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Old 05-03-2010, 03:55 PM   #1
darkadept
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Kobo sqlite database

Both the eReader and the desktop software stores it's books and meta information in sqlite databases.

Books that are bought from the Kobo book store are not stored as epub files but are stored in a sqlite database. (on the kobo reader it's under the hidden folder .kobo)

Plus, any epub or pdf's you add to the kobo including any that are stored on an sd-card are loaded into this sqlite database. NOTE: The entire epub/pdf is not stored in the database, but things like title, author, chapters, read status, etc are.

I've started analyzing this database format and plan to write a little program to help manage things like cover images, read status (read, unread, finished), etc.
Is anyone interested in something like this?

Plus if anyone wants, I'll post my documentation on the sqlite database schema.
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Old 05-03-2010, 04:02 PM   #2
lchen
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Yes, it's an excellent idea!
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Old 05-03-2010, 05:16 PM   #3
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Indeed a good idea.. post your findings.

Thanks
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Old 05-03-2010, 05:38 PM   #4
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I like it. You could easily write your own desktop syncing application that way.
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Old 05-03-2010, 07:01 PM   #5
yawar
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Kobo manager program

Quote:
Originally Posted by darkadept View Post
...
I've started analyzing this database format and plan to write a little program to help manage things like cover images, read status (read, unread, finished), etc.
Is anyone interested in something like this?

Plus if anyone wants, I'll post my documentation on the sqlite database schema.
Darkadept, do you want to create a project on GitHub/BitBucket/Launchpad for your Kobo manager program? What are you planning to write it with: Qt, Java, .Net, ... ? I'd be willing to help out if I could.
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Old 05-03-2010, 07:48 PM   #6
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Fantastic idea! I had done some snooping through the database; both the one stored on the Kobo and the local copy on the PC (under Vista it's in the
Code:
%LOCALAPPDATA%/Kobo/Kobo Desktop Edition
directory
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Old 05-03-2010, 08:29 PM   #7
darkadept
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Yup I have a user on launchpad. I'll create a project either later tonight or tomorrow morning/

I prefer C++ with Qt as that is what i'm most familiar with.
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Old 05-03-2010, 11:42 PM   #8
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Koboko?

I assume this is it: https://launchpad.net/koboko

Downloading Bzr on my Mac now :-)

Oh, and Qt/C++ sounds good.

Cheers
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Old 05-04-2010, 01:08 AM   #9
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Hmm, not Python, eh?
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Old 05-04-2010, 11:13 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darkadept View Post
Is anyone interested in something like this?

Plus if anyone wants, I'll post my documentation on the sqlite database schema.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yawar View Post
Darkadept, do you want to create a project on GitHub/BitBucket/Launchpad for your Kobo manager program? What are you planning to write it with: Qt, Java, .Net, ... ? I'd be willing to help out if I could.
Thanks a lot guys looks like something we could all use. Hope it will have an easier or is that friendlier GUI for those of us savvy but not techie.

Thanks
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Old 05-04-2010, 12:04 PM   #11
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Ok I set up a project on launchpad and created a team. It's my first launchpad project so if I configured something not your liking let me know.

Project is found here: https://launchpad.net/koboko
Team is found here: https://launchpad.net/~koboko

My next question is what do people want/need? Some of the things I have thought of is:
  • the ability able to sync between the desktop application and the eReader
  • the ability to change infos such as read status, etc.
  • the ability to remove books from the device/application.
  • ??

I don't really intend to create a Calibre clone or to completely replace the Kobo desktop software.

any ideas?
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Old 05-04-2010, 06:36 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darkadept View Post
Ok I set up a project on launchpad and created a team. It's my first launchpad project so if I configured something not your liking let me know.

Project is found here: https://launchpad.net/koboko
Team is found here: https://launchpad.net/~koboko

My next question is what do people want/need? Some of the things I have thought of is:
  • the ability able to sync between the desktop application and the eReader
  • the ability to change infos such as read status, etc.
  • the ability to remove books from the device/application.
  • ??
+ Properly edit ePub metainfo (title & author).

+ Maintain a master copy of the SQLite database on the user's hard disk, so all changes (books/documents added/removed/edited) are made into that first and then sent to the Kobo device's copy of the database (or maybe it's done simultaneously).

+ Wish list: if only there were some way to prevent the device from locking and updating its database on disconnect--seems like bad design. Maybe that'll change if smarter software comes along to manage the DB while it is connected.

Quote:
Originally Posted by darkadept View Post
I don't really intend to create a Calibre clone or to completely replace the Kobo desktop software.

any ideas?
Sounds good. Calibre has a bit of a busy interface and a built-in ebook viewer. I don't think we need that. I do think we can do better than the Kobo desktop software when it comes to ease of use in managing books & documents. E.g., I still haven't been able to get the desktop software to show me all the books and documents I've loaded into my reader.

Design-wise, the simplest thing I can think of is a list-detail view where the list of books/documents is on top and the detail (a data entry form) is at the bottom. Is anything else needed? I doubt it....

Thanks for setting up. I'm joining right now.
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Old 05-05-2010, 05:48 AM   #13
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From a USER point - Thanks guys.

What will happen IF Kobo decides to change their db structure (can they do that) when releasing a new firmware? Is that a stupid question - sorry.
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Old 05-06-2010, 03:42 PM   #14
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They absolutely can change their db structure. From what it looks like they use a table called "DBVersion" that contains a single number that would be increased when they change formats. We'll just have to make sure we watch that number and not allow writes if the schema is different. Backups are always a good thing too!!!!!

I've got a few notes here -> https://sites.google.com/a/durbn.net...atabase-schema.

I know it's not an open wiki. My webserver is down at the moment but the second I get it up I'll set up a proper mediawiki for it. Hopefully after this weekend sometime.

I've been adding a bit of code to the app. It's still to early for any real use yet.
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Old 05-06-2010, 05:09 PM   #15
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I just used SQLite Expert -- free graphical sqlite program -- and opened up the database to delete dozens of the freebie books -- worked great.

(But does this actually get rid of the book data itself??) (Oops. How embarrassing.)

Last edited by corona; 05-06-2010 at 05:55 PM.
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