[PeterT]

In my case I have the following:

Columns:

Spoiler:

koboreadloc
Heading: Kobo Reading Location 
Column Type: Text, column shown in tag browser
koboreadpct 
Heading: Kobo Read Percentage 
Column Type: Integer
koborating
Heading: Kobo Reading Location
Column Type: Integer
kobolastread 
Heading: Kobo Last Read TimeStamp
Column Type: Date

In configuration for Kobo Utilties

Spoiler:

Current Reading Location Column: koboreadloc
Percent Read Columns: koboreadpct 
Rating Columns: koborating
Last Read Column: kobolastread
Store On Connect:
Store current bookmark on connect: checked
Prompt to store any changes: checked
Only if more recent: not checked
Not if finished in library: not checked

When I connect the Kobo the following happens:

• Device recognized by calibre
• Various Jobs start automatically
• Window pops up with a list of books titled Show Reading Position Changes listing books that have been read since the last connection
• When I select OK a status window briefly displays as the book status is updated in calibre

Additionally a custom column I have defined gets updated. This column is used as a shelving option, adding a books to either a Reading shelf, or a Finished_year shelf.

Spoiler:

readstatus
Column heading: Reading Status
Type: Column built from other columns
Template:
{#koboreadpct:'cmp($, 100,cmp($, 0, '', '', 'Reading'), strcat('Finished_',format_date(field('#kobolastread'), 'yyyy')),'')'}