Updating Books/Metadata on Import

craig.trader · 01-01-2017, 05:46 PM

I'm using Linux and Calibre 2.75.

I have a lot of ebooks (EPUB format) that are created or updated automatically via a script. I want to import these books into Calibre so that they can be searched / served. This is easy the first time, but if I update one or more books, I want to be able to re-import the entire collection, but only have the changed books updated in Calibre. (Updates are generally because of new/better templates, additional metadata, or added chapters to existing books.)

I have tried the following:

calibredb add without --duplicates
Result: no books were imported / updated (because they already exist).
calibredb add with --duplicates
Result: two entries for every book in the collection, the second with updated metadata.
Calibre GUI add all books from a subdirectory
Result: two entries for every book in the collection, the second with updated metadata.
Calibre GUI add all books from a subdirectory, with automerge set to overwrite duplicates of existing formats.
Result: all books were imported / updated, even the ones that hadn't changed. Cover thumbnails for existing books that did not have embedded covers were not updated.

I would greatly appreciate suggestions.
If I need to write a script, I would rather write a standalone script instead of a plugin (so I can just add it to my normal publish process).

- Craig -

kovidgoyal · 01-01-2017, 08:55 PM

What you are looking for is

calibredb add_format

craig.trader · 01-02-2017, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

What you are looking for is

calibredb add_format

Yes, I had looked at that, but it requires me to know Calibre's id for a previously imported book, which admittedly, I can get from calibredb list. Since I know which files I've changed, I could use that to selectively update Calibre.

Unfortunately, what calibredb add_format does not do is update the Calibre metadata for the existing entry. It also does not generated a new cover thumbnail from the book.

I suppose I could just use the id and remove any books before updating them, and then add them one-by-one, but then the Calibre id will keep changing, which will probably be hard on anyone trying to read the book or keep things in sync.

Any other suggestions?

kovidgoyal · 01-02-2017, 09:04 AM

Umm there are commands to accomplish all those tasks in the calibre command line interface.

To find a book id

calibredb search

to get book metadata

ebook-meta --as-opf

to update metadata in a book record

calibredb set_metadata --from-opf

and so on. You just need to compose them correctly.

01-01-2017, 05:46 PM	#1
craig.trader Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2017 Device: Android	Updating Books/Metadata on Import I'm using Linux and Calibre 2.75. I have a lot of ebooks (EPUB format) that are created or updated automatically via a script. I want to import these books into Calibre so that they can be searched / served. This is easy the first time, but if I update one or more books, I want to be able to re-import the entire collection, but only have the changed books updated in Calibre. (Updates are generally because of new/better templates, additional metadata, or added chapters to existing books.) I have tried the following: calibredb add without --duplicates Result: no books were imported / updated (because they already exist). calibredb add with --duplicates Result: two entries for every book in the collection, the second with updated metadata. Calibre GUI add all books from a subdirectory Result: two entries for every book in the collection, the second with updated metadata. Calibre GUI add all books from a subdirectory, with automerge set to overwrite duplicates of existing formats. Result: all books were imported / updated, even the ones that hadn't changed. Cover thumbnails for existing books that did not have embedded covers were not updated. I would greatly appreciate suggestions. If I need to write a script, I would rather write a standalone script instead of a plugin (so I can just add it to my normal publish process). - Craig -

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01-01-2017, 08:55 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,201 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	What you are looking for is calibredb add_format

01-02-2017, 09:04 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,201 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Umm there are commands to accomplish all those tasks in the calibre command line interface. To find a book id calibredb search to get book metadata ebook-meta --as-opf to update metadata in a book record calibredb set_metadata --from-opf and so on. You just need to compose them correctly.

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