What does "On Device" actually mean?

BrooksNYC · 10-03-2015, 10:44 AM

Hello, one and all.

Am a brand-new Kindle and Calibre user, and wonder if I might trouble the forum with a remedial question.

Sometimes — but not always — this is the view when I open Calibre:

The "On Device" column comes and goes. The meaning of "On Device" would seem to be straightforward, but am wondering why there isn't a check mark next to ALL of my books since, as far as I know, all of my books are on my Kindle. (Put another way, I'm not reading on the Cloud.)

Kind thanks for your help. Calibre is fantastic.

Brooks

MartyTX · 10-03-2015, 11:26 AM

BrooksNYC,

Welcome to the Forum.

When your Kindle is connected to your PC, calibre displays the "On Device" column, and lets you know which books are on your Kindle. When your Kindle is NOT connected to your PC, calibre does not display the "On Device" column.

Looking at your screen image, calibre is saying that "The Fire Next Time" is in your calibre library, but it is NOT on your Kindle.

Post back if you can actually read "The Fire Next Time" on your Kindle, and if you can read it using the calibre E-book viewer.

BrooksNYC · 10-03-2015, 11:59 AM

Hi there, Marty. Much obliged for your help.

I can confirm that each UN-checked title is readable on Calibre and also on my Kindle. And, although my Kindle came outfitted with 3G, I have it set to "Airplane" mode. So the device isn't (or shouldn't be) communicating with the Cloud.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyTX

When your Kindle is connected to your PC, calibre displays the "On Device" column

I should have noticed that. Can I blame GAD (Geezer Attention Disorder)? Thanks again.

Sirtel · 10-03-2015, 12:08 PM

Probably the metadata don't match and so Calibre thinks they are two different books. You can use the option "Match book to library", I have it on the toolbar in Device view.

BrooksNYC · 10-03-2015, 12:41 PM

Q. Thanks so much, Sirtel. I've added that button to my Device View toolbar.

When I select any of the unchecked books and click the new button, however, I get this error message:

Additional thoughts? Thanks.

theducks · 10-03-2015, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooksNYC

Hi there, Marty. Much obliged for your help.

I can confirm that each UN-checked title is readable on Calibre and also on my Kindle. And, although my Kindle came outfitted with 3G, I have it set to "Airplane" mode. So the device isn't (or shouldn't be) communicating with the Cloud.

I should have noticed that. Can I blame GAD (Geezer Attention Disorder)? Thanks again.

Hey GAD

Next time your K is connected, you will also notice a new icon (or 2 for other brands) in the toolbar.
Those are the DEVICE view. If you click that, you will see a column In Library. Ticks there, match those in the previous (library) view. Ones WITHOUT ticks, exist on the device, but not in The Current (virtual) Library

Sirtel · 10-03-2015, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooksNYC

Q. Thanks so much, Sirtel. I've added that button to my Device View toolbar.

When I select any of the unchecked books and click the new button, however, I get this error message:

Additional thoughts? Thanks.

Hmm that error has never happened to me, but I've not used the button in a long time (all my books are sideloaded these days). Perhaps it's caused by the new KFX format? Do you have the latest calibre version? If not, try to update to the latest (2.40) and see what happens then.

BrooksNYC · 10-03-2015, 01:28 PM

Thanks, gang, for being my Calibre ambulance. I've errands to run, so will resume my efforts later.

So long for now! . .

GAD

kovidgoyal · 10-03-2015, 11:04 PM

Click the show details button on that error message and post the full error message.

BrooksNYC · 10-04-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Those are the DEVICE view. If you click that.......etc.

Thanks for plunging in, theducks.

Using The Fire Next Time as an example, there's no check mark next to the book in either Device View or Library View. Yet, the book is readable on the Kindle and in Calibre. Sticky wicket, no?

Kovid, thanks for taking a look at this for me. Here's the full error message:

Thank you all again.

B.

Win 7, x64
Calibre 2.40.0

kovidgoyal · 10-04-2015, 11:19 AM

That's an odd error are you doing match books by right clicking in the device view or the library view? i.e. are you seeing the books in the calibre library or the books on the device when you run match books? For it to work ytou must be seeing the bookson the device.

BrooksNYC · 10-04-2015, 03:09 PM

Thank you, Kovid. I wasn't right-clicking in DEVICE View, and that was the problem. Fixed, and thank you!

One more question (for now), if I may:

I'm trying to sort my library's titles alphabetically — including the words "A" and "The." To that end, I've gone into Preferences > Advanced > Tweaks > Control sorting of titles and series in the library display.

I've edited the tweak to read:

title_series_sorting = 'strictly_alphabetic'

However, after applying the changes and closing and restarting Calibre, the sorting remains as before — that is, Calibre sorts alphabetically, but ignores "A" and "The."

