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Originally Posted by Odessa
@BetterRed - Yes, I looked up this option in my editor, indeed it's checked, and indeed it's the default. However, what is the meaning of that option ?
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When the file is opened, update the metadata embedded in the book file to the current metadata in the calibre library.
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Next time read the tool tip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odessa
There are two things I do not understand :
1.- What is changed and what is not changed when you do not embed.
2.- Why you should, apparently, not embed, since not embedding seems to be the default procedure, judging from the fact there are those two special tools to embed (Polish Books and Embed Metadata).
When should you embed ? When should you not embed ? Why is it important and why do we have the choice ?
Regarding point 1, I have trouble understanding the statement that "without embedding, the changes are in the calibre database, but not in the file itself".
My understanding is that the metadata managed by Calibre is in two different places : the metadata.opf file, which is inside the Calibre database but outside of the .epub file (which is actually an archive), and the content.opf file, which is part of the .epub file containing the actual text of the book.
Is that correct ?
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Not quite, the library database is an SQLite relational database, it doesn't contain files as such, it contains tables which contain columns, in essence there's a column for each metadata element.
The metadata.opf files in the book folders are used to restore the library database should it get corrupted or misplaced. In the 12 years I've been using calibre I have not needed to restore any of my library databases. Pretend they don't exist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odessa
If so, does it mean that, if one does not embed, changing the metadata through the user interface only changes the metadata.opf file, not the content.opf file ? But the content.opf file is changed as well as soon as one sends the book to an e-reader, or save it to disk ?
And does embedding mean that both .opf files are changed without any of those operations taking place, if one uses Polish Book or Embed Metadata ?
If that's the case, why is it that making changes through the user interface, then opening the editor to check, one sees that the changes have, indeed, been applied to the content.opf file ? Is it only the action of opening the editor which applies this change, which would not have happened otherwise ?
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You need to rethink all of that… based on what I wrote above.
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Originally Posted by Odessa
If so, should not one refrain from using the editor at all ? If "not embedding" is the normal, recommended course of action, should not one avoid to open the editor, since it "embeds" ?
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Uncheck the box you've been advised to uncheck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odessa
I have occasionally used the editor to change some metadata, the adjustment of which did not transfer from the Calibre UI to my Kobo. I noticed that when applying the Save command of the editor, the changes I made in the content.opf file were not, in fact, saved. I had to use the Save a Copy command, then reimport the book into Calibre.
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If you change the content.opf file in the editor it only changes that content item in the file you are editing, it does
not flow through to the library data base.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odessa
How is that explained in the context of embedding / not embedding ? It's so different from what happens when you use a normal editor on the configuration file of a program, for instance.
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Primarily, calibre is an e-book library manager tool. The book-viewer and book-editor are added extras.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odessa
Which brings me to point 2 : what is the logic ? what is the philosophy ? what is the recommended course of action ?
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Watch the calibre videos.
BR