Best way to replace a source file in the calibre database

halloleo · 12-31-2020, 11:39 PM

Sometimes I have to modify a book file (say in PDF format) of a book record in calibre.

What's the best way to tell calibre to add the modified (PDF) book file and delete the old (PDF) file, without creating a new book record?

So far I have just replaced the file in the database's content directory, but I guess this is a dangerous approach...

kovidgoyal · 12-31-2020, 11:51 PM

drag ad drop it onto the book details panel. Or right click the add books button and choose add files to selected book records.

BetterRed · 01-01-2021, 02:03 AM

The Add Books tool has an "Add files to selected books from clipboard" option, you would probably want to give it a keyboard shortcut, I use Alt+Shift+V.

halloleo · 01-06-2021, 01:57 AM

Thank you! This makes sense.

MattB77 · 11-01-2023, 08:57 AM

Does this work for .odt source files? I have updated my .odt draught, then used the menu options "Add books > Add files to selected book records". I check the timestamp on the .odt is the last time I saved it. I select that and get a message "The ODT file will be replaced in the book <My book title>". But when I view the book, the text hasn't changed since I created the book.

theducks · 11-01-2023, 10:26 AM

Adding an updated ODT, does not trigger a conversion to another format (nor remove those).

The Calibre viewer and Device drivers have a preferred format (settings) that will be used (if format exists)

MattB77 · 11-01-2023, 10:32 AM

Ah, ok thanks. I was thinking the view should update with the new doc, but of course, the view is only updated after the conversion.

Quoth · 11-01-2023, 11:15 AM

As an aside, an extra Save As on Docx might convert better in Calibre.
I remove format the docx/odt from Calibre library after conversion as it's a copy. Then default View is epub not docx.

12-31-2020, 11:39 PM	#1
halloleo Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 12649 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: iPad	Best way to replace a source file in the calibre database Sometimes I have to modify a book file (say in PDF format) of a book record in calibre. What's the best way to tell calibre to add the modified (PDF) book file and delete the old (PDF) file, without creating a new book record? So far I have just replaced the file in the database's content directory, but I guess this is a dangerous approach...

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12-31-2020, 11:51 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,319 Karma: 27111242 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	drag ad drop it onto the book details panel. Or right click the add books button and choose add files to selected book records.

01-01-2021, 02:03 AM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,708 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	The Add Books tool has an "Add files to selected books from clipboard" option, you would probably want to give it a keyboard shortcut, I use Alt+Shift+V.

01-06-2021, 01:57 AM	#4
halloleo Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 12649 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: iPad	Thank you! This makes sense.

11-01-2023, 08:57 AM	#5
MattB77 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2023 Device: Kindle	Does this work for .odt source files? I have updated my .odt draught, then used the menu options "Add books > Add files to selected book records". I check the timestamp on the .odt is the last time I saved it. I select that and get a message "The ODT file will be replaced in the book <My book title>". But when I view the book, the text hasn't changed since I created the book.

11-01-2023, 10:26 AM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,023 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Adding an updated ODT, does not trigger a conversion to another format (nor remove those). The Calibre viewer and Device drivers have a preferred format (settings) that will be used (if format exists)

11-01-2023, 10:32 AM	#7
MattB77 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2023 Device: Kindle	Ah, ok thanks. I was thinking the view should update with the new doc, but of course, the view is only updated after the conversion.

11-01-2023, 11:15 AM	#8
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,952 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	As an aside, an extra Save As on Docx might convert better in Calibre. I remove format the docx/odt from Calibre library after conversion as it's a copy. Then default View is epub not docx.

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