Auto-Add Metadata When Adding Books

[pghaworth]

This may not be possible, and then again it may be something I am missing. I researched, checked the manual, checked here and the plugin-ins and still can't find what I'm looking for.

When I add books, sometimes the metadata is there and sometimes it's not. Is there any way to ask calibre to check for the missing metadata and download it when adding the books? Thank you.

[BetterRed]

@pghaworth - when you add a book the metadata will come from the filename, or from within the file itself, depends on the setting in Preferences->Add Books->Read metadata from file contents rather than file name.

I have a vague feeling that if the one folder/one book option is used and there's a metadata.opf file in the folder then the metadata will be extracted from it - but I could be wrong on this.

But as far as I know Add books never downloads the metadata.

BR

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

But as far as I know Add books never downloads the metadata.BR

Thank you. Darn, I was afraid someone was going to say that. Guess I'll just have to isolate and download. I was hopeful that going forward any books missing the comments part could be somehow amended during "Add Books".

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

Thank you. Darn, I was afraid someone was going to say that. Guess I'll just have to isolate and download. I was hopeful that going forward any books missing the comments part could be somehow amended during "Add Books".

Check the Preferences->Add Books->Mark Newly Added Books setting (it's alongside the Automatically convert... setting)

When you've done adding books make sure the blues bar has a red stripe, select Show marked books (ctrl/shift/m), then download metadata individually or in bulk.

BR

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Check the Preferences->Add Books->Mark Newly Added Books setting (it's alongside the Automatically convert... setting)

When you've done adding books make sure the blues bar has a red stripe, select Show marked books (ctrl/shift/m), then download metadata individually or in bulk.

BR

Thank you, again!

[eschwartz]

You could also do a search for "comments:false" to find all books without anything in Comments -- whether newly added or not.

Though you could mix that with "and marked:true" to find the newly-marked added books... but it sounds like you wouldn't mind any old ones missing comments from being found too.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

You could also do a search for "comments:false" to find all books without anything in Comments -- whether newly added or not.

Though you could mix that with "and marked:true" to find the newly-marked added books... but it sounds like you wouldn't mind any old ones missing comments from being found too.

Thank you! I'm in the middle of that process now. I have too many duplicates and titles I'll never read. I'm using the comments to whittle down my collection and creating new libraries for the ones that I'll likely delete later.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

Thank you! I'm in the middle of that process now. I have too many duplicates and titles I'll never read. I'm using the comments to whittle down my collection and creating new libraries for the ones that I'll likely delete later.

Glad I could help. Enjoy your newly-cleaned and -manageable library.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Glad I could help. Enjoy your newly-cleaned and -manageable library.

Thank you! It is approaching a thing of beauty.

I have VLs for all my favs - genres and authors, I've cleaned up the tagging and created my own system, thereby eliminating all that messy confusion, I've cleared out the majority of duplicates in format/title, etc. And best of all it's been a wonderful learning experience.

Thank you for all your help with this, btw, since I started my search for help with another thread and you helped me there, as well.

Thanks to all who have helped!