Use Calibre to Check if File (in Download list) already exist on Hard Disk

[jemsoo7]

Hi! Can anybody please help with this file comparing in the download list with existing file on hard disk.

Is there this functionality (as in the title) straight out of the box in calibre?
I have seen check online status, which is great for online content BUT, Is there the same functionality to check if the file is present (in the download directory by default) on the hard disk.
(This way i can check if files already downloaded, maybe after a crash disk, etc)

A bit off topic:

Can the search "strength" of the file name (for the: file Already Exist function) be adjusted by a menu/script or maybe displayed in a graded colour (darker and darker for more and more similarity - until perfect match)?

e.g title as: "tHE bRTown old fox jumped over" and "The brown old foxx juumped over"
70, 15, 100% similar, etc.

Thanks again for this beautiful forum, back after a few years!

[botmtl]

Can anybody please help with this file comparing in the download list with existing file on hard disk

So basically you want a duplicate file checker. There are quite a few of them available as apps (my personal fav is AllDup).

There is also a duplicate file checker that runs inside calibre (find duplicate plugin) but it limits itself to files that are in the library, as is proper.

[jemsoo7]

Thanks! for this info! yes! the problem is about linking download list with actual files on the HDD... i stumble on this difficulty at 3 instances in my working environment:

1st: Comparing download links with those already saved files in various download managers...

A possible functionality which does not exist to my experience (Having a database of saved files - that can be imported typical through any download managers lists (IDM, Jdownloader, Firefox Addons, etc) through which links you copy in clipboard (an advanced clipboard manager) is verified and given a match of existing files (strength of similarity)

2nd Instance (off-topic):
comparing the content of a burnt disk (dvd, etc) with its source data in a burning software. (verify data in softwares - works only immidiately and cannot be executed as a standalone task at some other time..... sometimes you just need to burn 5 or more disk at once immediately and only later check (when you have more time!)

3rd instance:
Processing the clipboard content before pasting it back in clipboard BEFORE being CAPTURED by JDOWNLOADER (applying a chain of macros to Ctrl+C)...useful when copying titles of books - Converting to title case, adding extension (.rar, etc) to files, etc. Software exist but is limited, scrubbing available however... (e.g clipboardfusion pro for which i purchased a license just for that - but actually it can't do it well directly - must use a 3rd hotkey...!!!)

[BetterRed]

@jemsoo7 - I solve the sort of issues you raise by adding the books to an Intake Library, and then using the Find Duplicates optional plugin :

• Firstly to ensure I have not created any duplicates in the Intake Library.
  
• Secondly to compare the metadata of the books in the Intake Library with books in the Main Library, using the Find Duplicates->Find library duplicates option. Books that are not duplicates get moved to the Main Library using calibre's Copy to library (delete after copy) feature. Books that are duplicates get moved to the Duplicates library.
  
• The plugin can match on title, author or both, and it has several degrees of matching, from exact to fuzzy.

Later, I will determine if I want to replace or augment the formats I have in the Main library with what I have put in Duplicates. Because this invariably means skim reading the format files, I access the Duplicates library via calibre's content server and the Main library via calibre's library manager.

I don't get many duplicates.

BR