Reading Metadata from OPF file in Zip Archive

DMTaylor · 12-27-2016, 12:04 AM

I download Audio books from an online service in the .mp3 format. I have a script that scrapes the web page for pertinent meta data and creates a .opf file. I locate the .mp3's, cover.jpg and .opf file in the same directory and then compress them to a .zip archive. When I drop the .zip file into the calibre library, it reads the .opf file stored in the .zip and sets the meta data (title, series, series index, author, publisher, pub date, description) correctly. The problem is that it does not grab the cover.jpg referenced in the .opf and stored in the .zip.

I looked at the way that the .epub format stores the cover and references it in the .opf and tried to mimic that without any success. Does anyone have any experience doing this?

Divingduck · 12-27-2016, 03:43 AM

I make something similar but not with a zip file (over directory structure). Most common issue for me was taking care on file- and folder names with included spaces and/or special characters.

kovidgoyal · 12-27-2016, 03:50 AM

Look at one of the OPF files int he calibre library folder to see how covers are referenced (EPUB's cover handling is much more messy).

kovidgoyal · 12-27-2016, 03:51 AM

Although, I should say that I am not a hundred percent certain that the code for reading metadata from zip files actually tries to read covers.

Divingduck · 12-27-2016, 04:10 AM

I just made a test with my test data. If I import a ZIP per drag&drop, normal import etc., the cover didn't import, if I import it via add multiple books via archive it did the job for me.

Maybe @DMTaylor can create a test sample for taking a look on it.

kovidgoyal · 12-27-2016, 07:05 AM

I took a quick look at the code and as per the function zip_opf_metadata() in metadata/zip.py the cover is read provided there is a reference to it in the opf file, it and the opf file are both in the root of the zip file (not in a subfolder) and the cover is in jpeg/png format.

DMTaylor · 01-02-2017, 09:31 AM

Thank you for your quick reply's. I'm on holiday and have not tested it yet, but it's probably what Kovidgoyal pointed out, that the .jpg needs to be in the root of the .zip and all my audio book archives start at a folder with the book pieces all stored in the folder. Will test when I get back.
Thanks again.

12-27-2016, 12:04 AM	#1
DMTaylor Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2016 Device: Android Phone	Reading Metadata from OPF file in Zip Archive I download Audio books from an online service in the .mp3 format. I have a script that scrapes the web page for pertinent meta data and creates a .opf file. I locate the .mp3's, cover.jpg and .opf file in the same directory and then compress them to a .zip archive. When I drop the .zip file into the calibre library, it reads the .opf file stored in the .zip and sets the meta data (title, series, series index, author, publisher, pub date, description) correctly. The problem is that it does not grab the cover.jpg referenced in the .opf and stored in the .zip. I looked at the way that the .epub format stores the cover and references it in the .opf and tried to mimic that without any success. Does anyone have any experience doing this?

12-27-2016, 04:10 AM	#5
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,161 Karma: 1404241 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	I just made a test with my test data. If I import a ZIP per drag&drop, normal import etc., the cover didn't import, if I import it via add multiple books via archive it did the job for me. Maybe @DMTaylor can create a test sample for taking a look on it. Last edited by Divingduck; 12-27-2016 at 04:12 AM.

01-02-2017, 09:31 AM	#7
DMTaylor Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2016 Device: Android Phone	Thanks for you reply's Thank you for your quick reply's. I'm on holiday and have not tested it yet, but it's probably what Kovidgoyal pointed out, that the .jpg needs to be in the root of the .zip and all my audio book archives start at a folder with the book pieces all stored in the folder. Will test when I get back. Thanks again.

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12-27-2016, 03:43 AM	#2
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,161 Karma: 1404241 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	I make something similar but not with a zip file (over directory structure). Most common issue for me was taking care on file- and folder names with included spaces and/or special characters.

12-27-2016, 03:50 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,844 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Look at one of the OPF files int he calibre library folder to see how covers are referenced (EPUB's cover handling is much more messy).

12-27-2016, 03:51 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,844 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Although, I should say that I am not a hundred percent certain that the code for reading metadata from zip files actually tries to read covers.

12-27-2016, 07:05 AM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,844 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I took a quick look at the code and as per the function zip_opf_metadata() in metadata/zip.py the cover is read provided there is a reference to it in the opf file, it and the opf file are both in the root of the zip file (not in a subfolder) and the cover is in jpeg/png format.

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