Correct epub Title Not Displayed in iBooks

[ellentk]

An epub I transferred to ibooks using Dropbox doesn't display the title that's in the title field in the book's metadata. (I accessed the metadata in the Edit Metadata screen.) Instead of the correct title, iBooks shows the number 3. I've looked at all the fields in the Edit Metadata window and can't find the number 3 in any of them so I don't know where iBooks is getting the 3 from.

I tried deleting the book from iBooks, closing the app, transferring the book from Dropbox and opening the app again only to find the 3 was still there.

I downloaded metadata, saved the book in Calibre and transferred that version via Dropbox to iBooks with the same result.

Can anyone enlighten me and tell me how to get the correct title displayed in iBooks.

Thanks.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ellentk

An epub I transferred to ibooks using Dropbox doesn't display the title that's in the title field in the book's metadata. (I accessed the metadata in the Edit Metadata screen.) Instead of the correct title, iBooks shows the number 3. I've looked at all the fields in the Edit Metadata window and can't find the number 3 in any of them so I don't know where iBooks is getting the 3 from.

I tried deleting the book from iBooks, closing the app, transferring the book from Dropbox and opening the app again only to find the 3 was still there.

I downloaded metadata, saved the book in Calibre and transferred that version via Dropbox to iBooks with the same result.

Can anyone enlighten me and tell me how to get the correct title displayed in iBooks.

Thanks.

Edit Metadata DOES NOT change the book. Never has. That step only makes changes to the Library (list) View.
It appears you are shadowing your Library Folder on Dropbox (read the FAQs on usage of Calibre with the cloud)

It you want To change the LIBRARY COPY OF THE BOOK, you need to take additional steps to embed the update the stored book.

If you Used the Library to SEND the book, the sent copy is updated.
If you Convert to a format, the NEW format contains the change
If you use Embed metadata tool, Polish tool or Modify EPUB PI, that updates certain formats within the Library (a few do not support metadata)

[ellentk]

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm not clear on where to change the title info.
I don't use any of the tools you mentioned. Which one is easiest to make the simple change I'd like to make?

I'm not shadowing my library in dropbox. Mostly I use the kindle paperwhite and transfer books with a usb connection, so I get the page numbers. When I want to read an epub in ibooks, I send it to dropbox from the calibre library folder in windows explorer. Never had this problem.

In this case, I also tried sending the book to dropbox from inside the calibre library, but didn't realize that it was an unchanged copy, because, as you advised, edit metadata doesn't change the actual copy and I don't know where/how to change the file. Where/how can I?

[GeoffR]

You can use the Save to disk function to export a book from the Calibre library, the exported book will have the updated metadata.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ellentk

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm not clear on where to change the title info.
I don't use any of the tools you mentioned. Which one is easiest to make the simple change I'd like to make?

I'm not shadowing my library in dropbox. Mostly I use the kindle paperwhite and transfer books with a usb connection, so I get the page numbers. When I want to read an epub in ibooks, I send it to dropbox from the calibre library folder in windows explorer. Never had this problem.

In this case, I also tried sending the book to dropbox from inside the calibre library, but didn't realize that it was an unchanged copy, because, as you advised, edit metadata doesn't change the actual copy and I don't know where/how to change the file. Where/how can I?

Send to device Should update the metadata on the fly.

If that is not arriving at your Kindle, look at the Plugboard settings (the ones assignd to Kindle formats. You may have others.)

ibooks uses EPUB. You need to use one of the methods above since you are using the raw (as stored) copy of EPUB. Try Polish (the small broom), it is built in.

[ellentk]

Thanks so much guys.

I used polish, uploaded the file to iTunes, transferred it over usb and the title finally showed up correctly in iBooks.

For some reason, transferring the file to dropbox didn't work.

Also when I saved the file to disk, I got three files: an epub, jpeg and opf (which from what I've read holds the metadata?) I transferred the epub using dropbox and that didn't work either.

Any reason why dropbox wasn't picking up the revised metadata?

[davidfor]

How did you transfer the file to dropbox? Did you open the calibre library directory and copied the file from there? If so, that is why.

Calibre doesn't automatically update the metadata inside the files in the library. Any changes are stored in a database. They are applied to the file when you use calibre to export the file (save to disk, send to device, emailing to device) or you run an action such as Polish books, a conversion or Embed metadata. These explicitly update the file in the library with the latest metadata.

As to the extra files, there are options in the save to disk preferences to turn these off.

[ellentk]

Thanks, David.

I transferred the files to dropbox a few times, once using calibre but mostly from windows explorer with a copy and paste or a send to, and one of those files was the epub I got after I saved to disk, so it should have contained the correct metadata. Except I thought that the presence of the opf file might mean that the data wasn't in the epub yet and would only get there if the opf was transferred with it, like the page number file and mobi books.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ellentk

Thanks, David.

I transferred the files to dropbox a few times, once using calibre but mostly from windows explorer with a copy and paste or a send to, and one of those files was the epub I got after I saved to disk, so it should have contained the correct metadata. Except I thought that the presence of the opf file might mean that the data wasn't in the epub yet and would only get there if the opf was transferred with it, like the page number file and mobi books.

The OPF is the backup of the details currently SHOWN in the Library. Those may not be in the book unless you use the tolls to do so.

Save to Disk is the best way without needing to update the copy in the Library.
Make the Preferences adjustment to exclude the other pieces

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

The OPF is the backup of the details currently SHOWN in the Library. Those may not be in the book unless you use the tolls to do so.

- and, because they are updated in the background immediately after a bulk update, they may not be current. On my rig that happens at the rate of about 1/sec. So, if I do something that affects 200 books, it will take about 3 minutes to write the 200 new metadata.opf files. Best thing is to pretend they don't exist.

BR

[ellentk]

Thanks again for cluing me in, guys.