Calibre server & updating cover art

Pierre Menard · 03-06-2013, 06:44 PM

After a long time happily using calibre to send books via USB to my Nook, I'm now trying to get used to using the content server to send books to an Asus TF700 tablet.

One problem I'm having is the cover is not getting updated--ie, it comes over w/ the "default" cover from the publisher, not the one I added in the calibre library.

Searching the forums, I found lots of issues with cover art, but not specific to using the server. The only stuff I found that talked about the server seemed to say this should be working--that anything that exports books from calibre should also update the metadata. However, I'm seeing different behavior with the same book depending if I use "save to disk" (which does embed the new cover), "send to device" via USB (does embed), or download via the content server (does not embed the cover, but does seem to embed all other metadata).

I realize I can use the "modify epub" plugin to change the covers within the calibre library, but I wish to keep the books in my library in their original unaltered condition and only make changes to the exported copies. Which theoretically I think calibre should do, but it's not happening.

Am I doing it wrong?

JSWolf · 03-06-2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre Menard

Am I doing it wrong?

Actually, yes. It's best to make the changes to the ePub using Modify ePub because not all Reading apps or devices can handle the data being external and gets it from the ePub itself. By having the ePub updated, you get less change of things not working properly. Modify ePub only modifies the bits that you asked to maybe be modified. It does not do a conversion to make the changes.

Pierre Menard · 03-06-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

not all Reading apps or devices can handle the data being external and gets it from the ePub itself.

This isn't relevant to my question. I'm not talking about anything external. I'm talking about embedding the metadata, including the cover, upon export. Which is working with send to device and save to disk, but not on download from the server, though my reading here suggests it should work the same on all three.

Adoby · 03-06-2013, 10:54 PM

Since you don't want to modify the covers of the books in the library, you may have to get the books to your device some other way.

One way could be to connect calibre to a folder that is shared over wifi, and sync to that folder using some sync app. I use the app FolderSync for that.

Another way could be to use Calibre Companion, but I am not sure if it updates the covers.

kovidgoyal · 03-06-2013, 10:59 PM

The content server uses exactly the same code to update covers in epub files as save to disk and send to device. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kovid/c...ontent.py#L227

kovidgoyal · 03-06-2013, 11:16 PM

Actually, I was wrong, all non-cover metadata is updated, not the cover, Something I have fixed for the next release. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kovid/c...revision/14543

JSWolf · 03-07-2013, 11:45 AM

Speaking of Save to Disk, is it possible to have an option added (as the default) to Save to Disk such that the cover & metadata are not modified and no conversion is done at all so what is in the library is exactly what's saved?

kovidgoyal · 03-07-2013, 12:31 PM

Preferences->Saving to disk and no, that is never going to be default.

Pierre Menard · 03-07-2013, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Actually, I was wrong, all non-cover metadata is updated, not the cover, Something I have fixed for the next release. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kovid/c...revision/14543

Thank you.

To tack onto JSWolf's question, I do know about & make use of the preference to not embed metadata on save to disk, but I notice it only applies to that specific function. There doesn't seem to be a way, for instance, to get an unaltered/unembedded copy via the server (assuming there's not a preference I'm just missing).

Was that a design choice to make "update metadata in saved copies" option specifically a save to disk preference and not just a general export preference?

kovidgoyal · 03-07-2013, 01:26 PM

If you really want to to disable all metadata writing just go to Preferences->Plugins and disable the metadata writer plugins.

hbtaylor · 03-07-2013, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Actually, I was wrong, all non-cover metadata is updated, not the cover, Something I have fixed for the next release. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kovid/c...revision/14543

Nice! I have been working around this by using the Modify ePUB plugin, but this will be better, since I won't have to know to do it before I download it from calibre-server. Since I don't keep all of my books on my devices, I don't always modify the ePUB beforehand.

h.b.

Jakkal · 08-27-2018, 08:16 AM

Sorry to bring this old thread to life but, I have the same problem like in the first post. I'm downloading my books from the Calibre content server to my Kobo Aura One. Everything was fine until I upgrade my Windows from 7 to 10 and updated the Calibre to the latest version 3.30 (the previous version that I was using and was working fine was 3.12).
Now when I change the cover of a book, the Calibre show the new cover everywhere except when I download the book from the content server. When I use "sent to device" and upload it through USB, it shows correctly the new updated cover , but when I download it from the Calibre content server it shows the old cover. Is there any options in the Calibre that I should check or is this a bug?

Adoby · 08-27-2018, 10:01 AM

Books are stored unchanged in calibre, if you update metadata and cover and so on. When you send to device or save to disk metadata and cover is updated in the new copy.

This ensures that you can keep your original ebooks unchanged and you can convert from the original to different formats and to different devices again and again with different settings without loss of data.

Calibre server serves the originals as they are stored, without updated metadata. This can, as you have discovered cause problems and surprises.

However, you CAN apply updated metadata and covers to the books as stored inside calibre. You use the function "Polish" to do so. You can add a "Polish" button bar to the main menu bar to make this easy to access.

Conversions also update metadata and cover, but only for the new format.

So this is not a bug. It is a feature... The original ebook is preserved by calibre until you decide it should be updated.