I'm more than willing to open the metadata and rename my titles, if it comes to that (and if it wouldn't mess things up). Changing The White Album to White Album, The is easy enough.

Thanks again for your help.

Brooks

eschwartz · 10-04-2015, 03:44 PM

You will need to reprocess all sort values -- the preference only controls how sort values are created (e.g. when importing the book).

Just CTRL+A to select all books, then use Edit Metadata (it will go into bulk mode).
Tick the box for "Update title sort" (near the bottom). Then click Apply.

BrooksNYC · 10-04-2015, 04:11 PM

Bob's my uncle! Thank you, eschwarz.

I'll do my best to stay out of trouble for a while. You've all been so helpful, and thanks.

eschwartz · 10-04-2015, 04:22 PM

It was no trouble.

Happy to help.

10-03-2015, 10:44 AM	#1
BrooksNYC Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: New York, NY Device: Samsung tablet	What does "On Device" actually mean? Hello, one and all. Am a brand-new Kindle and Calibre user, and wonder if I might trouble the forum with a remedial question. Sometimes — but not always — this is the view when I open Calibre: The "On Device" column comes and goes. The meaning of "On Device" would seem to be straightforward, but am wondering why there isn't a check mark next to ALL of my books since, as far as I know, all of my books are on my Kindle. (Put another way, I'm not reading on the Cloud.) Kind thanks for your help. Calibre is fantastic. Brooks

10-04-2015, 03:09 PM	#12
BrooksNYC Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: New York, NY Device: Samsung tablet	Thank you, Kovid. I wasn't right-clicking in DEVICE View, and that was the problem. Fixed, and thank you! One more question (for now), if I may: I'm trying to sort my library's titles alphabetically — including the words "A" and "The." To that end, I've gone into Preferences > Advanced > Tweaks > Control sorting of titles and series in the library display. I've edited the tweak to read: title_series_sorting = 'strictly_alphabetic' However, after applying the changes and closing and restarting Calibre, the sorting remains as before — that is, Calibre sorts alphabetically, but ignores "A" and "The." I'm more than willing to open the metadata and rename my titles, if it comes to that (and if it wouldn't mess things up). Changing The White Album to White Album, The is easy enough. Thanks again for your help. Brooks Last edited by BrooksNYC; 10-04-2015 at 03:22 PM.

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10-03-2015, 11:26 AM	#2
MartyTX Dedicated Posts: 441 Karma: 11279376 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX Device: iPad Mini 1 & 4, Nook ST, Dell 11-3000, iPhone 5s	BrooksNYC, Welcome to the Forum. When your Kindle is connected to your PC, calibre displays the "On Device" column, and lets you know which books are on your Kindle. When your Kindle is NOT connected to your PC, calibre does not display the "On Device" column. Looking at your screen image, calibre is saying that "The Fire Next Time" is in your calibre library, but it is NOT on your Kindle. Post back if you can actually read "The Fire Next Time" on your Kindle, and if you can read it using the calibre E-book viewer.

10-03-2015, 12:08 PM	#4
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,459 Karma: 239219453 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Probably the metadata don't match and so Calibre thinks they are two different books. You can use the option "Match book to library", I have it on the toolbar in Device view.

10-03-2015, 12:41 PM	#5
BrooksNYC Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: New York, NY Device: Samsung tablet	Q. Thanks so much, Sirtel. I've added that button to my Device View toolbar. When I select any of the unchecked books and click the new button, however, I get this error message: Additional thoughts? Thanks.

10-03-2015, 01:28 PM	#8
BrooksNYC Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: New York, NY Device: Samsung tablet	Thanks, gang, for being my Calibre ambulance. I've errands to run, so will resume my efforts later. So long for now! . . GAD

10-03-2015, 11:04 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,343 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Click the show details button on that error message and post the full error message.

10-04-2015, 11:19 AM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,343 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	That's an odd error are you doing match books by right clicking in the device view or the library view? i.e. are you seeing the books in the calibre library or the books on the device when you run match books? For it to work ytou must be seeing the bookson the device.

10-04-2015, 03:44 PM	#13
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You will need to reprocess all sort values -- the preference only controls how sort values are created (e.g. when importing the book). Just CTRL+A to select all books, then use Edit Metadata (it will go into bulk mode). Tick the box for "Update title sort" (near the bottom). Then click Apply.

10-04-2015, 04:11 PM	#14
BrooksNYC Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: New York, NY Device: Samsung tablet	Bob's my uncle! Thank you, eschwarz. I'll do my best to stay out of trouble for a while. You've all been so helpful, and thanks.

10-04-2015, 04:22 PM	#15
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	It was no trouble. Happy to help.

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