Mobipocket Guide, Calibre, and metadata

HelenaJole · 10-01-2010, 03:58 PM

I got a few books from the Mobipocket Guide. They are all named in an "Author_Title" format (like "Abbott_Flatland") with the author space left blank. I tried fixing a couple of them in Calibre. When I import them to Calibre it says "Couldn't decode: (file name) Importing encrypted version." Then I can edit the metadata, but when I send it to my Kindle it isn't any different. Still Author_Title with nothing in the author spot.

Is there a way to change this?

DiapDealer · 10-01-2010, 04:23 PM

Check the Calibre Preferences for "Sending books to devices". You can set how the filenames/folders are created there. You should be able to change the metadata on books with DRM, but I've never tried. The metadata usually doesn't get updated until you "Save to disk" or "Send to device"... all depending on what settings are chosen for those two sections.

HelenaJole · 10-01-2010, 04:44 PM

I'm not really sure why it's saying they're encrypted in the first place. I thought these were not encrypted.

jlmwrite · 10-01-2010, 04:45 PM

I did try editing the metadata on a couple of books I checked out from my library yesterday; they displayed properly on the Adobe Digital Editions reader but not on the Nook that followed me home a few days ago.

Calibre, of course, will not convert a DRM-protected book but I no issues saving the copy with the metadata changes onto my Nook.

Edit: The Nook came home with me after my initial post on my disappointment on my K3. Not so disappointed in the Kindle now!

HelenaJole · 10-10-2010, 11:04 AM

Can somebody clarify why these are encrypted? I thought the whole point was that they're public domain. (I'm talking about the books here, if that wasn't clear.)

wallcraft · 10-10-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelenaJole

Can somebody clarify why these are encrypted? I thought the whole point was that they're public domain. (I'm talking about the books here, if that wasn't clear.)

The ebooks available from mobileread should not be encrypted.

With MOBI it isn't technically possible to apply full DRM control without a Mobipocket-licenced server. However, there are lower levels of encryption that can be applied by Mobipocket Creator (and mobigen). This might have been done by mistake. Another possibility is that these are in an older version of the MOBI format or are mall-formed. Please point out a particular ebook for further analysis.

HelenaJole · 10-10-2010, 09:45 PM

I've noticed that the ones I'm having trouble with are .prc files. Like The Importance of Being Earnest and Flatland. They say "importing encrypted version."

I can read them and put them on my Kindle and everything--I just can't edit the metadata. (Hmmm... perhaps I should look for an epub version and convert it.)

desertgrandma · 10-10-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelenaJole

I've noticed that the ones I'm having trouble with are .prc files. Like The Importance of Being Earnest and Flatland. They say "importing encrypted version."

I can read them and put them on my Kindle and everything--I just can't edit the metadata. (Hmmm... perhaps I should look for an epub version and convert it.)

I tried download "earnest" and got the same message.....but when I clicked "okay" it came thru just fine and was readable.

HelenaJole · 10-10-2010, 10:25 PM

Yes, I'm just trying to edit the metadata so I can put the author in the author spot.

HelenaJole · 10-10-2010, 10:49 PM

Well, I tried just converting them to mobi and it may have worked, but now I'm having other problems. Which I suppose I will start a separate thread about.

krazy4katz · 10-10-2010, 11:04 PM

I don't know if this helps, but I always have to convert .prc to .mobi when I correct the metadata and want to send the revised book to my kindle. Otherwise, nothing changes.

TalkingBook · 10-11-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazy4katz

I don't know if this helps, but I always have to convert .prc to .mobi when I correct the metadata and want to send the revised book to my kindle. Otherwise, nothing changes.

Ditto for my DXG.

terencek · 10-12-2010, 05:27 AM

That's absolutely correct. In fact even if your book is already in MOBI format and you want to edit the metadata, you have to 'convert' it to MOBI again afterwards for the changes to stick.

Maybe the Calibre developer (to whom all praise...) might be able to find a solution for this to avoid painful procedures like the endless one I am going through right now: redoing the metadata in my entire 400+ MOBI collection to get the right Author-Title display, which involves reconverting them all one by one after making the simple metadata change!

10-01-2010, 03:58 PM	#1
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Mobipocket Guide, Calibre, and metadata I got a few books from the Mobipocket Guide. They are all named in an "Author_Title" format (like "Abbott_Flatland") with the author space left blank. I tried fixing a couple of them in Calibre. When I import them to Calibre it says "Couldn't decode: (file name) Importing encrypted version." Then I can edit the metadata, but when I send it to my Kindle it isn't any different. Still Author_Title with nothing in the author spot. Is there a way to change this?

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10-01-2010, 04:23 PM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,547 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Check the Calibre Preferences for "Sending books to devices". You can set how the filenames/folders are created there. You should be able to change the metadata on books with DRM, but I've never tried. The metadata usually doesn't get updated until you "Save to disk" or "Send to device"... all depending on what settings are chosen for those two sections.

10-01-2010, 04:44 PM	#3
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I'm not really sure why it's saying they're encrypted in the first place. I thought these were not encrypted.

10-01-2010, 04:45 PM	#4
jlmwrite Zealot Posts: 143 Karma: 13398 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Golden, Colorado Device: Samsung Tab S8.4, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	I did try editing the metadata on a couple of books I checked out from my library yesterday; they displayed properly on the Adobe Digital Editions reader but not on the Nook that followed me home a few days ago. Calibre, of course, will not convert a DRM-protected book but I no issues saving the copy with the metadata changes onto my Nook. Edit: The Nook came home with me after my initial post on my disappointment on my K3. Not so disappointed in the Kindle now!

10-10-2010, 11:04 AM	#5
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Can somebody clarify why these are encrypted? I thought the whole point was that they're public domain. (I'm talking about the books here, if that wasn't clear.)

10-10-2010, 09:45 PM	#7
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I've noticed that the ones I'm having trouble with are .prc files. Like The Importance of Being Earnest and Flatland. They say "importing encrypted version." I can read them and put them on my Kindle and everything--I just can't edit the metadata. (Hmmm... perhaps I should look for an epub version and convert it.)

10-10-2010, 10:25 PM	#9
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Yes, I'm just trying to edit the metadata so I can put the author in the author spot.

10-10-2010, 10:49 PM	#10
HelenaJole Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 580 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Well, I tried just converting them to mobi and it may have worked, but now I'm having other problems. Which I suppose I will start a separate thread about.

10-10-2010, 11:04 PM	#11
krazy4katz Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 1552656 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: [Kindle 1, Kindle 3 (KK)], Kindle Voyage, iPad Pro	I don't know if this helps, but I always have to convert .prc to .mobi when I correct the metadata and want to send the revised book to my kindle. Otherwise, nothing changes.

10-12-2010, 05:27 AM	#13
terencek Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 1010944 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The African bush Device: Kindle 3	That's absolutely correct. In fact even if your book is already in MOBI format and you want to edit the metadata, you have to 'convert' it to MOBI again afterwards for the changes to stick. Maybe the Calibre developer (to whom all praise...) might be able to find a solution for this to avoid painful procedures like the endless one I am going through right now: redoing the metadata in my entire 400+ MOBI collection to get the right Author-Title display, which involves reconverting them all one by one after making the simple metadata change!

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