Book cover difficulties

kjkw · 01-14-2012, 02:19 PM

Using 'Edit Metadata' in Calibre, I downloaded the metadata and an Amazon cover for a book that had been converted to mobi format. The Amazon book cover now appears in the 'Edit Metadata' screen. I then clicked on 'OK', and the Amazon cover now also appears in the main Calibre screen.

1) when I open the cover.jpg file, it's the Amazon cover
2) when I open the book in the Calibre E-book Viewer, I still get the original generic cover
3) when I open it in Kindle for PC viewer, I still get the original generic cover
4) when I view my Kindle for PC library, the Amazon cover appears there
5) when I email both the mobi and the cover.jpg file to the documents folder of my Kindle Fire, I still get the generic cover, both in the folder and in the viewer

How might I get the correct cover to appear in the Caliber viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire folder and viewer? Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thanks.

itimpi · 01-14-2012, 02:58 PM

The only way you can guarantee getting the cover embedded into a book is to run a conversion (even if it is Mobi->Mobi).

kjkw · 01-14-2012, 03:57 PM

The original conversion was from azw to mobi, using Calibre with a plug in. It produced three files, mobi, metadata.mpf, and cover.jpg. The cover.jpg file, however, is just a generic cover, which is what was included in the original azw file. When the azw file is viewed in the Kindle for PC viewer it contains that generic cover, but the correct cover is displayed in the Kindle for PC library, possibly being instantly brought in from the web. This is what caused me to try downloading the cover to the converted mobi file using 'Edit Metadata'.

When I try running the mobi file back through Calibre's conversion procedure, I get the same result.

The conversion from azw to mobi has worked correctly with other books, and has included the correct cover within the Calibre viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire folder and viewer.

kovidgoyal · 01-14-2012, 09:54 PM

When you are looking at a mobi file in Kindle Previewer you have to use the Go to cover menu item to see the actual cover as opposed to the first image in the file.

JSWolf · 01-14-2012, 10:02 PM

AZW is Mobi so an AZW > Mobi is actually Mobi > Mobi.

kjkw · 01-14-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

When you are looking at a mobi file in Kindle Previewer you have to use the Go to cover menu item to see the actual cover as opposed to the first image in the file.

In this particular case, the Amazon cover is displayed in the Kindle Library display, but using the Go to Cover menu from inside the book takes me to the generic cover rather than the Amazon cover.

I've converted nine azw files to mobi so far. Six of them ended up with the 'real' book cover and three of them with a generic cover.

kovidgoyal · 01-14-2012, 10:52 PM

Are you looking at the boko in Kindle Previewer or Kindle for PC? Kindle for PC caches covers. Use Kindle Previewr. Or better yet, use the calibre ebook viewer to check what the cover in the file is.

kjkw · 01-15-2012, 08:54 AM

The original azw file is encrypted and not supported by the Kindle Previewer. When it is viewed in the Kindle for PC viewer it displays the generic cover.

When the mobi file to which it was converted is viewed in the Kindle Previewer it displays the generic cover. This is also true when the mobi file is viewed in the Caliber viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire viewer. The only place the 'real' cover appears is in the Kindle for PC library.

kovidgoyal · 01-15-2012, 08:57 AM

I find it rather difficult to believe that doing a conversion from MOBI to MOBI does not update the cover. Open a bug report and attach this mobi file, though I am 99.99% certain that I will just end up closing that bug report with "works for me". Still, for the 0.01%

HarryT · 01-15-2012, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjkw

The original azw file is encrypted and not supported by the Kindle Previewer. When it is viewed in the Kindle for PC viewer it displays the generic cover.

When the mobi file to which it was converted is viewed in the Kindle Previewer it displays the generic cover. This is also true when the mobi file is viewed in the Caliber viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire viewer. The only place the 'real' cover appears is in the Kindle for PC library.

As has been said, when you change the cover in the metadata editor, you need to do a "Mobi to Mobi" conversion to make the new cover "stick" to the book.

kjkw · 01-15-2012, 09:27 AM

I'll need some instructions regarding how to open a bug report.

kjkw · 01-15-2012, 09:50 AM

I think I may have found my error. I was doing the mobi to mobi conversion by finding the mobi file, copying it to another location, deleting the book from Calibre, and then dragging the relocated file into the Calibre window. I didn't realize that I could do it just by pressing the 'Convert books' button immediately after doing the original conversion. The 'real' cover now appears in both the Calibre viewer and the Kindle for PC viewer. I'll now have to send it to my Kindle Fire and see what happens there.

