avoiding Sigil's meta in content.opf

sbin · 01-06-2016, 05:32 AM

My boss at work wants me to produce epubs without brands/app names in the content.opf, so every time I deliver a book for the publication, I have to manually remove metas such as:

Code:

<meta name="generator" content="Adobe InDesign" />

or

Code:

<meta content="0.9.2" name="Sigil version"/>

It may be silly, but this is what I'm asked for.

I was wondering if it would be possible to prevent Sigil from inserting its meta in the first place, so I could avoid the hassle of unpacking the epub, deleting that single line and packing the epub again.

Thanks

rubeus · 01-06-2016, 06:50 AM

Get the sources, change them and compile your own Sigil. Thats the only way to get rid of Sigil's own entry. The CleanOPF Plugin will eliminate all others, but it cant do anything against Sigil's own entry.

Of course tools can unpack the epub, manipulate the OPF and stick everything together again, but Sigil will regenarate it when you touch the ebook with Sigil again.

CleanOPF Plugin

eschwartz · 01-06-2016, 09:42 AM

The Modify EPUB plugin for calibre can clear ALL non-DC metadata from selected books IIRC...

rubeus · 01-06-2016, 09:49 AM

But calibre inserts itself again...

eschwartz · 01-06-2016, 09:52 AM

You can turn that off in the most trivial of manners. Or copy the file directly.

DiapDealer · 01-06-2016, 10:32 AM

Output plugns can be created to do just about any kind of tweaking, "de-branding," or conversions one could want.

Does your boss ask you to create word-processing documents or spreadsheets with no branding?

KevinH · 01-06-2016, 10:41 AM

I agree, the simplest solution is an output plugin that just removes that line from the metadata in the opf. A simple regular expression will easily take care of that.

sbin · 01-06-2016, 02:48 PM

Thanks everyone.

I don't have the programming skills required to build plugins or anything else.
I might get the job done with just a regular expression if I had a software that could operate inside epub files. But on the Mac I have at my workplace I can only use indesign and not much else (I've been allowed to install sigil and textwrangler because they're free).

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Does your boss ask you to create word-processing documents or spreadsheets with no branding?

I'm lucky that they don't sell them, otherwise it'd be a sure bet

eschwartz · 01-06-2016, 02:56 PM

Can you get calibre? As I said, you can do a final bulk Modify EPUB on all your EPUBs, to remove all non-DC metadata.

There is even a companion python script which can be used to run the plugin via the CLI against arbitrary *.epub files.

Doitsu · 01-06-2016, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Can you get calibre? As I said, you can do a final bulk Modify EPUB on all your EPUBs, to remove all non-DC metadata.

Removing all non-DC metadata will also remove the cover image metadata entry that some apps use.
And since I haven't figured out how to prevent Calibre from adding its own metadata entries and bookmark files I don't think that metadata handling with Calibre would be such a good idea.

@sbin: I've created an alpha version of an Python 3 Sigil output plugin that'll only delete the following Sigil metadata entry:

Code:

    <meta content="XXX" name="Sigil version"/>

(It'll also change the doctype of XHTML files of epub files saved with Sigil 0.8.x.)

from:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"
  "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">

to

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"
  "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">

Install the plugin as usual and select it via Plugins > Output > DeleteSigilMetadata.

(The plugin will save the updated file to the Desktop.)

Since the plugin will update the .opf file and repack the ePub file and I'm not a programmer, there's a slight possibility that this'll introduce new problems.

If you decide to use the plugin in a production environment, you might want to test it with a number of files. I.e. unzip the original epub and the epub generated by this plugin and compare both folders with a diff program.

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

In case you're looking for a plugin, use KevinH's sampleOutput.zip instead.

eschwartz · 01-06-2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doitsu

Removing all non-DC metadata will also remove the cover image metadata entry that some apps use.

Interesting point! That should be considered a bug in the plugin.
(What meta entry? I thought cover is a guide item.)

Quote:

And since I haven't figured out how to prevent Calibre from adding its own metadata entries and bookmark files I don't think that metadata handling with Calibre would be such a good idea.

Not a problem, bookmarks are only added by E-Book Viewer, and both can be disabled in Preferences.

Also, the CLI form of the plugin operates on *.epub files, not calibre book records with registered EPUB formats.

Doitsu · 01-06-2016, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

(What meta entry? I thought cover is a guide item.)

cover can be both a guide item and a metadata entry.

Amazon requires the following metadata entry for epub2 books:

Code:

<meta name="cover" content="xxxx" />

(xxx is the manifest id of the cover image.)

Sigil will automatically add this entry it a new cover image is generated via Tools > Add Cover...

KevinH · 01-06-2016, 04:48 PM

eschwartz,

Again, this is not a calibre help thread. It is a Sigil help thread. You have brought it up in at least 5 posts! I don't mind having Calibre mentioned once in case it is what the user needs, but please let's keep promotion and discussion of Calibre in a Calibre thread not in a Sigil help thread. For Sigil, an output plugin is the right approach and once I knew the original poster did not know how to write one, I (or as it seems Doitsu in this case!) would have generated one. It is just too simple to worry about.

Thanks,

KevinH

KevinH · 01-06-2016, 07:34 PM

Hi Doitsu,
Looks good to me with one caveat. If an ebook has its own fonts, we should be sure to obfusctate them using the routines in epub_utils.py just to be safe. Sigil does this when writing an epub but otherwise keeps the fonts unobfuscated. I will add a routine to epub _utils that will take care of this automatically.

Nicely done!

KevinH

eschwartz · 01-06-2016, 08:33 PM

Four, not five. And the first three were before Doitsu got involved. Existing code shall always trump the philosophical idea of code.

