The Kobo Utilities Plugin adds extra function to calibre for working with Kobo and newer Tolino (2024 onwards) eReaders. This will allow changes on the eReaders that either cannot otherwise be made or will make them easier to do.
The plugin was originally created by
@davidfor and is now mainly maintained by me. All future questions should be posted here, but the
older thread is here for reference.
The current functions of the plugin are:
- Set/Remove font settings for specific books.
- Update metadata directly to the database on the device.
- Change the reading status.
- Manage series info for books on the device. This is mainly for books not in the calibre library including kepubs.
- Store/record current reading position for ePubs. This can be done manually or automatically when the Kobo ereader is connected. Profiles can be used to manage the reading positions of multiple devices.
- Upload/Remove covers for all books in the library. This includes kepubs.
- A couple of annotations options that I'm not happy with.
- Backup the device database.
- Run integrity check on the database. It doesn't fix anything, but it tells you if the database is OK or not.
- Clean up duplicate shelves.
- Remove annotations files.
- Update the ToC for selected books.
- Clean the images directory of extra cover images.
- Various database-related utility functions.
Warning
- Almost all the functions of this plugin directly update the database on the Kobo device. If anything goes wrong, the database could get corrupted. It shouldn't happen, but it could. Before using any function of the plugin, it is recommended that you backup the database.
- The plugin has been created by reverse engineering the function of the Kobo eReaders. This has been done by examining the database on the Touch and Glo and experimenting with it and the interface. There is a good chance that my conclusions from this are wrong. This is unlikely to damage the device, but it could result in the need to reset it.
Supported devices
All Kobo e-ink ereaders are supported if calibre supports them. Some functions are not supported on the original Kobo eReader or the WiFi.
Supported Calibre versions
The oldest supported version of Calibre is 5.13.0. There are a few tests that run against both the oldest supported version and the current version, but they can't catch all issues.
Installation
Open
Preferences -> Plugins -> Get new plugins and install the 'Kobo Utilities' plugin.
You may also download the attached zip file and install the plugin manually, then restart calibre as described in the
Introduction to Plugins thread.
Configuration
Before use, some configuration of the plugin is needed. Pressing the toolbar button will display the configuration options, or it can be reached from the menu. Several custom columns are needed for the full function of the plugin. Pressing the help link will display the help for the plugin. This includes a full description of the columns needed.
Usage
- Once installed, the usage for most functions is to select one or more books in the library or device list and select an option from the plugins menu. A dialog will be displayed to set options for the action. Pressing OK will run the actions and when finished display a message showing the results.
- The functions available depend on whether you are looking at the library or the device list.
- A full description of each function is available in the help. This can be seen by pressing the help link in the top right of corner of each dialog.
Troubleshooting
If something doesn't work in a supported version please post about it in this thread or
on GitHub. Also please make sure that an issue hasn't already been reported by someone else.
In order to be able to track down a bug it is often necessary to see a debug log file. You can create such a log file with the following steps:
- In Calibre, right-click the preferences icon and select the "Restart in debug mode" option.
- Reproduce the bug.
- Quit Calibre. This should open the log file.
- Depending on the size of the log file, either paste it here in a CODE block or attach it to a post, or attach it to the GitHub issue if reporting there.
Contributing
If you are considering contributing code or translations please have a look at the README
here.
Source
The source of the plugin can be found on GitHub:
https://github.com/majutsushi/kobo-utilities
Acknowledgements
- A large chunk of the code is borrowed from the plugins written by kiwidude. Without his work, this would have been a lot harder to do.
- A few people have tried the beta versions of the plugin. Their reports, suggestions and encouragement have been important in getting it working.
Changelog
The changelog can be found here:
https://github.com/majutsushi/kobo-u...n/CHANGELOG.md