ereader with metadata support (android)

[Glottalpoly]

I have several thousand books in Calibre. These are mainly pdf. The original pdf metadata is invalid, but I have manually corrected this in Calibre (i.e. the Calibre catalogue, NOT the pdf). I have a Nexus 7, and I wish to import them into a reader that will process the metadata, but I cant find a product that will do it. I seem to have several options (none pretty) :

1) I tried Aldiko but it takes the metadata from the pdf and ignores the Calibre "metadata.opf". I have said that I will pay if there is a version that can do it. I logged with Aldiko support (Request #11132 ) - but not getting a straight answer.

2) Use a batch pdf editor such as "A-PDF Rename" (cost $29), and use the Calibre library catalogue to generate the batch commands. Then use "any" ereader that will process pdf metadata from the modified pdf (e.g. Aldiko).

3) Find an (android) ereader that will handle "external" metadata (i.e. NOT in the pdf itself). I have had a look but can't find one. I dont mind paying, but doesnt even seem to be a paid option.

4) Convert the pdf to epub (which embeds the metadata). I have tried this. Some are just unreadbale (the format, not Calibre's fault), and some I haven't yet managed to get Calibre to convert (errors).

Any suggestions ? Did I miss something ?

[Nahgem]

You might give Mantano a go. There's a free version, and it recognizes all of the metadata that I've set in Calibre, including tags, and inserting series name and number in the title field ahead of the title (this sorts series in the correct order when alphabetized by title).

[Glottalpoly]

Nahgem , thanks for the post and suggestion. I couldn't find any explicit documentation either way on importing external pdf metadata , but I HAVE found some Mantano users who have the same problem that I have with Aldiko , i.e. that the metadata is taken from the PDF but NOT from Calibre (problem 1 below).

I THINK that the option you are referring to is (4) above. See my original post as to why I cant do it.

This problem has also been listed on various Mantano sites, also with no solution, so it would seem that Mantano and Aldiko have the same problem.

I am seriously doubting that ANY ereader can import external (*) metadata !!
Seems like a great opportunity for someone - especially with customers prepared to pay money !!

(*) i.e. External to the data.

[Nahgem]

Oh, goodness, no, I'd never suggest PDF>EPUB! It always ends up being terrible.

I just tried it on my device, and with the current version of Mantano lite, Author, Title, and Series metadata come over from Calibre, but not all of the tags, which is weird. I'm fairly confident that older versions used to read full PDF metadata, but maybe I'm wrong about that. Sorry I wasn't more helpful.

[Dopedangel]

Calibre is unable to set or update metadata in all pdf files. The best way I can think of getting calibre metadata is to use calibre companion app it will open the books in the reader of your choice and you will be able to see correct metadata

[Glottalpoly]

Dopedangel, I had a look at Companion. As I understand it I would use it to :

ONE OFF (or whenever my master library on my PC changes )
1) Connect to Calibre over my Wifi
2) Transfer my library WITH PDF METADATA From Calibre (!) to my Nexus
----------------------------------------

Whenever I want To Access A Book
----------------------------------
3) Use Calibre on the nexus to search for a book
4) Invoke my ereader (e.g. Mantano or Aldiko) to view the PDF .

Am I understanding that correctly ? That certainly works for me, and at $3 it's a bargain !
If that is right - I am VERY happy with that solution !

I will post a follow up question in the Companion Forum (regarding (2)) :

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...97#post2310397

[Glottalpoly]

Dopedangel I have news !! I bought Calibre Companion.

Calibre Companion ALSO IGNORES the metadata in Calibre - and just sends the PDF !!
In that case, I cant actually see ANY value in Companion for anything (why not just connect via cable and says use Explorer) - fortunately it was only a few dollars wasted.

I had a few other problems with Companion (e.g. it took two hours to figure that it wont work with "Where's My Droid"), but again - irrelevant, I wont be using it.

Looks like the best option is (2) above.

[Dopedangel]

It works calibre companion does not use the meta data inside the file but calibre metadata but the app you are opening pdf with will not

[Glottalpoly]

Thanks Dopedangel - I am not sure why I am seeing the PDF metadata rather than the Calibre metadata. I am talking to someone from CC.

At the moment the issue is moot - I cant get it to connect anyway !!

I have raised a separate ticket for the connection issue.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...02#post2311302