What is a virtual book?

wbpatton · 11-04-2017, 01:32 PM

I was trying to add some books from my Kobo Aura to my library, but I received an error that they were virtual and couldn't be added. What does that mean? Thanks!

kovidgoyal · 11-04-2017, 01:39 PM

That means that only a stub file for the book is accessible over the USB connection. Or that the book is in a format that cannot be read outside the device. So while calibre can list the book as being ont he device, it cannot do anything else, like copy the book off the device, etc.

wbpatton · 11-04-2017, 03:47 PM

Oh, ok. Thank you!

davidfor · 11-04-2017, 08:13 PM

In the case of the Kobo devices, it is more the second of the Kovid's reasons. A purchased kepub will be downloaded to the device, and, in the past at least, there was nothing that could be done with that in calibre. There are plugins that do support the kepub format, but, there are still some issues with copying from the Kobo devices, that mean I haven't changed this in the driver.

JSWolf · 11-04-2017, 08:17 PM

If the kepub has no DRM, you can use Modify ePub to convert the kepub back to ePub.

davidfor · 11-04-2017, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the kepub has no DRM, you can use Modify ePub to convert the kepub back to ePub.

Is that to me or wbpatton?

It if it is me, I'm tempted to mention a saying about eggs and grandmothers. But, if I decide to change the driver to add something to the calibre library for purchased kepubs, I will be deciding whether to add an empty book, as a kepub (DRM free only) or as a epub (again, DRM free only) with all the kepub specific code. Give the current state of kepub support, the latter is the one I would least likely to go with. The empty book is the most likely choice.

If it is for wbpatton, then it would be polite to mention how to get the book into calibre. i.e. The Obok plugin that is part of the DRM removal tools. Though personally, I favour downloading the epub version from the Kobo store.

11-04-2017, 01:32 PM	#1
wbpatton Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2017 Device: Kobo Aura	What is a virtual book? I was trying to add some books from my Kobo Aura to my library, but I received an error that they were virtual and couldn't be added. What does that mean? Thanks!

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11-04-2017, 01:39 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,311 Karma: 27111242 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	That means that only a stub file for the book is accessible over the USB connection. Or that the book is in a format that cannot be read outside the device. So while calibre can list the book as being ont he device, it cannot do anything else, like copy the book off the device, etc.

11-04-2017, 03:47 PM	#3
wbpatton Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2017 Device: Kobo Aura	Oh, ok. Thank you!

11-04-2017, 08:13 PM	#4
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	In the case of the Kobo devices, it is more the second of the Kovid's reasons. A purchased kepub will be downloaded to the device, and, in the past at least, there was nothing that could be done with that in calibre. There are plugins that do support the kepub format, but, there are still some issues with copying from the Kobo devices, that mean I haven't changed this in the driver.

11-04-2017, 08:17 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,665 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If the kepub has no DRM, you can use Modify ePub to convert the kepub back to ePub.

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