Noob needs guidance - Adding Series Metadata to Sent Books Kobo Aura

Bartdude · 08-31-2021, 01:35 AM

Apologies if this question has been asked already. I did a search but didn't find a suitable answer.

I'm using Calibre 3.7 (Windows 7) to send Epub books to a Kobo Aura (Edition 2). Series metadata is displaying properly in Calibre database.

I want the books in the Kobo to display Title, Author, Series and Series # (Example: Lee Child, 61 Hours, Jack Reacher (14)).

I would prefer to avoid using Plugboards if possible. I was hoping to simply edit the "Preferences - Import/Export - Sending Books To Devices" template, but I don't fully understand the syntax required.

Can someone please explain the format used to edit the template (an example that includes the syntax and resulting output to the book would be much appreciated).

Many thanks!

davidfor · 08-31-2021, 03:42 AM

Kobo devices have support for series information built in. It will be displayed in the lists under the title (and subtitle if there is one). And calibre can send the series information to the device. In fact, that is the default configuration. If you send a book to the device, disconnect and let it import the book, when you connect again, the series information is updated on the device.

The reason this doesn't happen is that either the configuration of the driver has been changed to not to it, or on the "Sending books to devices" page of the preferences, then "Metadata management" option is not set to the automatic choice.

Otherwise, it has to be done using a plugboard. The save template you refer to is used for the file name when the book is sent to the device. Kobo does not display this. For formats that contain metadata, such as ePub and PDF, it extracts the metadata from inside the books. That means it gets the title and author from inside the book, not from the file name.

uli · 08-31-2021, 09:01 AM

The only other way to avoid the plugbord is with NickelSeries, it allows Kobo to read the Calibre/EPUB series metadata directly.

theducks · 08-31-2021, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uli

The only other way to avoid the plugbord is with NickelSeries, it allows Kobo to read the Calibre/EPUB series metadata directly.

I have no Plugboard setup for My Aura2
I do have the Latest Kobo Firmware (but this has been in previous releases for over a year).
I do use the Extended edition Kobo plugin.
You Must Eject, Then connect a second time for Series Metadata to show. (

The Device DB Book entry does not happen until first eject, thus needing the second connect to update it with series.)

uli · 08-31-2021, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I have no Plugboard setup for My Aura2
I do have the Latest Kobo Firmware (but this has been in previous releases for over a year).
I do use the Extended edition Kobo plugin.
You Must Eject, Then connect a second time for Series Metadata to show. (

The Device DB Book entry does not happen until first eject, thus needing the second connect to update it with series.)

Yes, just to clarify you need to have NikelSeries installed if you want to avoid the need to eject and reconnect a second time to instantly get series metadata.

davidfor · 08-31-2021, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I have no Plugboard setup for My Aura2
I do have the Latest Kobo Firmware (but this has been in previous releases for over a year).
I do use the Extended edition Kobo plugin.
You Must Eject, Then connect a second time for Series Metadata to show. (

The Device DB Book entry does not happen until first eject, thus needing the second connect to update it with series.)

NickelSeries is a hack (I think it works as a plugin for nickel) that runs on the device and does the series metadata population at the time the book is imported. I haven't tried it, but, haven't heard of any issues with it. It does save you from reconnecting to update the series info and any other metadata.

theducks · 08-31-2021, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

NickelSeries is a hack (I think it works as a plugin for nickel) that runs on the device and does the series metadata population at the time the book is imported. I haven't tried it, but, haven't heard of any issues with it. It does save you from reconnecting to update the series info and any other metadata.

Both of you. I run a 'vanilla' Aura2 as I don't want to risk bricking my reader and having to wait for a replacement (with features I dont want to pay extra for)

Bartdude · 08-31-2021, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

...The reason this doesn't happen is that either the configuration of the driver has been changed to not to it, or on the "Sending books to devices" page of the preferences, then "Metadata management" option is not set to the automatic choice....

.

Thanks for that! I had already changed the "Metadata Management" setting to Automatic, but I found that the device configuration did not have the "Update metadata on device" or "Set series information" boxes checked. Kobo Aura is now showing series information between the Title and Author rows.

