Series Information

amz310783 · 06-13-2011, 10:22 AM

When I save my files to disk and add them back into calibre the series information is missing. I am trying to clean up all my files and save them all as mobi files. I would ideally like to have just one file with the cover and metadata in it, but if 3 separate files are needed then thats the way I will go.
So I have been cleaning up the files in calibre (adding series info, correcting authors and titles etc) then saving them to disk so I can add them back in all cleaned up. Is there a way to do this and still keep series info?

I hope someone can make sense of what I mean.

chaley · 06-13-2011, 10:45 AM

I don't think that mobi can not save series information in the book. Someone else might correct me, but that explains your symptoms.

If you are saving a format that cannot hold series information, then you must save the opf file along with the book. Calibre will use that file to get the latest series information. Same thing with cover -- if for some reason calibre cannot save the cover in the format in a way that it can later identify as the cover, then the only choice is to save the cover separately.

amz310783 · 06-13-2011, 10:53 AM

Thanks for your reply, I did also try and save the cover and metadata separately but the information was still missing when I added it back in?

chaley · 06-13-2011, 10:56 AM

You must use the add books option "one book per directory" to tell calibre that the OPF is attached to the book. As a consequence you must use a save-to-disk template that saves the books one per directory, but it is likely that you are already doing that.

kiwidude · 06-13-2011, 10:59 AM

@amz - the other question that should be asked is why are you "adding them back in"?

If you have already cleaned up the metadata in Calibre before saving to disk, what do you think adding them back in will achieve?

If you are just trying to create a clean library, use the Copy to Library function to move the book from your "in progress" library to your "clean" one.

Or is there some other cunning reason I am missing...

amz310783 · 06-13-2011, 12:24 PM

Many thanks for all the replies. Got that to work now.

I was adding them back in as I was under the impression that calibre doesn't actually change the file, in order to do that you need to save to disk? So does saving to a new library just copy the old file or create a new one, cause if it creates a new one I wont need to save to disk?

kiwidude · 06-13-2011, 12:41 PM

@amz - you are correct in your impression. Though I would suggest one of the reasons that Calibre does not update metadata within the book files in its library is that it doesn't matter what it is like in there for most users. You are a Kindle owner I see with mobi formats - when you send the book to your Kindle the metadata will get updated at that point. So it should not matter whether you try to update the book metadata before then?

If you are happy with what you are doing then carry on, don't mind me. If you have an awful lot of books you might want to trim out some of the steps that aren't strictly necessary

Starson17 · 06-14-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amz310783

does saving to a new library just copy the old file or create a new one, cause if it creates a new one I wont need to save to disk?

AFAICT, Copy to Library does not update metadata. I agree with kiwidude that most users do not need to "fix" the library copy as it gets fixed during most export operations (Disk/Device). I don't believe it gets updated during transfers from the Content Server, however.

kovidgoyal · 06-14-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starson17

I don't believe it gets updated during transfers from the Content Server, however.

It does for EPUB, dont remember if it also does for any other formats.

Starson17 · 06-15-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It does for EPUB, dont remember if it also does for any other formats.

Excellent.

06-13-2011, 10:22 AM	#1
amz310783 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kindle	Series Information When I save my files to disk and add them back into calibre the series information is missing. I am trying to clean up all my files and save them all as mobi files. I would ideally like to have just one file with the cover and metadata in it, but if 3 separate files are needed then thats the way I will go. So I have been cleaning up the files in calibre (adding series info, correcting authors and titles etc) then saving them to disk so I can add them back in all cleaned up. Is there a way to do this and still keep series info? I hope someone can make sense of what I mean.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Unable to get series information	TheD0ct0r	Calibre	2	03-20-2011 12:42 PM
Importing Series information into Calibre	chango714	Library Management	2	02-04-2011 08:05 AM
add series information when emailing book	Debby	Calibre	3	01-20-2011 01:27 AM
Please help with Calibre Series Information	coaver	Calibre	4	01-14-2011 02:01 PM
Retaining Series Information when Converting?	AFK_Matrix	Calibre	4	02-01-2010 05:21 AM

06-13-2011, 10:45 AM	#2
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,728 Karma: 6690881 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	I don't think that mobi can not save series information in the book. Someone else might correct me, but that explains your symptoms. If you are saving a format that cannot hold series information, then you must save the opf file along with the book. Calibre will use that file to get the latest series information. Same thing with cover -- if for some reason calibre cannot save the cover in the format in a way that it can later identify as the cover, then the only choice is to save the cover separately.

06-13-2011, 10:53 AM	#3
amz310783 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kindle	Thanks for your reply, I did also try and save the cover and metadata separately but the information was still missing when I added it back in?

06-13-2011, 10:56 AM	#4
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,728 Karma: 6690881 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	You must use the add books option "one book per directory" to tell calibre that the OPF is attached to the book. As a consequence you must use a save-to-disk template that saves the books one per directory, but it is likely that you are already doing that.

06-13-2011, 10:59 AM	#5
kiwidude Calibre Plugins Developer Posts: 4,635 Karma: 2162064 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis	@amz - the other question that should be asked is why are you "adding them back in"? If you have already cleaned up the metadata in Calibre before saving to disk, what do you think adding them back in will achieve? If you are just trying to create a clean library, use the Copy to Library function to move the book from your "in progress" library to your "clean" one. Or is there some other cunning reason I am missing...

06-13-2011, 12:24 PM	#6
amz310783 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kindle	Many thanks for all the replies. Got that to work now. I was adding them back in as I was under the impression that calibre doesn't actually change the file, in order to do that you need to save to disk? So does saving to a new library just copy the old file or create a new one, cause if it creates a new one I wont need to save to disk?

06-13-2011, 12:41 PM	#7
kiwidude Calibre Plugins Developer Posts: 4,635 Karma: 2162064 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis	@amz - you are correct in your impression. Though I would suggest one of the reasons that Calibre does not update metadata within the book files in its library is that it doesn't matter what it is like in there for most users. You are a Kindle owner I see with mobi formats - when you send the book to your Kindle the metadata will get updated at that point. So it should not matter whether you try to update the book metadata before then? If you are happy with what you are doing then carry on, don't mind me. If you have an awful lot of books you might want to trim out some of the steps that aren't strictly necessary