separate cover/separate OPF

u238110 · 02-22-2015, 12:57 AM

What are the pros and cons of these two options?

BetterRed · 02-22-2015, 01:30 AM

@u238110 - the cover and opf (metadata as xml) file will be what you have in the book folder - usually the 'best' cover you have, and all the metadata including custom columns. In the saved format file(s) any embedded cover and metadata may be considerably less; as dictated by the format specs; maybe not so much of a concern with EPUB, but could be major concern for TXT.

Pro's and cons will depend on why you did the save, and what you're wanting to do with the saved materiel. If it's to sideload to a reader then you probably don't need them because the reader will get cover and metadata from the format file. But if its for something like backup you may well want to have them.

BR

u238110 · 02-23-2015, 12:59 AM

All I know is I download the documents as a single entity and Calibre creates the separate cover and OPF file after I import it. I prefer the single entity. And when I've edited a document I then copy and paste the edited version from the Calibre folder, ignoring the extras....

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 01:43 AM

Very well then, why do you bother adding the books to calibre in the first place?

u238110 · 02-23-2015, 02:30 AM

To edit them.

BetterRed · 02-23-2015, 04:09 AM

There's no need to put books in a library to edit them. The major features of calibre are available via the ==>> The Command Line Interface - and quite a few of the minor ones too.

BR

u238110 · 02-23-2015, 04:13 AM

Interesting. Thanks.

theducks · 02-23-2015, 06:22 AM

Editing is also available from the Start menu (or equiv)

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 10:59 AM

Yep -- calibre is three programs in one, with a common backend. Edit Book, Ebook-viewer, and Library. The Library does tie in the other two as well.

u238110 · 03-05-2015, 03:29 PM

If I uncheck 'Save metadata in seperate OPF file' will Calibre make an ebook file where the metadata is 'built in'?

dickloraine · 03-05-2015, 05:34 PM

You just have to click the "embed metadata" icon in the toolbar to do this. Maybe the icon is not there, then you have to add it through the preferences. If you save to disk, then metadat is automatically updated.

eschwartz · 03-05-2015, 07:38 PM

The checkbox right above "Save metadata in a separate OPF file"... is "Update metadata in saved copies".

The conclusion I, personally, derived from there is that in-book metadata and OPF metadata have nothing to do with each other...

02-22-2015, 12:57 AM	#1
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	separate cover/separate OPF What are the pros and cons of these two options? Attached Thumbnails

02-22-2015, 01:30 AM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,715 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@u238110 - the cover and opf (metadata as xml) file will be what you have in the book folder - usually the 'best' cover you have, and all the metadata including custom columns. In the saved format file(s) any embedded cover and metadata may be considerably less; as dictated by the format specs; maybe not so much of a concern with EPUB, but could be major concern for TXT. Pro's and cons will depend on why you did the save, and what you're wanting to do with the saved materiel. If it's to sideload to a reader then you probably don't need them because the reader will get cover and metadata from the format file. But if its for something like backup you may well want to have them. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 02-22-2015 at 01:44 AM.

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02-23-2015, 12:59 AM	#3
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	All I know is I download the documents as a single entity and Calibre creates the separate cover and OPF file after I import it. I prefer the single entity. And when I've edited a document I then copy and paste the edited version from the Calibre folder, ignoring the extras....

02-23-2015, 01:43 AM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Very well then, why do you bother adding the books to calibre in the first place?

02-23-2015, 02:30 AM	#5
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	To edit them.

02-23-2015, 04:09 AM	#6
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,715 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	There's no need to put books in a library to edit them. The major features of calibre are available via the ==>> The Command Line Interface - and quite a few of the minor ones too. BR

02-23-2015, 04:13 AM	#7
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	Interesting. Thanks.

02-23-2015, 06:22 AM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,037 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Editing is also available from the Start menu (or equiv)

02-23-2015, 10:59 AM	#9
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Yep -- calibre is three programs in one, with a common backend. Edit Book, Ebook-viewer, and Library. The Library does tie in the other two as well.

03-05-2015, 03:29 PM	#10
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	If I uncheck 'Save metadata in seperate OPF file' will Calibre make an ebook file where the metadata is 'built in'?

03-05-2015, 05:34 PM	#11
dickloraine Guru Posts: 631 Karma: 7544528 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Berlin Device: PRS 350, Kobo Aura	You just have to click the "embed metadata" icon in the toolbar to do this. Maybe the icon is not there, then you have to add it through the preferences. If you save to disk, then metadat is automatically updated.

03-05-2015, 07:38 PM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The checkbox right above "Save metadata in a separate OPF file"... is "Update metadata in saved copies". The conclusion I, personally, derived from there is that in-book metadata and OPF metadata have nothing to do with each other...

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