PRS-700 MetaData a great disappointment

[dda]

I've been using my PRS-700 for about a months now, and I have had to conclude that (sadly) all "metadata" is so volatile (perhaps "flaky" is better), that I might as well give up using it.

By metadata I mean "annotations" and "collections". My experience has been that these get completely WIPED so often, that it is just pure frustration to keep re-building them!!!!

I should point out that unlike some other forum users, I am a very "good boy". I use no third-party software. I use only the SONY-supplied eBookLibrary software to communicate with the PRS-700. I NEVER pull the SD chip out and connect it directly to the PC.

Yet..... time and time again I get some minor error or timeout and..... POP..... all my annotations and collections are gone!!!!

This is very sad for me because:

• Collections are really necessary for file organisation once you move beyond (say) 100 books.

• Annotations were one of my reasons for buying an eBooks at all.

I wonder if all of that XML in the "database" is part of the problem.

If SONY used:

• A FileSystem.... then collections would not be so crucial.

• One annotation file PER BOOK, then damaging one XML file would not blow away ALL annotations !!!!!

§------§

I think that is the crux of the matter..... all this metadata is kept in a very few XML files. One bad write, and you lose the lot!!!!!!

dda

[Alphapheemail]

If you see this as such a crutch, and insist on using elibrary ( and all prs700 owners have admitted that it is the worst part of the reader...) why ru complaining?

There are threads upon threads celebrating Calibre and the way it allows us to edit the metadata efficiently....

[kazbates]

I use both Calibre and Ebook Library and have only had problems when I used the Sync option. I use Calibre to make conversions and to add missing book covers, etc., and then I upload the files to Ebook Library where I use the bookmarks/highlighting options to make initial notes. In these scenarios, Ebook Library has worked fine, as long as I don't ever Sync.

In Calibre's defense, it is an excellent piece of software that Kovid is constantly updating and supporting. I don't think anyone (even Sony) would consider you a "Bad Boy" if you used it.

[junkyardwillie]

Does the Calibre software keep the annotations and bookmarks backed up as well?

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by junkyardwillie

Does the Calibre software keep the annotations and bookmarks backed up as well?

As far as I know, Calibre does not support them. That's why I upload to Ebook Library. If you ask in the Caliber forum, I am sure Kovid will answer that question (or he may already have answered it for another member). You can always do a search there to see if it's already been asked. And since Kovid is constantly upgrading his software, he may have updated to include that function and I just don't know about it. Once I have a system that works for me, I have a tendency to get stuck in a rut.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by dda

By metadata I mean "annotations" and "collections". My experience has been that these get completely WIPED so often, that it is just pure frustration to keep re-building them!!!!

Originally Posted by Alphapheemail

If you see this as such a crutch, and insist on using elibrary ( and all prs700 owners have admitted that it is the worst part of the reader...) why ru complaining?

There are threads upon threads celebrating Calibre and the way it allows us to edit the metadata efficiently....

I agree with dda, and the point that is being made that collections and annotations are easily lost. The collections/annotations/SYNC functions are definitely buggy and need to be addressed by SONY.

I personally only use the SONY eBook Library and would prefer not to change, or have another software handling my eBooks.

I have nothing against Calibre, I just don't need it since I don't do any eBook conversions and the metadata I have is all that I need.

WDE.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

I agree with dda, and the point that is being made that collections and annotations are easily lost. The collections/annotations/SYNC functions are definitely buggy and need to be addressed by SONY.

I personally only use the SONY eBook Library and would prefer not to change, or have another software handling my eBooks.

I have nothing against Calibre, I just don't need it since I don't do any eBook conversions and the metadata I have is all that I need.

WDE.

I completely agree that the Sony software is pretty disappointing considering that it is coming from a company that has a fairly strong reputation. As I said, as long as I don't Sync, I have no problem with it. The only other times I've had a problem was when I had first gotten my reader and would see the (Not Responding) notation at the top of the screen. After a little experience, I realized that it says that when it is still working and I have tried to do something else. As long as I am patient and wait for it to finish, it works fine.

I will say, though, I am surprised that Sony hasn't addressed these issues with a software update.

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by kazbates

I completely agree that the Sony software is pretty disappointing considering that it is coming from a company that has a fairly strong reputation. As I said, as long as I don't Sync, I have no problem with it. The only other times I've had a problem was when I had first gotten my reader and would see the (Not Responding) notation at the top of the screen. After a little experience, I realized that it says that when it is still working and I have tried to do something else. As long as I am patient and wait for it to finish, it works fine.

I will say, though, I am surprised that Sony hasn't addressed these issues with a software update.

actually Ebook library is the best sony program I've ever used.

Sersiously, go download sonic stage if you don't believe me.

its good enough for what I use it for, but the bookmark sync is defenatly buggy.. it keeps restoring deleted book marks, but that's no big deal for me.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

actually Ebook library is the best sony program I've ever used.

