Deleted Files when changing Metadata

[Special.Guest]

Hi there,

I started using Calibre to keep track of my dozens of scanned books. I use a text-recognition-software to be able to convert the pdfs in other formats. But that text-recognition-software ist not always that good, so I want to keep the original scan in my Calibre Library as well. So I just dropped the original file in the folder, Calibre created under /calibre library/.

When I change the Author Name or the title, Calibre creates a new folder and moves the file there ... but only the one file I imported earlier to Calibre. The original scan I dropped in the folder is deleted ... along with the folder.

Is there any way, I can keep the original scans in my Calibre Library and prevent Calibre from deleting them ... ?

[BetterRed]

If you put the scan(s) in a ZIP and add the ZIP via Calibre then I think it will take care of them, in terms of not losing them

The zip will get the calibre designated name eg BookName - AuthorName.zip.

And you'll see the ZIP in the Formats in Book Details and Metadata Edit.

Bit of a kludge but it works for me.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

When I change the Author Name or the title, Calibre creates a new folder and moves the file there ... but only the one file I imported earlier to Calibre. The original scan I dropped in the folder is deleted ... along with the folder.

The original scan most likely wasn't deleted it just didn't get moved to the new folder. Since you just dropped it in a folder using the OS calibre doesn't know it exists and did not move the scan with the files it did know about.

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

Is there any way, I can keep the original scans in my Calibre Library and prevent Calibre from deleting them ... ?

What format is the original scan in? If it is not a known format I would suggest creating a rar archive and adding that archive to the existing book via the Edit Metadata window, just drag and drop it in the formats area (see attached). If it is a known format like pdf then the same drag and drop previously described will also work. Adding it via this window ensures that the file will always be kept with the book no matter how many times you change the name or author.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

... so I want to keep the original scan in my Calibre Library as well. So I just dropped the original file in the folder, Calibre created under /calibre library/.

When I change the Author Name or the title, Calibre creates a new folder and moves the file there ... but only the one file I imported earlier to Calibre. The original scan I dropped in the folder is deleted ... along with the folder.

This is the way Calibre works. Instead of just dropping the pdf into a folder manually, you should drop the file into Calibre, so Calibre knows it is there.

You should treat the "Calibre Library" folder as a black box and only use Calibre itself to manage files there. For adding files to the folder just drag & dop them into the "book details" panel at the right side of the scren, for extracting files, use "Save to disk" functionality in Calibre. Such approach has many advantages.

[Special.Guest]

If it is not a known format I would suggest creating a rar archive and adding that archive to the existing book via the Edit Metadata window, just drag and drop it in the formats area (see attached). If it is a known format like pdf then the same drag and drop previously described will also work. Adding it via this window ensures that the file will always be kept with the book no matter how many times you change the name or author.

This would be the perfect solution. But when I drag & drop the original-scanned-pdf next to the recognized-text-pdf in the right upper corner of the Metadata-Window, Calibre just replaces the recognized-text-pdf with the original-scanned-pdf. If I drag & drop a zip- or rar-file there it just unzips/unrars the file and then replaces the recognized-text-pdf. But I want to keep both files. Any idea how I can achive this ?

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

But I want to keep both files. Any idea how I can achive this ?

Create two book records. Calibre will only handle one physical file per format per record. Two PDF files cannot be the same book (as you found out).

[Special.Guest]

Could I prevent Calibre from unpacking the zip or rar file and just keep it as another format? That would be perfect !

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

Could I prevent Calibre from unpacking the zip or rar file and just keep it as another format? That would be perfect !

No!
Only by using 2 Records (maybe by putting (V #) in the title. to make it obviously deliberate, when you run Find Duplicates )

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

Could I prevent Calibre from unpacking the zip or rar file and just keep it as another format? That would be perfect !

Yes, you can.
Go to the Preferences, Plugins, Filetype Plugins, Archive Extract plugin and disable it, or just search for rar in Plugins.

[itimpi]

Another way to stop Calibre unpacking a zip/RAR file is to make sure it contains multiple files. In that case the file is added unchanged.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by itimpi

Another way to stop Calibre unpacking a zip/RAR file is to make sure it contains multiple files. In that case the file is added unchanged.

Ah ha, that's why mine just worked, I always have at least two files in the ZIP.

[Special.Guest]

@kacir: ... knew there was a way thanks a lot

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Special.Guest

@kacir: ... knew there was a way thanks a lot

There are quite a few things that can be enabled/disabled using plugins.

Normally Calibre creates a zip file with all files needed for the book when you drop in html file. This is great if there are lots of depencies, such as many smaller linked html files and/or pictures. Usually, however, I prefer html file to be left untouched - as a single *.html file, because my reader reads those directly. There is plugin for that, that you can [en|dis]able when you wish.

Another "problem" I solved this way is automatic recognition of my device when it is plugged in. I do not use Calibre to load books directly, I like to manage books on device myself. I use "save to disk" function in Calibre to export selected books for my reader and I also create epub catalog of all books in that export directory (another great plugin). So I have disabled all device plugins and now Calibre doesn't search, organize, index books when I connect the device while Calibre is running.

Some third party plugins are also noteworthy. Quick preferences, Duplicates, Search internet ...