Another (stupid) question - Is it possible to sort the books in the Kobo Aura 2 by series? It only seems to sort by Author, Title, File Size, File Type or Recent. If I sort by Author, the books are arranged in alphabetical order per author. I was hoping to sort by series per author.

theducks · 08-31-2021, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartdude

Thanks for that! I had already changed the "Metadata Management" setting to Automatic, but I found that the device configuration did not have the "Update metadata on device" or "Set series information" boxes checked. Kobo Aura is now showing series information between the Title and Author rows.

Another (stupid) question - Is it possible to sort the books in the Kobo Aura 2 by series? It only seems to sort by Author, Title, File Size, File Type or Recent. If I sort by Author, the books are arranged in alphabetical order per author. I was hoping to sort by series per author.

Have you updated your firmware? (

Kobo utilities: Devices (tab) has a setting to do this check automatically upon connect)
I do have a by Series tab (that has sorts)

davidfor · 08-31-2021, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartdude

Another (stupid) question - Is it possible to sort the books in the Kobo Aura 2 by series? It only seems to sort by Author, Title, File Size, File Type or Recent. If I sort by Author, the books are arranged in alphabetical order per author. I was hoping to sort by series per author.

Same question as @theducks: What firmware are you running? Series sorting has been in the firmware for a long time. That is in the sort menu for any book list. More recently, Kobo added the series list as a separate tab in the library.

There are a lot of other advantages with more recent firmware. I can't think of anything good from the range of firmware you would be on with an Aura Edition 2 and no series sorting.

Bartdude · 08-31-2021, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Have you updated your firmware? (

Kobo utilities: Devices (tab) has a setting to do this check automatically upon connect)
I do have a by Series tab (that has sorts)

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I updated (synced) the firmware, and now it sorts by series. Thx much!

08-31-2021, 01:35 AM	#1
Bartdude Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	Noob needs guidance - Adding Series Metadata to Sent Books Kobo Aura Apologies if this question has been asked already. I did a search but didn't find a suitable answer. I'm using Calibre 3.7 (Windows 7) to send Epub books to a Kobo Aura (Edition 2). Series metadata is displaying properly in Calibre database. I want the books in the Kobo to display Title, Author, Series and Series # (Example: Lee Child, 61 Hours, Jack Reacher (14)). I would prefer to avoid using Plugboards if possible. I was hoping to simply edit the "Preferences - Import/Export - Sending Books To Devices" template, but I don't fully understand the syntax required. Can someone please explain the format used to edit the template (an example that includes the syntax and resulting output to the book would be much appreciated). Many thanks!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[Kobo Aura] Series and number of the series	Laval	Devices	1	02-26-2019 08:26 PM
Metadata Plugboard to change title of same-title books in series for Kobo Touch	il_mix	Library Management	5	03-15-2018 04:59 PM
Kobo Aura H2O and series metadata	sherman	Devices	2	10-06-2017 09:22 PM
adding books into a series without being numbered?	wttwoa	Library Management	5	12-07-2013 10:57 AM
Noob import question - adding books by genre, ln, fn . . .	deleteriousone	Library Management	16	02-16-2011 05:55 AM

08-31-2021, 03:42 AM	#2
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	Kobo devices have support for series information built in. It will be displayed in the lists under the title (and subtitle if there is one). And calibre can send the series information to the device. In fact, that is the default configuration. If you send a book to the device, disconnect and let it import the book, when you connect again, the series information is updated on the device. The reason this doesn't happen is that either the configuration of the driver has been changed to not to it, or on the "Sending books to devices" page of the preferences, then "Metadata management" option is not set to the automatic choice. Otherwise, it has to be done using a plugboard. The save template you refer to is used for the file name when the book is sent to the device. Kobo does not display this. For formats that contain metadata, such as ePub and PDF, it extracts the metadata from inside the books. That means it gets the title and author from inside the book, not from the file name.

08-31-2021, 09:01 AM	#3
uli Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	The only other way to avoid the plugbord is with NickelSeries, it allows Kobo to read the Calibre/EPUB series metadata directly.

Advert

Advert