have set this image as cover (both cover.jpg & cover_page.html) and saved to disk. The problem is that the preview thumbnail on Windows doesn't display the updated cover, but a random image from the book. I have many books and I would like to be able to see their original covers in file explorer. I tried converting the original epub file to EPUB and it updatesthe cover, but it dramatically reduces the quality of the file. I also tried to polish the book by using "Update the cover", but no luck. Is there a way that I can achieve this?

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12-15-2017, 06:10 PM	#3
alexia.k Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2017 Device: none	I can see epub preview thumbnails in general, just not the book cover.

12-15-2017, 06:37 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,553 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	The solution in the thread I posted made reference (via some links) to a windows shell extension called CBX Shell and a registry hack - it worked for me and others in 2014. I didn't keep it for myself, so I don't know if it will work today. See the MR Wiki link in that thread. BR

12-15-2017, 07:13 PM	#5
jbacelar Interested in the matter Posts: 421 Karma: 426094 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Spain, south coast Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	The preview thumbnail on Windows shows the first image of all the ordered images. The solution is to name the cover image: 001.jpg (for example).

12-15-2017, 11:59 PM	#6
alexia.k Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2017 Device: none	It worked. A very easy solution, thanks a lot jbacelar!

12-16-2017, 01:02 AM	#7
jbacelar Interested in the matter Posts: 421 Karma: 426094 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Spain, south coast Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	You're welcome!

03-19-2018, 02:39 AM	#9
caseym54 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: ABQ, NM, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10G	There is a "cover" attribute in epub files that Calibre looks for. You can test this by opening a file in the (free) Sigil epub editor, selecting an image file and right-clicking. Only one image has the cover attribute set. If you change it, then drop into Calibre, Calibre will extract the new "cover" and use that.

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