The fourth time was partially a non-calibre query, and part correcting a misapprehension. I don't think either was unreasonable, but particularly the first part...

Aside: calibre core is not a Sigil competitor, only the calibre Editor is.
A calibre tool for bulk automation existed, I suggested it; Sigil has no CLI; processing dozens of previous books *might* be desired.
If I had been on my computer, I would probably want to write a standalone python script for bulk processing.
I didnt even realize at first that the OP was using a work computer without calibre.

I have the nagging suspicion that such a topic, while equally offtopic in the Sigil forum, would not have set you off like that^^

I did not get a chance to respond at first, and it seems you have toned down your original post, but I had been planning on asking you why you are so aggressive about calibre, esp. the part that has nothing to do with your competitor.
Do you wish to make mention of calibre verboten in the Sigil forums? If so, I think it is only fair that Sigil be verboten in the calibre forums.
With a little luck, both projects could become a right laughingstock.

...

Anyway, I know enough to know when my presence is philosophically offensive.

01-06-2016, 05:32 AM	#1
sbin Voracious reader Posts: 56 Karma: 14644 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Aura One, Sony PRS T2, iPhone 6, Cybook Orizon, Cybook Gen3	avoiding Sigil's meta in content.opf My boss at work wants me to produce epubs without brands/app names in the content.opf, so every time I deliver a book for the publication, I have to manually remove metas such as: Code: <meta name="generator" content="Adobe InDesign" /> or Code: <meta content="0.9.2" name="Sigil version"/> It may be silly, but this is what I'm asked for. I was wondering if it would be possible to prevent Sigil from inserting its meta in the first place, so I could avoid the hassle of unpacking the epub, deleting that single line and packing the epub again. Thanks

01-06-2016, 06:50 AM	#2
rubeus Banned Posts: 272 Karma: 1224588 Join Date: Sep 2014 Device: Sony PRS 650	Get the sources, change them and compile your own Sigil. Thats the only way to get rid of Sigil's own entry. The CleanOPF Plugin will eliminate all others, but it cant do anything against Sigil's own entry. Of course tools can unpack the epub, manipulate the OPF and stick everything together again, but Sigil will regenarate it when you touch the ebook with Sigil again. CleanOPF Plugin Last edited by rubeus; 01-06-2016 at 06:55 AM.

01-06-2016, 04:48 PM	#13
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,102 Karma: 5450184 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	eschwartz, Again, this is not a calibre help thread. It is a Sigil help thread. You have brought it up in at least 5 posts! I don't mind having Calibre mentioned once in case it is what the user needs, but please let's keep promotion and discussion of Calibre in a Calibre thread not in a Sigil help thread. For Sigil, an output plugin is the right approach and once I knew the original poster did not know how to write one, I (or as it seems Doitsu in this case!) would have generated one. It is just too simple to worry about. Thanks, KevinH Last edited by KevinH; 01-06-2016 at 05:24 PM.

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01-06-2016, 09:42 AM	#3
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The Modify EPUB plugin for calibre can clear ALL non-DC metadata from selected books IIRC...

01-06-2016, 09:49 AM	#4
rubeus Banned Posts: 272 Karma: 1224588 Join Date: Sep 2014 Device: Sony PRS 650	But calibre inserts itself again...

01-06-2016, 09:52 AM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You can turn that off in the most trivial of manners. Or copy the file directly.

01-06-2016, 10:32 AM	#6
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,922 Karma: 198500000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Output plugns can be created to do just about any kind of tweaking, "de-branding," or conversions one could want. Does your boss ask you to create word-processing documents or spreadsheets with no branding?

01-06-2016, 10:41 AM	#7
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,102 Karma: 5450184 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	I agree, the simplest solution is an output plugin that just removes that line from the metadata in the opf. A simple regular expression will easily take care of that.

01-06-2016, 02:56 PM	#9
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Can you get calibre? As I said, you can do a final bulk Modify EPUB on all your EPUBs, to remove all non-DC metadata. There is even a companion python script which can be used to run the plugin via the CLI against arbitrary *.epub files.

01-06-2016, 07:34 PM	#14
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,102 Karma: 5450184 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Hi Doitsu, Looks good to me with one caveat. If an ebook has its own fonts, we should be sure to obfusctate them using the routines in epub_utils.py just to be safe. Sigil does this when writing an epub but otherwise keeps the fonts unobfuscated. I will add a routine to epub _utils that will take care of this automatically. Nicely done! KevinH

01-06-2016, 08:33 PM	#15
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Four, not five. And the first three were before Doitsu got involved. Existing code shall always trump the philosophical idea of code. The fourth time was partially a non-calibre query, and part correcting a misapprehension. I don't think either was unreasonable, but particularly the first part... Aside: calibre core is not a Sigil competitor, only the calibre Editor is. A calibre tool for bulk automation existed, I suggested it; Sigil has no CLI; processing dozens of previous books might be desired. If I had been on my computer, I would probably want to write a standalone python script for bulk processing. I didnt even realize at first that the OP was using a work computer without calibre. I have the nagging suspicion that such a topic, while equally offtopic in the Sigil forum, would not have set you off like that^^ I did not get a chance to respond at first, and it seems you have toned down your original post, but I had been planning on asking you why you are so aggressive about calibre, esp. the part that has nothing to do with your competitor. Do you wish to make mention of calibre verboten in the Sigil forums? If so, I think it is only fair that Sigil be verboten in the calibre forums. With a little luck, both projects could become a right laughingstock. ... Anyway, I know enough to know when my presence is philosophically offensive.

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