Fixing library in Calibre

[Alpha o]

File formats again.

If I convert a book, on the main screen that shows the book cover, the original format is always listed first, then the conversion. I'm assuming that's Calibre's preference.

If I do put the formats into the library in a column, and list a converted book as an epub, and ignore the original format, will that be allowed or conflict with the data originally put in when importing the book?

Right now, if you search, the original file format is the one that is included in the search, not the converted one. IE:PDF, EPUB. EPUB does not show in a search for EPUB in the latter position.

Also, if you have a reader with no external storage, will Calibre download the books to a library on your own storage? I don't trust the cloud.

I'd like to store books from all vendors in one place on my own storage.

Thanks

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Alpha o

File formats again.

If I convert a book, on the main screen that shows the book cover, the original format is always listed first, then the conversion. I'm assuming that's Calibre's preference.

If I do put the formats into the library in a column, and list a converted book as an epub, and ignore the original format, will that be allowed or conflict with the data originally put in when importing the book?

Right now, if you search, the original file format is the one that is included in the search, not the converted one. IE:PDF, EPUB. EPUB does not show in a search for EPUB in the latter position.

Also, if you have a reader with no external storage, will Calibre download the books to a library on your own storage? I don't trust the cloud.

I'd like to store books from all vendors in one place on my own storage.

Thanks

Calibre does not Download anything except News.

Calibre DOES NOT currently work (official policy) with Networked storage.

Storage MUST be local and any Cloud replication MUST be suspended for the duration of the Calibre session. Structure damage can (and has) occurred. Recovery can be painful

You can Import books from your device if it connects AS A DEVICE (USB, CC or SDCARD reader) if they are not in the 'Protected Storage Section' on some devices.

[Alpha o]

I meant import. I always try to download to the computer and not the reader. I usually have the wifi off. I don't want to be bothered with notices.
I can block the sales pitches on the computer.

If it has too many restrictions, I don't want it.

That wasn't the main question. I want to know about renaming the formats that are on the screen with the cover of the book. If I can get all the converted books into EPUB and have that listed as the main format, I can sort out the HTML, DOC, Mobi, PRC, Kindle, and some PDF and find the darn duplicates and/or triplicates.

I bought "The Martian" from Amazon and converted it. Downloaded to computer.
After conversion the line under the cover of the book reads AZW3,EPUB.
Since there is a converted EPUB can I rename the format to just EPUB and delete the duplicate Amazon format? Or is the dual name format the default?
That seems to make the book list twice in the Kobo. Once in Amazon format, and once in EPUB.

If that naming convention on the original page is the default, then I probably can't change the order.

I got a lot of the originals from Gutenberg or Smashwords, and they have different ways of naming a book. Sometimes it's just a number, author can be omitted, but the file format is EPUB, so it shows up. I have forgotten and downloaded other copies that were named conventionally, and being lazy, never went back and corrected the name on the off-beat download. That's another reason for unknown books and general mess.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Alpha o

That wasn't the main question. I want to know about renaming the formats that are on the screen with the cover of the book. If I can get all the converted books into EPUB and have that listed as the main format, I can sort out the HTML, DOC, Mobi, PRC, Kindle, and some PDF and find the darn duplicates and/or triplicates.

I bought "The Martian" from Amazon and converted it. Downloaded to computer.
After conversion the line under the cover of the book reads AZW3,EPUB.

That is a list of formats that you have the book in. It is sorted alphabetically. NOT in the order the format was created for you. If you don't want to keep a format of a book, don't keep it. You can right-click on the format name in the details pane and select delete it from there.

Since there is a converted EPUB can I rename the format to just EPUB and delete the duplicate Amazon format? Or is the dual name format the default?
That seems to make the book list twice in the Kobo. Once in Amazon format, and once in EPUB.

If you have multiple copies in different formats on your Kobo device, it is because you put them there (with one exception). At some point, you have copied both the "Amazon format", which will be MOBI, and the ePub to the device. As the Kobo device can handle both formats, it displays them both in the library list as separate books. The fix is simple: decide which you don't want and remove it.

The exception to the above is the kepub format for books bought from Kobo. These can be downloaded directly to the device via WiFi. If you sideload an ePub or other version as well, you will have multiple copies of the book on the device.

If that naming convention on the original page is the default, then I probably can't change the order.

The details are based on what is in the book and in the library. As I said, the list of formats is simply a list of the formats of that book you have in the library. The other details, such as title and author, are extracted from the book when you add them to calibre. The details come from either the internal metadata or the file name, depending on your configuration and what is available. These can be changed. You can fix the title and author for any book along with any of the other details.

I got a lot of the originals from Gutenberg or Smashwords, and they have different ways of naming a book. Sometimes it's just a number, author can be omitted, but the file format is EPUB, so it shows up. I have forgotten and downloaded other copies that were named conventionally, and being lazy, never went back and corrected the name on the off-beat download. That's another reason for unknown books and general mess.

That can only be fixed with work. You need to go through those books and fix the metadata. Open them one at a time, work out the title and author and then you can download the rest of the metadata easily. But, Smashwords books usually have at least the basic metadata. You can get calibre to read the metadata from the book.

[theducks]

One of the reasons I asked (and Kovid did) for the Single instance (reusable) viewer option was for checking inside the book, to allow me to fix each books metadata, my way (I enter the actual paper version> Imprint in Publisher)

In the Viewer: Preferences: Miscellaneous: General: <near the bottom

With this ticked, you just open a book, look, fix the metadata, open the next book. No need to close the viewer, it will be reused

There is no substitute for TLC when striving for clean metadata (you sure won't get it from the download sources)

[Alpha o]

Thank you, that is what I needed to know. I was using a tablet, too, and just downloaded into folders and uploaded the folders before I caught on to Calibre. Folders were simply named books, and date. I've had fights with Windows about renaming stuff.

I also hate to retype anything.

Calibre didn't do too well on some duplicates, so it didn't get used.

I needed to know that I can change it. I need to delete from the device and that means finding the duplicates that show on the device and not in Calibre. So it will be work to straighten it all out. Looking for the easiest way. Probably fix the library, format the card and reload the card.

BTW, that's how the duplicates did get on the Kobo. It picked up both when I added the book to the device, except that only one shows in the library.

Can you start another library with the formats you didn't keep? I share with the other half and he has a Kindle.

One more question - can you print out the lists from device/card/library to compare them?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Alpha o

I needed to know that I can change it. I need to delete from the device and that means finding the duplicates that show on the device and not in Calibre. So it will be work to straighten it all out. Looking for the easiest way. Probably fix the library, format the card and reload the card.

BTW, that's how the duplicates did get on the Kobo. It picked up both when I added the book to the device, except that only one shows in the library.

Can you start another library with the formats you didn't keep? I share with the other half and he has a Kindle.

One more question - can you print out the lists from device/card/library to compare them?

When a device is connected you will see an On Device Column in the Library. A tick means Calibre made a match when it scanned the files on the device.

If you THEN switch to Device View (only appears when a device is attached), there is a column: In Library. Right click on one of those without a tick. Choices


If you need/want a listing (for a hard copy). I believe it is only available for books IN the Library. Right-click Convert (icon): <the bottom Line>

Use the CSV choice along with your spreadsheet program (OO Calc, Excel...) to format a print job

BTW Catalog will respect Search Filters or highlighted record Selections