Calibre Metadata does not update

[Amalthia]

Hi,

I'm using the plugin Fanfiction Downloader and since I upgraded Calibre to 1.0 when I update a story using the plugin the metadata does not update with the story. I posted this bug to the Fanfiction Downloader Plugin area, however the creator of the plugin says it's a problem with Calibre.

Here is the error message:

calibre, version 1.1.0
ERROR: Error Updating Metadata: <p>An error has occurred while FFDL was updating calibre's metadata for <a href='http://archiveofourown.org/series/40210'>Falconry Anthology</a>.</p>The ebook has been updated, but the metadata has not.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre_plugins.fanfictiondownloader_plugin.f fdl_ plugin", line 1113, in update_books_loop
File "calibre_plugins.fanfictiondownloader_plugin.f fdl_ plugin", line 1442, in update_metadata
File "site-packages\calibre\db\legacy.py", line 458, in set_metadata
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 56, in ans
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 1123, in set_metadata
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 1118, in set_field
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 922, in set_field
File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 1335, in windows_check_if_files_in_use
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\filenames.py", line 340, in __init__
IOError: [Errno 13] File is open in another process: u'r:\\dropbox\\calibre libraries\\fanfiction calibre library\\versaphile\\falconry anthology (10088)\\falconry anthology - versaphile.epub'

This is the response I received from JimmXinu. In case it helps.

Since I see that you're keeping your library under dropbox (which is going to be opening files automatically) and calibre starting with 1.0 has been doing a 'windows_check_if_files_in_use' and failing if another process has any of the book's files open, I'm going to blame dropbox vs calibre conflict. (FFDL only updates the epub through the calibre interfaces.)

Links to original posts:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...postcount=1737

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...postcount=1738

[Adoby]

The problem isn't calibre or the cloud software. The problem is you.

Calibre is single user software and the calibre library is not designed to be used on any type of networked file system.

Before you start calibre, turn off any other programs that may access the calibre library. That especially includes cloud software. But only turn off the cloud software when it has fully synced the calibre library with the cloud. If you follow these rules everything should work fine. This means that you can only use calibre on one computer at a time, if they both have the same calibre library, connected to the cloud.

If the cloud software is running and is in the process of updating the calibre library, you may loose books and information in the calibre library. Calibre keeps track of the books by recording information about them in metadata.db. But any changes you make to the files from calibre may be reversed by the cloud software. That means that calibre loose track of the books. Even metadata.db may be replaced.

I suggest that you turn of file sync with the cloud and run the library maintenance functions to try to fix any problems. Or restore a backup if you have a recent one.

[Amalthia]

I hadn't realized we couldn't host the Calibre Library on Dropbox since I've been doing this for over a year without any problems. It's only since the last update that it hasn't been working like it used to.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Adoby

The problem isn't calibre or the cloud software. The problem is you.

Rude much?

Originally Posted by Adoby

Calibre is single user software and the calibre library is not designed to be used on any type of networked file system.

Dropbox is not inherently a multi-user, although it can be used in that manner. Also it is definitely not a networked file system. Certainly you should ensure only one instance of calibre is accessing your library in Drobox at any time. This is not that hard to do. I've been doing it for 4 years without a problem.

@Amalthia - The problem is not you. You most likely know this but when using Dropbox, when you start up your computer ensure the sync from the cloud to your local files is complete before starting calibre and before shutting down your computer make sure Dropbox has finished syncing all files to the cloud.

Additionally I have found before I do any mass conversions, mass additions of books or update my calibre portable (which I run out of Dropbox) the need to pause syncing of Dropbox. You apparently have found another type of situation in which you should pause syncing of Dropbox prior to executing.

If you are doing things one at a time and happen to get a similar error simply do it again. If you always get a error then always pause syncing before that particular operation.

When I update metadata or convert files one at a time I never pause syncing. On the rare occasion I run into a hiccup I simply do the operation again.

Keep the above in mind and you should be fine. BTW don't forget to resume syncing when you move beyond the situations we talked about.

FYI the Metadata.db file has never been part of a hiccup in over 4 years of running calibre from Dropbox.

[Amalthia]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips. I will pause the syncing and update the files again to see if the metadata updates.

Normally, I do check to make sure Dropbox is done with syncing before I update Calibre, however lately it hasn't made a difference. I will try your suggestion.

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

@Amalthia - The problem is not you. You most likely know this but when using Dropbox, when you start up your computer ensure the sync from the cloud to your local files is complete before starting calibre and before shutting down your computer make sure Dropbox has finished syncing all files to the cloud.

Additionally I have found before I do any mass conversions or update my calibre portable (which I run out of Dropbox) the need to pause syncing of Dropbox. You apparently have found another type of situation in which you should pause syncing. If you are doing things one at a time and happen to get a similar error simply do it again. When I update metadata or convert files one at a time I never pause syncing. On the rare occasion I run into a hiccup I simply do the operation again.

Keep the above in mind and you should be fine. BTW don't forget to resume syncing when you move beyond the situations we talked about.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Amalthia

Thanks for the tips. I will pause the syncing and update the files again to see if the metadata updates.

Normally, I do check to make sure Dropbox is done with syncing before I update Calibre, however lately it hasn't made a difference. I will try your suggestion.

FYI, I slightly updated my previous post just before you responded.