Q: Removing file format that isn't there.

[Scott_R]

My library is a mess. It's slowly built over a decade plus, and I've been really lax in keeping track of things.

I finally started to organize things with Calibre, and it's taking a lot of manual labor (though I'm finally starting to use plugins, too.)

One issue: old books that I haven't read in a LONG time where archived in a variety of formats, such as RAR. This was done back in the day when disk space was a premium; since it's cheap now, I'm expanding them into more native formats.

But: I sorted my library by format. When I go to a rar file, open the enclosing folder, expand it, then add those files to that same listing, the rar file is still shown in the "Formats" column even though it doesn't appear in the Edit Metadata window.

That is, the Formats column used to show
RAR
and now it shows (e.g.,)
EPUB, MOBI, RAR

How do I get rid of that nonexistent format, short of deleting the listing and re-entering it from scratch?

[theducks]

Formats is a USER (custom) column.
You need to revisit what you did to make it. (or throw the column away)

Personally, I just look at Formats: in the details pane (or in the metadata editor)

RAR is a valid format for a multi-HTML file book, so you could really have all 3 formats

formats:rar is the search for those that (should) exist
If you have been messing below the skirts, rum Library MAINTENANCE and get the DB back int shape (and quit messn' around )
Select books: Right click: Remove Books: Remove a selected format
Use with care... There is no easy undo

[Scott_R]

The original (RAR) was trashed.

I just used one of the existing templates (Quick Create):

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Scott_R

The original (RAR) was trashed.

I just used one of the existing templates (Quick Create):

That (method) says the File EXISTS (or you broke the DB by messn')

The file type is logged when you Add and removed when you Delete.
If you bypass Calibre, the log is not updated
Run Maintenance and get things back in order

[BetterRed]

theducks

@Scott_R - but I'll add one more thing. Back up the library that's in a mess, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that in cleaning up a broken library one will end with with a totally trashed library - 'course Sods/Murphy's Law says that won't happen if you back it up first

BR

[Scott_R]

Thanks for the replies. I suppose that, in the future, the way to go is to delete the file archive from the metadata first, expand the archive, then add back to the metadata.

BetterRed: by my library being a mess I meant how I was organizing all my files (or, rather, not organizing them). I've been slowly digitizing my VAST print book collection since the mid-90s... the project has spread over the lives of four different scanners, multiple OCR programs, and media starting with ZIP drives (thus the compacting).

Putting everything into Calibre is my attempt to un-mess and organize it all.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Scott_R

Thanks for the replies. I suppose that, in the future, the way to go is to delete the file archive from the metadata first, expand the archive, then add back to the metadata.

BetterRed: by my library being a mess I meant how I was organizing all my files (or, rather, not organizing them). I've been slowly digitizing my VAST print book collection since the mid-90s... the project has spread over the lives of four different scanners, multiple OCR programs, and media starting with ZIP drives (thus the compacting).

Putting everything into Calibre is my attempt to un-mess and organize it all.

I believe Kovid added the ability to extract (the same title) from an archive WHEN you use the Auto-add folder. the othe adds all assume 1 file,1 book

[BetterRed]

@Scott_R - if a RAR contains images only (e.g. TIFFS or JPEGS from a scanner), then it will be 'rebadged' as a CBR (Comic Book RAR), same for a ZIP, which will be rebadged as a CBZ.

Also the 'keyword' in the formats custom column 'helper' you used is 'approximate'. They are the formats recorded in the database as being present, which won't be accurate if you add, rename, or delete format files within a library folder via a file manager. That's why you shouldn't do that - look if you must, but don't touch, is the rule I stick by.

It is possible to specify a custom column that examines the book folders, but it makes everything slow because of the need to iterate through the library folders and files. What's shown in the book details panel does reflect what's in the book folder.

Hope that helps a little bit.

BR