Increasing epub file size

Terisa de morgan · 10-12-2016, 03:18 PM

It has been pointed to me that it is possible to increase an epub file size so I can use it later for sorting series. I don't know really how to modify the zip file... without adding more contents that disturb the book (or when I'm reading it...). Can anybody explain me how to do it?

chrisridd · 10-12-2016, 04:01 PM

The only thing I can think of is that since epub files are just zip files (with a mimetype file at the beginning, and so on) and that zip files have comments, you can add something to the zip file comment.

Since I don't know what sort of computer you have, it might be best to google for something like "adding comments to zip files".

But I don't really understand what you're trying to do. Don't you want the series information inside the book's OPF file along with the other metadata?

Terisa de morgan · 10-12-2016, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisridd

The only thing I can think of is that since epub files are just zip files (with a mimetype file at the beginning, and so on) and that zip files have comments, you can add something to the zip file comment.

Since I don't know what sort of computer you have, it might be best to google for something like "adding comments to zip files".

But I don't really understand what you're trying to do. Don't you want the series information inside the book's OPF file along with the other metadata?

It was suggested that I could increase the file size so ordering by file size would be the same than order by number in the serie (yes, a patch,, but if it works...). And I have a Windows 7, a Windows 10 and cygwin in both of them. I could "temporary get" a linux machine too.

Dusky Rose · 10-12-2016, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

It was suggested that I could increase the file size so ordering by file size would be the same than order by number in the serie

I'd be afraid to mess up the file so that it wouldn't open.

For me, I put the series information in the name of the file. Example...

[Gavin and Palmer 01] - No Peace for the Wicked
[Gavin and Palmer 02] - No Help for the Dying
[Gavin and Palmer 03] - No Sleep for the Dead
[Gavin and Palmer 04] - No Tears for the Lost

Since I care more for the books sorting together, and don't really care what the book's title is, this keeps them together and if I'm missing one it's easy to see.

With Calibre you can enter the series info in a column all it's own, and then tell the program to put the series in the front of the file name when you save it somewhere. But I've never actually done it that way.

I do the same with the Fanfic I save, if it's part of a series.

It's just easier for me to put it in the title and leave it there, since that's the only real information (besides the Author's Name) that I care about.

Terisa de morgan · 10-12-2016, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusky Rose

I'd be afraid to mess up the file so that it wouldn't open.

For me, I put the series information in the name of the file. Example...

[Gavin and Palmer 01] - No Peace for the Wicked
[Gavin and Palmer 02] - No Help for the Dying
[Gavin and Palmer 03] - No Sleep for the Dead
[Gavin and Palmer 04] - No Tears for the Lost

Since I care more for the books sorting together, and don't really care what the book's title is, this keeps them together and if I'm missing one it's easy to see.

With Calibre you can enter the series info in a column all it's own, and then tell the program to put the series in the front of the file name when you save it somewhere. But I've never actually done it that way.

I do the same with the Fanfic I save, if it's part of a series.

It's just easier for me to put it in the title and leave it there, since that's the only real information (besides the Author's Name) that I care about.

I do it only with the number in the series for the metadata (name of file too, but that is a totally different story).

chrisridd · 10-12-2016, 04:41 PM

Another option would be to add a bigger and bigger image into each file using something like Sigil. The image wouldn't be used in the book but would take up space.

This still seems like a terrible hack :-)

Terisa de morgan · 10-12-2016, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisridd

Another option would be to add a bigger and bigger image into each file using something like Sigil. The image wouldn't be used in the book but would take up space.

This still seems like a terrible hack :-)

I was thinking along that line too. And, for me, it wouldn't be something quite intrusive, as it is only for some books. Thank you very much, really.

JSWolf · 10-12-2016, 04:53 PM

Upping the ePub size is a silly idea. It accomplishes nothing and could cause more hassle than it's worth.

Terisa de morgan · 10-12-2016, 04:59 PM

Well, nothing, nothing, if I could sort right the series without updating the title, it would be enough for me.

Alastair_S · 10-12-2016, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Well, nothing, nothing, if I could sort right the series without updating the title, it would be enough for me.

How about changing the file date and time so that ePubs are in series order when you sort by date? (A search for 'file date stamp' should bring up links to a number of such tools.)

JSWolf · 10-12-2016, 05:43 PM

You could sort by date added. Just make sure to add one at a time.

Me, I prefer the filename fix. That makes it easy to see what's what. Also, I can easily see what's a novella and what's a novel.

dwig · 10-12-2016, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusky Rose

I'd be afraid to mess up the file so that it wouldn't open.

For me, I put the series information in the name of the file. Example...

[Gavin and Palmer 01] - No Peace for the Wicked
[Gavin and Palmer 02] - No Help for the Dying
....

This has been my method for quite some time. I do tend to keep the Series name as short as practical, often a terse abbreviation.

davidfor · 10-12-2016, 09:01 PM

@Terisa:

Firstly: YUCK!!!!!!!

It probably doesn't matter what you add. It has to be a file, it has to be big enough to affect the compressed size in the way you want. It probably should be added to the manifest to make any parsers happy.

I think the simplest is to generate an image file that suits and add it. That can be safely added to the manifest and so long as it isn't linked, nothing will show it. If you use a format that doesn't get compressed much, you should be able to predict what happens when you add it to the epub. Unfortunately, you can't just add the same image multiple times, as the compression will probably optimise that.

But, as I said, YUCK!

10-12-2016, 03:18 PM	#1
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,620 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	Increasing epub file size It has been pointed to me that it is possible to increase an epub file size so I can use it later for sorting series. I don't know really how to modify the zip file... without adding more contents that disturb the book (or when I'm reading it...). Can anybody explain me how to do it?

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10-12-2016, 04:01 PM	#2
chrisridd Guru Posts: 977 Karma: 2209358 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura ONE, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	The only thing I can think of is that since epub files are just zip files (with a mimetype file at the beginning, and so on) and that zip files have comments, you can add something to the zip file comment. Since I don't know what sort of computer you have, it might be best to google for something like "adding comments to zip files". But I don't really understand what you're trying to do. Don't you want the series information inside the book's OPF file along with the other metadata?

10-12-2016, 04:41 PM	#6
chrisridd Guru Posts: 977 Karma: 2209358 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura ONE, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	Another option would be to add a bigger and bigger image into each file using something like Sigil. The image wouldn't be used in the book but would take up space. This still seems like a terrible hack :-)

10-12-2016, 04:53 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,612 Karma: 145864263 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Upping the ePub size is a silly idea. It accomplishes nothing and could cause more hassle than it's worth.

10-12-2016, 04:59 PM	#9
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,620 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	Well, nothing, nothing, if I could sort right the series without updating the title, it would be enough for me.

10-12-2016, 05:43 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,612 Karma: 145864263 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You could sort by date added. Just make sure to add one at a time. Me, I prefer the filename fix. That makes it easy to see what's what. Also, I can easily see what's a novella and what's a novel.

10-12-2016, 09:01 PM	#13
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	@Terisa: Firstly: YUCK!!!!!!! It probably doesn't matter what you add. It has to be a file, it has to be big enough to affect the compressed size in the way you want. It probably should be added to the manifest to make any parsers happy. I think the simplest is to generate an image file that suits and add it. That can be safely added to the manifest and so long as it isn't linked, nothing will show it. If you use a format that doesn't get compressed much, you should be able to predict what happens when you add it to the epub. Unfortunately, you can't just add the same image multiple times, as the compression will probably optimise that. But, as I said, YUCK!

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