Importing changed HTML file -> duplicate entries

MamaSylvia · 03-19-2011, 01:18 AM

IIRC, there was a thread about making changes to an HTML file and then re-importing the changed file to Calibre, and someone said as long as the title/author were the same, Calibre would just overwrite the original file and keep the metadata. So I've been editing an HTML file and periodically re-adding the file and clicking "yes" when it asked about importing a possible duplicate. And I just now realized that Calibre has been ADDING them as new entries, not replacing the original entry, so I have 4 Calibre entries for the same book. What am I doing wrong? Also, is there any way I can flag the cover image in the HTML file so Calibre knows it's the cover? I know I can add it using the "edit metadata" option, but I'm going to be editing this for a while and want to copy the latest version to my Kindle on an at least daily basis.

ldolse · 03-19-2011, 01:32 AM

You need to use the Edit Metadata window, and click the 'Add new format' button, or drag and drop your html into the list of formats. This will overwrite the file and keep the metadata as you want.

MamaSylvia · 03-19-2011, 02:36 AM

Hot dog, that worked. The "add new format" button didn't seem to do anything when I clicked it, but when I converted to .mobi format and uploaded it to my Kindle, my most recent edits were there! Thanks so much!

Manichean · 03-19-2011, 07:18 AM

It's worth noting that depending on what you have the automerge options set to in preferences->adding books, you may have been seeing expected behaviour. There's an option to add duplicate books as duplicates instead of merging them. Merging would only work if you deleted the HTML format from the relevant entry in the first place, anyhow- I don't think automerge would just overwrite an existing format.

DoctorOhh · 03-19-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

Merging would only work if you deleted the HTML format from the relevant entry in the first place, anyhow- I don't think automerge would just overwrite an existing format.

I don't use this option but the second option of automerge is "Overwrite existing duplicate formats".

Manichean · 03-19-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

I don't use this option but the second option of automerge is "Overwrite existing duplicate formats".

Ah, well. I shouldn't write posts based on my memory of how things look like.

DoctorOhh · 03-19-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

Ah, well. I shouldn't write posts based on my memory of how things look like.

This feature was just update to include these options in version 0.7.45. Calibre zips along so fast it's hard to keep track of all the new things.

kovidgoyal · 03-19-2011, 12:17 PM

Note that in newer calibre versions there is an "Add files to selected book records" entry in the Add books menu which allows you to update formats without having to use the edit metadata dialog

MamaSylvia · 03-19-2011, 12:29 PM

Amazingly, I was able to find both the automerge option (which I did not have checked) and the "Add files to selected book records" item, so I can try them both and see which works better for me. Thanks!

I'd still like to know if there is a way to flag a cover image in the HTML file so Calibre will pick it up, though.

03-19-2011, 01:18 AM	#1
MamaSylvia Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 124 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Droid 1, Kindle 3	Importing changed HTML file -> duplicate entries IIRC, there was a thread about making changes to an HTML file and then re-importing the changed file to Calibre, and someone said as long as the title/author were the same, Calibre would just overwrite the original file and keep the metadata. So I've been editing an HTML file and periodically re-adding the file and clicking "yes" when it asked about importing a possible duplicate. And I just now realized that Calibre has been ADDING them as new entries, not replacing the original entry, so I have 4 Calibre entries for the same book. What am I doing wrong? Also, is there any way I can flag the cover image in the HTML file so Calibre knows it's the cover? I know I can add it using the "edit metadata" option, but I'm going to be editing this for a while and want to copy the latest version to my Kindle on an at least daily basis.

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03-19-2011, 01:32 AM	#2
ldolse Wizard Posts: 1,337 Karma: 123455 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Malaysia Device: PRS-650, iPhone	You need to use the Edit Metadata window, and click the 'Add new format' button, or drag and drop your html into the list of formats. This will overwrite the file and keep the metadata as you want.

03-19-2011, 02:36 AM	#3
MamaSylvia Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 124 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Droid 1, Kindle 3	Hot dog, that worked. The "add new format" button didn't seem to do anything when I clicked it, but when I converted to .mobi format and uploaded it to my Kindle, my most recent edits were there! Thanks so much!

03-19-2011, 07:18 AM	#4
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	It's worth noting that depending on what you have the automerge options set to in preferences->adding books, you may have been seeing expected behaviour. There's an option to add duplicate books as duplicates instead of merging them. Merging would only work if you deleted the HTML format from the relevant entry in the first place, anyhow- I don't think automerge would just overwrite an existing format.

03-19-2011, 12:17 PM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,835 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Note that in newer calibre versions there is an "Add files to selected book records" entry in the Add books menu which allows you to update formats without having to use the edit metadata dialog

03-19-2011, 12:29 PM	#9
MamaSylvia Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 124 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Droid 1, Kindle 3	Amazingly, I was able to find both the automerge option (which I did not have checked) and the "Add files to selected book records" item, so I can try them both and see which works better for me. Thanks! I'd still like to know if there is a way to flag a cover image in the HTML file so Calibre will pick it up, though.

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