Book Updates - How Do I Handle Them?

[TheArtfulDodger]

Hello:

I frequently receive notices from Amazon that books I've downloaded from them have been updated. In the past, I handle each update like a new book, except that I also have to first remove the title from my reader. This is quite awkward and I'd like to find out if there is a smoother way of doing it or, if there is no smooth method, perhaps that feature could be added to Calibre?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sparky

[Sabardeyn]

You would need to review your merge settings, but you could do a straight Add Book, or an Add Books>Add Formats, or Edit Metadata>Remove Format and then Add Format. In any of these cases you should retain the original metadata but change the file associated with that ebook title.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Sabardeyn

You would need to review your merge settings, but you could do a straight Add Book, or an Add Books>Add Formats, or Edit Metadata>Remove Format and then Add Format. In any of these cases you should retain the original metadata but change the file associated with that ebook title.

Easier
Just drop the new version of the format on top of the existing one in the metadata editors formats section.

IIRC, you drop it in the books Details pane, you will be asked to confirm the replace

[TheArtfulDodger]

Now I am more confused than ever! In the Calibre library, for an example book that is to be updated, I have the following files:

1. Book.azw3
2. Book.epub
3. cover.jpg
4. metadata.opf

I have downloaded the file Book-updated.azw3, which is (or can be) protected by DRM.

Looking at the metadata screen, I don't see where I would 'drop' anything.

Then, once the Calibre library has the

Book-updated.epub

with the previous metadata, how do I keep track, in Calibre, that the epub file has been changed so that when I next plug in my e-reader, I know which books need updating and how do I get the corrected version of the book into the e-reader?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sparky

[theducks]

Drop the replacement Where you see the format Icons
Note: I don't know what happens if you need those tools to kick in.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

Easier
IIRC, you drop it in the books Details pane, you will be asked to confirm the replace

I think you can turn that confirm off for for future 'drops'

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by TheArtfulDodger

... how do I keep track, in Calibre, that the epub file has been changed so that when I next plug in my e-reader, I know which books need updating and how do I get the corrected version of the book into the e-reader?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sparky

What you need is a setting for "Tag to apply when format is replaced", but I don't think there is one.

Meantime you could add tag "Updated Format" when you do a replace, and use it to indicate what books you need to update on your e-reader next time you connect it to your computer, after which you would remove the tag.

BR

[Sabardeyn]

Originally Posted by TheArtfulDodger

1. Book.azw3
2. Book.epub
3. cover.jpg
4. metadata.opf

In this listing 1 & 2 are ebook formats. The 3rd & 4th items are files that calibre uses as needed (cover.jpg=cover image; metadata.opf=extra copy of book's metadata), make believe these files don't exist. It is these files which help to rebuild your calibre library (metadata.db) if it is corrupted which is why you should leave them alone. Calibre will manage things quietly as needed.

[theducks]

To add to Sabardeyn's

If you drop the update/additional formats into Calibre (Metadata edit), the last_modified date is updated.
Calibre does all the internal bookkeeping ( intended)

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

To add to Sabardeyn's

If you drop the update/additional formats into Calibre (Metadata edit), the last_modified date is updated.
Calibre does all the internal bookkeeping ( intended)

Does that include updating the copy on OPs e-reader the next time its connected, which seems to be the main issue...

Originally Posted by TheArtfulDodger

...also have to first remove the title from my reader. This is quite awkward and I'd like to find out if there is a smoother way of doing it or...

I don't use calibre's e-reader integration so I have no idea whether or not it does or doesn't.

BR

[theducks]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Does that include updating the copy on OPs e-reader the next time its connected, which seems to be the main issue...


BR

In General: the device is oblivious to changes in Calibre
Now, if you use Calibre Companion (on Android devices), There is a sort for Updated (any) metadata (last_modified)
No Auto-magic transfer of the book.

[Sabardeyn]

I'm not sure myself. Until recently there was nothing for me to sync since I mostly used calibre's viewer. If I had it on my smartphone, I would delete the ebook once I finished reading it. Even now I doubt I will keep books on my device for an extended period of time. Most of my reading is entertainment so there is little need for long term storage. I am using Calibre Companion to transfer my books which should make updating any books easier - if necessary.

Edit: This is a cross-post with theducks' message, above.

[TheArtfulDodger]

I think there are really three problems here:

The first is the replacement of the old file, say .azw3, with the updated one, also .azw3. This is easily accomplished by the suggestions above.

The second is the updating of the other formats one finds in ones library, especially if one has different e-readers, for example epub and mobi. After one finishes the replacement, number 1 above, one is still left with converting the new .azw3 file to the other formats, in this case, epub and mobi. This is a somewhat tedious process requiring several clicks.

The third problem is keeping this title separate from the others in Calibre for re-transmission to the e-reader(s). I have solved this part by creating a new library, "Books Awaiting Updating and Subsequent Transfer to Devices". I add the update to this library, then I "move" the original book to this library (I can easily tell them apart because I keep authjor's names as "First Last" rether than "Last, First". Then I delete all of the "book" files (.azw3, .epub, .mobi) from the original, add the new .azw3 to the original folder, and finally convert the new .azw3 to the new formats. By then I am exhausted!!

So I think this complicated process, at least parts 1 & 2, could be accomplished by a single click of an "Update Selected Book" button. Thus far this has been resisted by the authorities!

Sparky

[Sefiriot]

Not sure if this is at all helpful, but I use the Reading List plugin with Calibre Companion to autosync updates to the saved fanfiction I have on my device: just add the relevant title to a reading list that is set to sync as soon as the device is hooked to Calibre and voila. Admittedly I only read and save my ebooks in EPUB, so there's no faffing with multiple formats.

[Sabardeyn]

TheArtfulDodger,
For the immediate future, I cannot see calibre gaining this kind of automated functionality. At least until the ebook industry matures a bit more with standardized features and implementation as well as simplifying the number of ebook formats to be maintained (mainly through attrition).

There are way too many non-quantifiable, and subjective, variables. As well as trying to programmatically determine what criteria constitutes an update as far as users are concerned ("one man's trash,..." and all).

Because of these issues, calibre's current functionality is more feature rich. It better meets the user's needs by allowing customization of included content, within an ebook format, based on the availability of hardware features. Unfortunately it does so through a complex manual process.