Cover issue with zipped HTML->MOBI

digitalCalibrato · 03-18-2012, 03:39 PM

I've been working on getting a story formatted for publishing as mobi/epub. My files are HTML with an external CSS, and a single image file that's used in Chapter 4, all zipped together for importing into Calibre for conversion.

My problem is that when I convert to mobi (haven't tried epub yet to see if it has the same problem), it takes that one image from Chapter 4 and tries to apply it as a cover image. If I use "Remove first image" option, it gets rid of it as trying to be a cover image, but it also removes its real use in Chapter 4.

wallcraft · 03-18-2012, 04:02 PM

You need a cover of some kind. If you are using the command line, then there is a --cover (Set the cover to the specified file or URL) option but the simplest approach is to import the HTML into GUI Calibre and edit the metadata (then select generate cover, or provide an image). There is a Generate Cover Plugin that might help if you want a generic but still custom cover.

Editing the metadata is a good idea anyway. Since it confirms that you have exactly what you want in there.

dwig · 03-18-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalCalibrato

...
My problem is ...

... what, exactly?

You claim to have a problem but just state what is happening without stating what you want to accomplish. Are you actually trying to create an ebook without a cover? That would be a very poor marketing choice.

You could place another image, a "cover" image, as the very first item in the <body> section of the HTML.

digitalCalibrato · 03-18-2012, 05:57 PM

What's going on is this:

This is a fanfiction, so it's target audience already knows about it and perhaps just wants a more portable format to read. I had downloaded other fanfictions from Archive of Our Own to basically 'archive' on my Kindle for when I wanted to re-read them, but the auto-generated .mobi file was horrendously formatted. I thus decided to "roll my own". Now, this particular fanfiction is being reworked (due to author realizing serious plot holes), so I'm formatting updating mobi/epub versions with each new chapter (we're already over 25k words at 4 chapters in).

In the Chapters 1-3 version, the kindle mobi worked just fine without a cover. Chapter 4 actually includes an image during the story, so I

Code:

<img src="">

it. But now when I convert the html version, it includes that image at the top of the book as though trying to use it as a cover image AS WELL AS in its proper location. If I click the "remove first image", Calibre removes the 'cover' usage, but it also removes the intended usage.

But I guess I'll just throw something together for a proper cover image, and if the author has something else she'd rather use, I'll replace it.

03-18-2012, 03:39 PM	#1
digitalCalibrato Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Kindle	Cover issue with zipped HTML->MOBI I've been working on getting a story formatted for publishing as mobi/epub. My files are HTML with an external CSS, and a single image file that's used in Chapter 4, all zipped together for importing into Calibre for conversion. My problem is that when I convert to mobi (haven't tried epub yet to see if it has the same problem), it takes that one image from Chapter 4 and tries to apply it as a cover image. If I use "Remove first image" option, it gets rid of it as trying to be a cover image, but it also removes its real use in Chapter 4.

03-18-2012, 04:02 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	You need a cover of some kind. If you are using the command line, then there is a --cover (Set the cover to the specified file or URL) option but the simplest approach is to import the HTML into GUI Calibre and edit the metadata (then select generate cover, or provide an image). There is a Generate Cover Plugin that might help if you want a generic but still custom cover. Editing the metadata is a good idea anyway. Since it confirms that you have exactly what you want in there. Last edited by wallcraft; 03-18-2012 at 04:09 PM.

03-18-2012, 05:57 PM	#4
digitalCalibrato Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Kindle	What's going on is this: This is a fanfiction, so it's target audience already knows about it and perhaps just wants a more portable format to read. I had downloaded other fanfictions from Archive of Our Own to basically 'archive' on my Kindle for when I wanted to re-read them, but the auto-generated .mobi file was horrendously formatted. I thus decided to "roll my own". Now, this particular fanfiction is being reworked (due to author realizing serious plot holes), so I'm formatting updating mobi/epub versions with each new chapter (we're already over 25k words at 4 chapters in). In the Chapters 1-3 version, the kindle mobi worked just fine without a cover. Chapter 4 actually includes an image during the story, so I Code: <img src=""> it. But now when I convert the html version, it includes that image at the top of the book as though trying to use it as a cover image AS WELL AS in its proper location. If I click the "remove first image", Calibre removes the 'cover' usage, but it also removes the intended usage. But I guess I'll just throw something together for a proper cover image, and if the author has something else she'd rather use, I'll replace it.

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