Jakkal · 08-27-2018, 12:03 PM

Thank you for the answer. I can try "Polish" if there is no other way.
You say that the Calibre send the original book (without the updated metadata) and it is meant to be this way, but until now (since 2013) I was using the Calibre server and it was sending the updated book to my reader, with the new covers (updated metadata).
Is this behavior changed now?

Adoby · 08-27-2018, 12:24 PM

If there is a conversion happening before the book is sent then the converted book is updated.

But otherwise, if you request the original already existing format, then the original file is sent. At least this is how I think it works.

I hope someone can confirm or refute. Or you can just try it and see if this is correct.

From your previous description this is what seems to happen.

And as far as I know this behavior has not changed.

03-06-2013, 06:44 PM	#1
Pierre Menard Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 712690 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Kobo Aura HD, Nook HD+, Nook Simple Touch	Calibre server & updating cover art After a long time happily using calibre to send books via USB to my Nook, I'm now trying to get used to using the content server to send books to an Asus TF700 tablet. One problem I'm having is the cover is not getting updated--ie, it comes over w/ the "default" cover from the publisher, not the one I added in the calibre library. Searching the forums, I found lots of issues with cover art, but not specific to using the server. The only stuff I found that talked about the server seemed to say this should be working--that anything that exports books from calibre should also update the metadata. However, I'm seeing different behavior with the same book depending if I use "save to disk" (which does embed the new cover), "send to device" via USB (does embed), or download via the content server (does not embed the cover, but does seem to embed all other metadata). I realize I can use the "modify epub" plugin to change the covers within the calibre library, but I wish to keep the books in my library in their original unaltered condition and only make changes to the exported copies. Which theoretically I think calibre should do, but it's not happening. Am I doing it wrong? Last edited by Pierre Menard; 03-06-2013 at 06:53 PM.

08-27-2018, 10:01 AM	#13
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	Books are stored unchanged in calibre, if you update metadata and cover and so on. When you send to device or save to disk metadata and cover is updated in the new copy. This ensures that you can keep your original ebooks unchanged and you can convert from the original to different formats and to different devices again and again with different settings without loss of data. Calibre server serves the originals as they are stored, without updated metadata. This can, as you have discovered cause problems and surprises. However, you CAN apply updated metadata and covers to the books as stored inside calibre. You use the function "Polish" to do so. You can add a "Polish" button bar to the main menu bar to make this easy to access. Conversions also update metadata and cover, but only for the new format. So this is not a bug. It is a feature... The original ebook is preserved by calibre until you decide it should be updated. Last edited by Adoby; 08-27-2018 at 10:04 AM.

08-27-2018, 12:24 PM	#15
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	If there is a conversion happening before the book is sent then the converted book is updated. But otherwise, if you request the original already existing format, then the original file is sent. At least this is how I think it works. I hope someone can confirm or refute. Or you can just try it and see if this is correct. From your previous description this is what seems to happen. And as far as I know this behavior has not changed. Last edited by Adoby; 08-27-2018 at 12:48 PM.

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03-06-2013, 10:54 PM	#4
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	Since you don't want to modify the covers of the books in the library, you may have to get the books to your device some other way. One way could be to connect calibre to a folder that is shared over wifi, and sync to that folder using some sync app. I use the app FolderSync for that. Another way could be to use Calibre Companion, but I am not sure if it updates the covers.

03-06-2013, 10:59 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The content server uses exactly the same code to update covers in epub files as save to disk and send to device. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kovid/c...ontent.py#L227

03-06-2013, 11:16 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Actually, I was wrong, all non-cover metadata is updated, not the cover, Something I have fixed for the next release. http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~kovid/c...revision/14543

03-07-2013, 11:45 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Speaking of Save to Disk, is it possible to have an option added (as the default) to Save to Disk such that the cover & metadata are not modified and no conversion is done at all so what is in the library is exactly what's saved?

03-07-2013, 12:31 PM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Preferences->Saving to disk and no, that is never going to be default.

03-07-2013, 01:26 PM	#10
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If you really want to to disable all metadata writing just go to Preferences->Plugins and disable the metadata writer plugins.

08-27-2018, 08:16 AM	#12
Jakkal Member Posts: 21 Karma: 8966 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Aura, Kobo Touch	Sorry to bring this old thread to life but, I have the same problem like in the first post. I'm downloading my books from the Calibre content server to my Kobo Aura One. Everything was fine until I upgrade my Windows from 7 to 10 and updated the Calibre to the latest version 3.30 (the previous version that I was using and was working fine was 3.12). Now when I change the cover of a book, the Calibre show the new cover everywhere except when I download the book from the content server. When I use "sent to device" and upload it through USB, it shows correctly the new updated cover , but when I download it from the Calibre content server it shows the old cover. Is there any options in the Calibre that I should check or is this a bug?

08-27-2018, 12:03 PM	#14
Jakkal Member Posts: 21 Karma: 8966 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Aura, Kobo Touch	Thank you for the answer. I can try "Polish" if there is no other way. You say that the Calibre send the original book (without the updated metadata) and it is meant to be this way, but until now (since 2013) I was using the Calibre server and it was sending the updated book to my reader, with the new covers (updated metadata). Is this behavior changed now?

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