Any way to stop Calibre changing ISBN?

fortune · 01-08-2022, 09:18 AM

So I am trying to extract book description and cover data using Calibre so I can then export it and then create jpgs with the names of the ISBNs to match the original spreadsheet of ISBNs I imported into Calibre.

However, Calibre is changing the ISBNS in the metadata.

for example, I import 9781592337781 by Add Books: Add From ISBN, it uses 9781592337781 for the ID. Then, when Calibre downloads the metadata, it changes the ID from the correct ISBN to the Ebook ISBN of 9781631596452. So, when I use Better Finder Rename to rename all the images to the ISBNs, it's giving it the wrong file name.

Is there any way to stop Calibre from replacing ID. I unchecked every Metadata option but comments and title and it's just not stopping it.

Thank you

ownedbycats · 01-08-2022, 02:33 PM

Use the bulk metadata downloader (book list > edit metadata > download metadata and covers). The review metadata window gives you a chance to merge in the existing IDs instead of overwriting the old ones.

Unfortunately, this is limited in one manner - you can't pick which search result it'll use. Occasionally I've gotten a completely different book. In that case, just copy the old ISBN, download metadata normally, then paste it back in.

davidfor · 01-09-2022, 07:02 AM

As you say you added the book via the ISBN, I assume there was no other identifiers on the book. In that case, if the ISBN is being changed by a metadata download, it usually means the ISBN wasn't found. Most metadata download will search for books using the identifier for the site, then the ISBN and then the title and author. They stop when there is a match. If the book only has an ISBN and the title and author, then ISBN isn't being matched on one of the sources you are using. Then it is using the title and author and finding another edition of the book. But, calibre also merges matches from different sources. It usually uses the ISBN, but, it might do it on other metadata which might lead to a different ISBN being used.

You might get the result you want if you turn on the "Keep more than one entry per source" option. That can display multiple matches and one might have the ISBN you want to keep.

01-08-2022, 09:18 AM	#1
fortune Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2021 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Any way to stop Calibre changing ISBN? So I am trying to extract book description and cover data using Calibre so I can then export it and then create jpgs with the names of the ISBNs to match the original spreadsheet of ISBNs I imported into Calibre. However, Calibre is changing the ISBNS in the metadata. for example, I import 9781592337781 by Add Books: Add From ISBN, it uses 9781592337781 for the ID. Then, when Calibre downloads the metadata, it changes the ID from the correct ISBN to the Ebook ISBN of 9781631596452. So, when I use Better Finder Rename to rename all the images to the ISBNs, it's giving it the wrong file name. Is there any way to stop Calibre from replacing ID. I unchecked every Metadata option but comments and title and it's just not stopping it. Thank you

01-08-2022, 02:33 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,797 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Use the bulk metadata downloader (book list > edit metadata > download metadata and covers). The review metadata window gives you a chance to merge in the existing IDs instead of overwriting the old ones. Unfortunately, this is limited in one manner - you can't pick which search result it'll use. Occasionally I've gotten a completely different book. In that case, just copy the old ISBN, download metadata normally, then paste it back in. Last edited by ownedbycats; 01-08-2022 at 08:29 PM.

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01-09-2022, 07:02 AM	#3
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	As you say you added the book via the ISBN, I assume there was no other identifiers on the book. In that case, if the ISBN is being changed by a metadata download, it usually means the ISBN wasn't found. Most metadata download will search for books using the identifier for the site, then the ISBN and then the title and author. They stop when there is a match. If the book only has an ISBN and the title and author, then ISBN isn't being matched on one of the sources you are using. Then it is using the title and author and finding another edition of the book. But, calibre also merges matches from different sources. It usually uses the ISBN, but, it might do it on other metadata which might lead to a different ISBN being used. You might get the result you want if you turn on the "Keep more than one entry per source" option. That can display multiple matches and one might have the ISBN you want to keep.

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