The names again

[Bigo2]

Hi

In my Calibre I like the following way of naming my books (the reason is that I like to have them displayed according to the series in my Kindle:

Title:
[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of Worlds

Author(s):
Niven, Larry

Also in my Calibre database this book name looked like this:
“D:\Calibre My\Niven, Larry\[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of Worlds (114)\[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of Worlds - Niven, Larry.epub"

If the name is longer, then some letters of the name are lost - that’s probably the Calibre database limitation, but this was still quite acceptable…

However recently I have found that even more letters are lost than before, now even with shorter names. I deliberately edited the metadata in Calibre for the above book name to see the resulting change in the database book name, now it is like this:

"D:\Calibre My\Niven, Larry\[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of (114)\[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer - Niven, Larry.epub"
Instead
“D:\Calibre My\Niven, Larry\[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of Worlds (114)\[Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of Worlds - Niven, Larry.epub"

The name of the book in Calibre itself is still the same, of course, but in the database it is damaged - it became shorter.

Why is it so? Have I done something wrong or was this changed in some late Calibre version?

[eschwartz]

I don't know about that, but you may want to make use of the series column. If you need the series to appear on devices (none of which, of course, can handle series info) you can use plugboards to set the title whenever you send to device. An example plugboard that would turn:

calibre metadata title ===== Betrayer of Worlds
calibre metadata series === Known Space Series
calibre metadata series # = 4

into: book title on device = [Known Space Series 4] Betrayer of Worlds

would be

{series:|[| }{series_index:||] }{title}

Plugboards: a very useful (yet oddly obscure) thing.
You can read more about them here: http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/temp...and-plugboards

Or at the MobileRead Wiki: Kindle_and_Calibre_Plugboards

This may save you some shortening. It is also worth noting that nothing was broken; calibre simply wasn't able to create a longer filename due to Windows filesystem limitations. calibre still knows exactly where your books are.

[Bigo2]

Thanks I will check that... but, how come that my Calibre used to be able to save littlebit longer filenames (as I marked here in red) and now it is not?
I would like to have it at least as it used to be...

Also, windows certainly can save longer file names than those I put here as an example. Much longer.

[PeterT]

There was a change in a recent version of calibre that reduced the maximum allowable file name. I think it was either 1.0 or a version very close to 1.0.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Bigo2

Thanks I will check that... but, how come that my Calibre used to be able to save littlebit longer filenames (as I marked here in red) and now it is not? I would like to have it at least as it used to be...

Also, windows certainly can save longer file names than those I put here as an example. Much longer.

Around version 1.0 calibre reduced the path length of the books in its library due to some edge cases that caused problems at times in some systems. There is nothing you can do to change it. Functionally the shorter names make zero difference to calibre's management of books or how calibre interacts with any devices.

Also once you look at what eschwartz pointed out you might find having the title and series info separate a great idea.

Good Luck.

[Bigo2]

Originally Posted by PeterT

There was a change in a recent version of calibre that reduced the maximum allowable file name. I think it was either 1.0 or a version very close to 1.0.

Thanks PeterT - in that case I think I would have to go back and stop updating...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Bigo2

Thanks I will check that... but, how come that my Calibre used to be able to save littlebit longer filenames (as I marked here in red) and now it is not?
I would like to have it at least as it used to be...

Also, windows certainly can save longer file names than those I put here as an example. Much longer.

It can certainly display filenames as long as I want them to be if saved from linux -- like Kindles for example. But copying them from there results in some oddly shortened names. The whole thing seems needlessly confusing. (Typical of Windows)

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_filename#Limitations there seems to be problems with multiple renamings of the same file, and Google also gives lots of fascinating discussion about different API calls which have various issues with naming files.

I believe the general rule of thumb is no Windows filename PATH can be longer than 256 characters.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I believe the general rule of thumb is no Windows filename PATH can be longer than 256 characters.

I can't speak to linux but the shortened path has a little to do with Windows path limit. Kovid has a finite length limit built in that reduces the names as seen by the OP.

Here is a thread that explored the path reduction when version 1.0 was released.

[Bigo2]

Hi DoctorOhh - I read through that thread. Basically Mr... decided to change how Calibre saves the names and that's it.

However, since this latest version at least still displays the names as they were when saved with the versions before 1.0 (be aware you mustn’t use Edit Metadata on those files, it would ultimately shorten them according to this new better improved version), I would have to install some older version just for saving the books as I liked to...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

I can't speak to linux but the shortened path has a little to do with Windows path limit. Kovid has a finite length limit built in that reduces the names as seen by the OP.

Here is a thread that explored the path reduction when version 1.0 was released.

Very interesting read, thanks. Now I must go beat up some helpless little Windows computer since I am now .

Originally Posted by Bigo2

Hi DoctorOhh - I read through that thread. Basically Mr... decided to change how Calibre saves the names and that's it.

However, since this latest version at least still displays the names as they were when saved with the versions before 1.0 (be aware you musn't use Edit Metadata which would shorten them according to this new beter improved version), I would have to install some older version just for saving the books as I liked to.

Is it truly necessary to save it in the library folder? I have never personally found a situation where I must browse it directly, except before I got the Open With plugin for editing with Sigil -- also obsolete with Edit Book.

Everything you need to do can probably be done with calibre directly.

Also, Kovid changed this for a good reason! It's probably not wise to mess with this, or you may end up being a fringe case! Also, deliberately keeping the previous generation of calibre will lead to you missing lots of bug-fixes (like this) which may lead to yet more adverse effects.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Bigo2

Hi DoctorOhh - I read through that thread. Basically Mr... decided to change how Calibre saves the names and that's it.

You could always use Linux or OS X.

Originally Posted by Bigo2

I would have to install some older version just for saving the books as I liked to...

If all you are seeking is a file structure that has a longer path name then leave the core library alone and use the Save to disk feature to export the files in the format in which you wish to see them.

[Bigo2]

eschwartz you know, I always have my filenames named as I liked - jpgs, docs, emp3s etc. so it seemed to me pitty that I can't have the books names as the writers intended...

But I think you are right - Sorry if I offended anybody.

Regards and Merry Christmas to all

and

DoctorOhh - that's a good idea! Thanks

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Bigo2

eschwartz you know, I always have my filenames named as I liked - jpgs, docs, emp3s etc. so it seemed to me pitty that I can't have the books names as the writers intended...

But I think you are right - Sorry if I offended anybody.

Regards and Merry Christmas to all

and

DoctorOhh - that's a good idea! Thanks

Oh, I meant I am angry at Windows. (for their very inconsistent way of dealing with things.) I do it for fun at least 5 times a day so it's not a big deal. Ranting is fun, what can I say.

[Bigo2]

By the way - I have found that it is not too complicated to re-save books in an older Calibre version - I have 0.9.2 - and this way I have my longer names back again. I only need to select the book and go to Edit Metadata and then click OK, that's all.
I have the latest 64 bit Calibre version, and also the above 32-bit Calibre version on my PC. The latest 64bit version don’t mind the longer names, and if I don't Edit Metadata of the book with the longer name, it is not changed.

So when the book belongs to some series which I like to save in the format I explained above - e.g. [Time Patrol 1] The Guardians of Time - Anderson, Poul, I can open it in the old Calibre version and it would be saved appropriately, while in the latest Calibre version I would finish with something like [Time Patrol 1] The Guardia - Anderson, Poul

Of course it would be nice if the names could be limited only by the windows limits. Or it would be nice if the covers would have the book name .jpg, but it is possibly impossible...

Regards

Have a nice xmas