Add to chapter marks to mobi file?

[neonbible]

Whats the easiest way to edit a mobi file to add chapter marks?

Please dont say convert it to epub in Calibre and edit with Sigil

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by neonbible

Whats the easiest way to edit a mobi file to add chapter marks?

Please dont say convert it to epub in Calibre and edit with Sigil

Don't ask for the easiest if that isn't what you want
You could also extract the html from the mobi file, add header tags to it in the relevant places, then re-generate the mobi with mobicreator.

[Blossom]

Calibre using Heuristics processing sometimes works. Sometimes the right xpath regular expression will do it. You can quickly view the code of your book in the Search and Replace Wizard to see what it is so you know what regex will work if Heuristics processing fails to find the chapters.

Make a backup of your mobi file so you can drag into Calibre each time you need run a test conversion.

I don't use Sigil at all.

[Lazer]

My apology in advance... I'm writing a book and go from an HTML file, add the photos in Sigil, create a TOC, (check it in the TOC editor), and then convert to a mobi with Calibre.... I find it a fairly easy task.....

Again, SORRY!!!!!

[TenaciousBadger]

This is what I do when I edit my own files:

1. I make sure all my "Chapter 1/2/3/4 etc" are Heading 1 (from styles and formatting)
2. Then I save as HTML
3. Use Mobipocket Creator to make .PRC (and there I create a TOC by specifying "h1, class, western" in the Tags' 1st Level <-- remember Heading 1)
4. Simply convert .PRC to .MOBI by using Calibre

PS: I use OpenOffice to edit the files but I'm pretty sure it will work in Word as well.
And, sometimes, it works with other tags (in HTMLs I'm too lazy to edit) but most of the times I have to use h1, class, western.
Other times, when the book is already a .MOBI/.PRC I just run it through Calibre once and voila, chapter marks! But again it does not always work. People have explained it to me but it just flies over my head...

[ATDrake]

To add chapter marks to a pre-existing Mobi file with a decent HTML table of contents already inside it, I'd say

1. unpack using the Mobiunpack script
2. copy-paste the TOC section and then
3. regexp or otherwise search/replace the HTML bits surrounding the chapter titles and anchor links to create an NCX
4. fill in the PlayOrder and other necessary pieces
5. regenerate the Mobi, linking your new NCX

It's not exactly easy, but it takes marginally fewer steps than the Calibre to Sigil to Calibre/KindleGen round-trip.

[neonbible]

I guess the biggest concern for me is not laziness but changes to formatting due to conversion to epub and then back again.

[ATDrake]

In which case, Mobiunpack and manual NCX creation, though mildly tedious, will give you the least formatting changes since it'll leave the actual Mobi formatting untouched, which Mobi-ePub-Mobi almost certainly won't.