Sersiously, go download sonic stage if you don't believe me.

its good enough for what I use it for, but the bookmark sync is defenatly buggy.. it keeps restoring deleted book marks, but that's no big deal for me.

I wasn't actually referring so much to Sony's software development reputation but more to their product reputation. I can't immediately call to mind any actual Sony software other than Ebook Library. I have tried syncing a few times and every time I did, I ran into problems and had to completely delete everything and start over. Creating software that does what the library software should do is not really that difficult. Admittedly, it has been awhile since a did any programming, but even way back then, we were able to create some pretty sophisticated editing software to meet the needs of out clients. I tend to think that Sony was a little lazy and not all that concerned with the software aspect of the reader. The hardware works very well and the software should be brought up the same level. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Sony and am okay with the Library software, I just think they should have done it better.

[dda]

For all those have problems with "flakey" and unreliable annotations, bookmarks, and collections.....

I have had some time this weekend to experiment... I have learned a lesson.

When using SD cards, you must NEVER assume that just because the "eBook Library software" can "see" an SD card, "format" it, and successfully "read" and "write" it, that the PRE-700 will be able to do the same !!!!!

In particular, I can immediately cause all manner of disaster by formatting my 16 gig SD card using the WinXP "default allocation size" !!!!

You will have to experiment..... but NEVER assume that the eBook Library and the PRS-700 like the same allocation size.

On my 16 gig SD I found that allocsize:4096 immediately improved things.

8192 is what I am using at the moment. It seems stable. I will report back here if I find somethig better than 8192.

dda

(of course this may vary by SD chip size or even manufacturer)

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by dda

For all those have problems with "flakey" and unreliable annotations, bookmarks, and collections.....

I have had some time this weekend to experiment... I have learned a lesson.

When using SD cards, you must NEVER assume that just because the "eBook Library software" can "see" an SD card, "format" it, and successfully "read" and "write" it, that the PRE-700 will be able to do the same !!!!!

In particular, I can immediately cause all manner of disaster by formatting my 16 gig SD card using the WinXP "default allocation size" !!!!

You will have to experiment..... but NEVER assume that the eBook Library and the PRS-700 like the same allocation size.

On my 16 gig SD I found that allocsize:4096 immediately improved things.

8192 is what I am using at the moment. It seems stable. I will report back here if I find somethig better than 8192.

dda

(of course this may vary by SD chip size or even manufacturer)

I could be wrong about this, but I thought someone had posted that the 16 GB card was too big for the reader. I use a 4GB and don't have any problems.

[mgrunk]

This is good to know - the only reason I wanted to get a 700 was for the annotations - I've found the bookmark feature to be very buggy and I can't depend on it keeping track of my bookmarks across the 6 or so books that I read at one time. I would absolutely want the annotation system to be dependable.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by mgrunk

This is good to know - the only reason I wanted to get a 700 was for the annotations - I've found the bookmark feature to be very buggy and I can't depend on it keeping track of my bookmarks across the 6 or so books that I read at one time. I would absolutely want the annotation system to be dependable.

On the 324 books that I have on my reader, I have 689 notes. Some were created in the Ebook Library software (it's easier for me to type on my laptop and I can copy and paste to my hearts content ) and some were created on the books themselves, mostly highlighting. I store some books on my 4GB memory stick and the rest on the reader itself. I don't use collections because I don't need them. The main reasons I don't upload from Calibre is so that I can make the annotations in Ebook Library, plus I don't want the collections which the tags in Calibre due automatically based on the information stored in my metadata. I don't use the Sync because every time I did, I had problems. Other than the sync, I've never experienced any problems with the annotations or bookmarks.

Just thought you might like to know all that.

[warriorscot]

Sony= Amazing hardware and rubbish software.

Every Sony device I have had(and Im a long time customer) has been plagued with bad software and Sony very rarely fix it you usually end up finding alternative programs and work arounds which sony eventually tell you to use instead. Its a poor company attitude but they get away with it to an extent.

SonicStage ironically worked quite well in its first couple of versions until they completely naffed it around version 3 I think, the original interface was actually something of artistic beauty and at the time it stood up well to competitors as PC media libraries were still pretty basic.

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by warriorscot

Sony= Amazing hardware and rubbish software.

Every Sony device I have had(and Im a long time customer) has been plagued with bad software and Sony very rarely fix it you usually end up finding alternative programs and work arounds which sony eventually tell you to use instead. Its a poor company attitude but they get away with it to an extent.

SonicStage ironically worked quite well in its first couple of versions until they completely naffed it around version 3 I think, the original interface was actually something of artistic beauty and at the time it stood up well to competitors as PC media libraries were still pretty basic.

sony hardware isn't always that great either. but then again other companies are just as bad ussually.