Thank you all for the assistance.

theducks · 01-15-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjkw

I think I may have found my error. I was doing the mobi to mobi conversion by finding the mobi file, copying it to another location, deleting the book from Calibre, and then dragging the relocated file into the Calibre window. I didn't realize that I could do it just by pressing the 'Convert books' button immediately after doing the original conversion. The 'real' cover now appears in both the Calibre viewer and the Kindle for PC viewer. I'll now have to send it to my Kindle Fire and see what happens there.

Thank you all for the assistance.

Adding a Mobi file does NOT convert it (it IS a Mobi file

)
Forcing a Convert Mobi in Mobi out updates the file.

kjkw · 01-15-2012, 10:26 AM

Yes, I'm now beginning to get the picture of how this stuff works.

01-14-2012, 02:19 PM	#1
kjkw Ken Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire	Book cover difficulties Using 'Edit Metadata' in Calibre, I downloaded the metadata and an Amazon cover for a book that had been converted to mobi format. The Amazon book cover now appears in the 'Edit Metadata' screen. I then clicked on 'OK', and the Amazon cover now also appears in the main Calibre screen. 1) when I open the cover.jpg file, it's the Amazon cover 2) when I open the book in the Calibre E-book Viewer, I still get the original generic cover 3) when I open it in Kindle for PC viewer, I still get the original generic cover 4) when I view my Kindle for PC library, the Amazon cover appears there 5) when I email both the mobi and the cover.jpg file to the documents folder of my Kindle Fire, I still get the generic cover, both in the folder and in the viewer How might I get the correct cover to appear in the Caliber viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire folder and viewer? Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thanks.

01-15-2012, 08:54 AM	#8
kjkw Ken Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire	The original azw file is encrypted and not supported by the Kindle Previewer. When it is viewed in the Kindle for PC viewer it displays the generic cover. When the mobi file to which it was converted is viewed in the Kindle Previewer it displays the generic cover. This is also true when the mobi file is viewed in the Caliber viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire viewer. The only place the 'real' cover appears is in the Kindle for PC library. Last edited by kjkw; 01-15-2012 at 08:57 AM.

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01-14-2012, 02:58 PM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	The only way you can guarantee getting the cover embedded into a book is to run a conversion (even if it is Mobi->Mobi).

01-14-2012, 03:57 PM	#3
kjkw Ken Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire	The original conversion was from azw to mobi, using Calibre with a plug in. It produced three files, mobi, metadata.mpf, and cover.jpg. The cover.jpg file, however, is just a generic cover, which is what was included in the original azw file. When the azw file is viewed in the Kindle for PC viewer it contains that generic cover, but the correct cover is displayed in the Kindle for PC library, possibly being instantly brought in from the web. This is what caused me to try downloading the cover to the converted mobi file using 'Edit Metadata'. When I try running the mobi file back through Calibre's conversion procedure, I get the same result. The conversion from azw to mobi has worked correctly with other books, and has included the correct cover within the Calibre viewer, the Kindle for PC viewer, and the Kindle Fire folder and viewer.

01-14-2012, 09:54 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,267 Karma: 27111060 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	When you are looking at a mobi file in Kindle Previewer you have to use the Go to cover menu item to see the actual cover as opposed to the first image in the file.

01-14-2012, 10:02 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,505 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	AZW is Mobi so an AZW > Mobi is actually Mobi > Mobi.

01-14-2012, 10:52 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,267 Karma: 27111060 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Are you looking at the boko in Kindle Previewer or Kindle for PC? Kindle for PC caches covers. Use Kindle Previewr. Or better yet, use the calibre ebook viewer to check what the cover in the file is.

01-15-2012, 08:57 AM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,267 Karma: 27111060 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I find it rather difficult to believe that doing a conversion from MOBI to MOBI does not update the cover. Open a bug report and attach this mobi file, though I am 99.99% certain that I will just end up closing that bug report with "works for me". Still, for the 0.01%

01-15-2012, 09:27 AM	#11
kjkw Ken Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire	I'll need some instructions regarding how to open a bug report.

01-15-2012, 09:50 AM	#12
kjkw Ken Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire	I think I may have found my error. I was doing the mobi to mobi conversion by finding the mobi file, copying it to another location, deleting the book from Calibre, and then dragging the relocated file into the Calibre window. I didn't realize that I could do it just by pressing the 'Convert books' button immediately after doing the original conversion. The 'real' cover now appears in both the Calibre viewer and the Kindle for PC viewer. I'll now have to send it to my Kindle Fire and see what happens there. Thank you all for the assistance.

01-15-2012, 10:26 AM	#14
kjkw Ken Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire	Yes, I'm now beginning to get the picture of how this stuff works.

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