How can I sync metadata to a Windows 8 tablet?

Beanxx · 08-16-2015, 09:13 PM

Dear folks--
I have several computers on which I keep copies of my library, synchronized by Dropbox. I have learned (the hard way) to only make changes in my library from one of those computers.

I also have a Windows 8 tablet which would be very convenient to use as a book reader – in fact I bought it for that purpose. However, it has only about a third of the storage required to sync my entire library, even if I take off everything else.

I would like to be able to see descriptive information about my books, download those that I am currently reading when I have an internet connection, but be able to read both my Dropbox favorites and my book descriptive information when I do not have a reliable internet connection.

I attempted to achieve this by using the Dropbox Metro App, which only downloads files when you favorite them. I though I could favorite the metadata.db file and then point Calibre to the Dropbox folder in the usual way. I hoped that this would let me see my books, even though I would have to download them individually before reading them. However, I can not identify any folder in the WindowsApps directory which appears to contain the books I have downloaded or the metadata file, even though I can see them with the Dropbox App. I have two folders with “Dropbox” in their names in the WindowsApps directory, but neither seems to contain my the books I have downloaded. The App does let me see my library folder structure and download books on demand for offline reading.

Can anyone tell me:

Will pointing Calibre to a folder with the metadata.db file in it allw me to access my metadata for media files not locally present?
If there is a way for Calibre to gain access to the files in the Dropbox Metro App?
If the answer to either of the preceding questions is “no”, is there any other good way to maintain a local copy of my library metadata that I can access whether or not I have an internet connection, without needing to also maintain a local copy of all my books?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Peace, Andrew

eschwartz · 08-16-2015, 09:42 PM

As long as you have the metadata.db, you can open the library and see what's in it. Any changes you make will regenerate the (missing) per-book metadata.opf backups, and trying to access the books will give you an error.
Covers are not in the database -- they are the cover.jpeg in each ebook folder.

I have no idea about the Dropbox Metro app.

08-16-2015, 09:13 PM	#1
Beanxx Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2015 Device: PC & Android apps	How can I sync metadata to a Windows 8 tablet? Dear folks-- I have several computers on which I keep copies of my library, synchronized by Dropbox. I have learned (the hard way) to only make changes in my library from one of those computers. I also have a Windows 8 tablet which would be very convenient to use as a book reader – in fact I bought it for that purpose. However, it has only about a third of the storage required to sync my entire library, even if I take off everything else. I would like to be able to see descriptive information about my books, download those that I am currently reading when I have an internet connection, but be able to read both my Dropbox favorites and my book descriptive information when I do not have a reliable internet connection. I attempted to achieve this by using the Dropbox Metro App, which only downloads files when you favorite them. I though I could favorite the metadata.db file and then point Calibre to the Dropbox folder in the usual way. I hoped that this would let me see my books, even though I would have to download them individually before reading them. However, I can not identify any folder in the WindowsApps directory which appears to contain the books I have downloaded or the metadata file, even though I can see them with the Dropbox App. I have two folders with “Dropbox” in their names in the WindowsApps directory, but neither seems to contain my the books I have downloaded. The App does let me see my library folder structure and download books on demand for offline reading. Can anyone tell me: Will pointing Calibre to a folder with the metadata.db file in it allw me to access my metadata for media files not locally present? If there is a way for Calibre to gain access to the files in the Dropbox Metro App? If the answer to either of the preceding questions is “no”, is there any other good way to maintain a local copy of my library metadata that I can access whether or not I have an internet connection, without needing to also maintain a local copy of all my books? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Peace, Andrew

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08-16-2015, 09:42 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	As long as you have the metadata.db, you can open the library and see what's in it. Any changes you make will regenerate the (missing) per-book metadata.opf backups, and trying to access the books will give you an error. Covers are not in the database -- they are the cover.jpeg in each ebook folder. I have no idea about the Dropbox Metro app.

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