new calibre help file

[BeccaPrice]

I've updated my calibre help file - it's still at the same url. I've added a topic on creating a wish list, and two topics on how to edit content (using Mobi Unpack) and .css files in exploded ebooks. I know there are ways to do these edits through calibre - I'm just not sure how to do it.

(I'm also using a new help generating software, Madcap Flare, so it'll look a bit different. I like the way Flare handles searches better than the old system.)

As I learn more about using calibre, I intend to continue to update the help file, so it will continue to be useful to people.

I really appreciate all the help people on these forums give me, and their patience with me as I learn.

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I've updated my calibre help file - it's still at the same url.

I like the Madcap Flare output better too.

There's an outdated link on the "About this Help File" page. Please either delete the "Methods and Examples for New calibre Users" bullet/link or change the title and url in that bullet to the new thread and version: How I Manage eBooks with calibre. Thanks.

[Agama]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I've updated my calibre help file - it's still at the same url. I've added a topic on creating a wish list, and two topics on how to edit content (using Mobi Unpack) and .css files in exploded ebooks. I know there are ways to do these edits through calibre - I'm just not sure how to do it.

Have a look at calibre's Tweak book command, (it should be on the right-click menu for a book and can be added to the main toolbar).

This explodes a book for editing, (content and/or style), and allows changes to be previewed. The book can then be rebuilt, if you're happy with the changes, or you can cancel to leave the book unchanged.

You may need to check which book formats are supported. I only use ePub.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Agama

You may need to check which book formats are supported. I only use ePub.

Mobi and ePub are both supported by the tweak book feature.

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Mobi and ePub are both supported by the tweak book feature.

To be precise KF8 MOBI is supported, not the older MOBI 6 files.

[BeccaPrice]

Thanks all. I'm clearly going to have to play with the Tweak Books feature so I can document it. I'll get the new version with the updated link (thanks, Unboggling) today and try to have Tweak Books documented sometime fairly soon.

ETA: Oh, wow, I really like Tweak Books - it's so much easier than using Mobi Unpack - as long as you have epub or KF8 - but it's really easy to convert to epub if you don't have it.

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I'll get the new version with the updated link (thanks, Unboggling) today and try to have Tweak Books documented sometime fairly soon.

Thanks for changing the link. Your work on the help file in June inspired me to make that revision.

[BeccaPrice]

Glad the help file is being of some use - I sometimes wonder whether anyone looks at it.

I really like your topic - lots of good advice there. I just jumped into doing things in calibre (as I usually do) and am now stuck with some early decisions that I might make differently now.

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Glad the help file is being of some use - I sometimes wonder whether anyone looks at it.

I know exactly what you mean. I learned some new things reading it. For example, I had no idea the Mobi Unpack plugin existed, or how useful the Reading List plugin can be.

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

… I just jumped into doing things in calibre (as I usually do) and am now stuck with some early decisions that I might make differently now.

Yes, me too. Currently I fix earlier mistakes or poor choices, when I discover them — if I know how to fix them, if that's not too time consuming. Otherwise I don't worry about it anymore. Last year I got rid of many serious early mistakes when I was eight months new to working with ebooks and using calibre, employing a simple but drastic method: I deleted all ebooks and started over at a higher knowledge/skill plateau, with better sources and higher standards for quality of format and content. No books, no serious and time-consuming problems to retro-fix. But at this point I wouldn't do that again.

[BetterRed]

BP - I have your help file bookmarked

Any chance of an making it RSS capable that would tell me where there's a new version

BR

[BeccaPrice]

boy, I don't know how to make it RSS capable. It exists as a collection of HTML files and helper-files, currently on the student server at my school. I'll write Madcap and see if there's a way to add an RSS feed to it. The other thing is I'm thinking of starting a blog, and announcing updates on the blog, and I could probably make that kind of announcement in an RSS feed.

As soon as I document Tweak Books (probably tomorrow) there will be an update, maybe by Monday, with that, and some topics on the Save To Disk stuff I've just learned about through conversations here.

(If anybody has suggestions for things to be added, let me know.)

[BetterRed]

@BP - Most of the blog services come with RSS capability as part of the furniture.

A link to your blog could be put here somewhere - in one of the Sticky's at the top of this section - like the New to Calibre one.

BR

[BeccaPrice]

Yeah, one of these days i'll get around to doing the blog - my adventures with technology or something like that. I love technology, I just don't understand it very well - which is how I got started documenting things, i suppose.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Thanks all. I'm clearly going to have to play with the Tweak Books feature so I can document it. I'll get the new version with the updated link (thanks, Unboggling) today and try to have Tweak Books documented sometime fairly soon.

ETA: Oh, wow, I really like Tweak Books - it's so much easier than using Mobi Unpack - as long as you have epub or KF8 - but it's really easy to convert to epub if you don't have it.

Mobi_Unpack will do most of the work for you in taking the KF8 files and building an ePub without the need to convert. It's not a perfect ePub, but from there it is very easy to fix it up.

[BeccaPrice]

JSWolf, would you look at the help fie, in the section Other Fun Stuff>Modify Contents and let me know whether I'm making he procedure more complex than it needs to be? Is there a simpler way to use Mobi_Unpack?