Add empty MD file to book

Dalcyks · 11-16-2016, 04:16 AM

I'd love to see an "Add empty MD" option added to the:
Add Books > Add an empty file to selected book records

I'm also very curious if the contents of those "empty" files is somehow user-definable (a template maybe?). I noticed that the "empty" TXT file contains the books' current metadata title. Is this defined somewhere?

For me, it would be helpful if the "empty" MD could contain a full metadata header in the appropriate format.

Thank you everyone for all you contribute to both Calibre and its users.

itimpi · 11-16-2016, 09:46 AM

If you add an empty record without using any file, then under the covers you will see that Calibre has added a .opf file containing a copy of the metadata for that book mirroring what is in the Calibre database record for the book.

What are you looking for that is different to this behaviour?

Dalcyks · 11-16-2016, 11:57 AM

In each MD I create, I include a standard Markdown metadata block (based on Calibres' implementation of the Markdown 'Meta' extension) and an initial "# title / ##### source" pair. Having this inserted into each "empty" file created would save that typing/cut-n-paste.

In general, being able to custom template the contents of each new "empty" file, would be fantastic. Calibre already seems to do some of this, i.e. the empty ePub comes pre-formatted with title, etc. Additionally, starting off the content-creation process without having to stare at an ACTUAL BLANK FILE provides a small psychological boost *grin*.

Thanks for the heads-up on the .opf. I'll have to go explore that !

davidfor · 11-16-2016, 08:07 PM

What happens if you convert the empty epub into a text file? The conversion will add/update the metadata in a lot of the book formats. I don't know if it will do this if TXT is the output format (and I can't test at the moment).

Dalcyks · 11-17-2016, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

What happens if you convert the empty epub into a text file?

Interestingly (to me, anyway), the TXT file will contain TITLE, NUM/SERIES, AUTHOR, a 3-asterisk scene break and the TITLE again.

This still doesn't get me much closer to having an empty book with an MD format in it. In the previous post, I was musing about the possibilities of having some user-defined content control of the "empty" formats when they are created.

As a note, I've had much more success getting Calibre to do consistent Markdown processing for an MD format than for a TXT format that contains Markdown. This is why I'd prefer to create an MD format specifically when I create the book.

BetterRed · 11-17-2016, 03:08 PM

If you're able to do a bit of coding, post a request in the Developer's subforum asking how to add another format to the list (AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, TXT) in the Add an Empty Book dialogue

BR

eschwartz · 11-27-2016, 02:05 AM

The list of "valid_empty_formats" is contained in "src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/polish/create.py", as is the method used to create said empty formats. Each format needs to be implemented separately, although in theory I guess a conversion could be used to handle any format???

Still, it should be easy to hack in MD by treating it exactly like TXT.

11-16-2016, 04:16 AM	#1
Dalcyks Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 110 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: midatlantic USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 3	Add empty MD file to book I'd love to see an "Add empty MD" option added to the: Add Books > Add an empty file to selected book records I'm also very curious if the contents of those "empty" files is somehow user-definable (a template maybe?). I noticed that the "empty" TXT file contains the books' current metadata title. Is this defined somewhere? For me, it would be helpful if the "empty" MD could contain a full metadata header in the appropriate format. Thank you everyone for all you contribute to both Calibre and its users.

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11-16-2016, 09:46 AM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	If you add an empty record without using any file, then under the covers you will see that Calibre has added a .opf file containing a copy of the metadata for that book mirroring what is in the Calibre database record for the book. What are you looking for that is different to this behaviour?

11-16-2016, 11:57 AM	#3
Dalcyks Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 110 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: midatlantic USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 3	In each MD I create, I include a standard Markdown metadata block (based on Calibres' implementation of the Markdown 'Meta' extension) and an initial "# title / ##### source" pair. Having this inserted into each "empty" file created would save that typing/cut-n-paste. In general, being able to custom template the contents of each new "empty" file, would be fantastic. Calibre already seems to do some of this, i.e. the empty ePub comes pre-formatted with title, etc. Additionally, starting off the content-creation process without having to stare at an ACTUAL BLANK FILE provides a small psychological boost grin. Thanks for the heads-up on the .opf. I'll have to go explore that !

11-16-2016, 08:07 PM	#4
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	What happens if you convert the empty epub into a text file? The conversion will add/update the metadata in a lot of the book formats. I don't know if it will do this if TXT is the output format (and I can't test at the moment).

11-17-2016, 03:08 PM	#6
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,568 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If you're able to do a bit of coding, post a request in the Developer's subforum asking how to add another format to the list (AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, TXT) in the Add an Empty Book dialogue BR

11-27-2016, 02:05 AM	#7
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The list of "valid_empty_formats" is contained in "src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/polish/create.py", as is the method used to create said empty formats. Each format needs to be implemented separately, although in theory I guess a conversion could be used to handle any format??? Still, it should be easy to hack in MD by treating it exactly like TXT.

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