Question about the db file in SQlite

Rellwood · 07-30-2017, 05:53 PM

For editing and reference purposes I have been poking around the db files using SQlite. I exported the columns to csv and having opened up only the books.csv I don't know what else I am going to be wondering about, but right now I have to know...what is the "flags" (K) column? Also, the lccn?

Would be nice if there was a chapter in the manual that defined the columns.

theducks · 07-30-2017, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rellwood

For editing and reference purposes I have been poking around the db files using SQlite. I exported the columns to csv and having opened up only the books.csv I don't know what else I am going to be wondering about, but right now I have to know...what is the "flags" (K) column? Also, the lccn?

Would be nice if there was a chapter in the manual that defined the columns.

No
The table structure usage would only be gleaned from the code.

You are in shark infested waters if you don't EXACTLY know what you are doing. This is a 'Relational Database". You can orphan a lot by messing with the index columns or the links to other (tables) indexes

BetterRed · 07-30-2017, 10:31 PM

what he said, and re 'lccn' - try google.

BR

kovidgoyal · 07-30-2017, 11:27 PM

Neither of those columns are currently used, they are present for backwards compatibility reasons. And I strongly discourage people from messing with the db file. You can cause all sorts of damage to your library that way. You want to do things with the db use the calibre DB API, which is documented int he manual.

Rellwood · 08-01-2017, 05:46 PM

@all,

I suppose I should have prefaced my post with, "I made a copy and didn't touch the original that is currently being used in my library" regarding the db file. I am not so green as to understand that messing around with the working db file is just an invitation to having to use the restore file feature in Windows.

When I said "editing and reference purposes" I only meant the various custom columns and Goodreads Shelves.

SO....@Kovid, I shouldn't really worry about columns that don't make sense because they don't have anything to do with the metadata?

I was only hoping to find the names of the custom columns in various libraries so that I could standardize them, and have the list for the tweaks.

The same goes with the various tags.

So, I am not really trying to get deep into the workings, just trying to get various info in ways that don't required endless catalogs.

theducks · 08-01-2017, 06:51 PM

Custom column names are stored within the DB as a bit of fancy footwork./sleight of hand. It is a very elegant solution

kovidgoyal · 08-01-2017, 10:25 PM

You want to get a lsit of custom columns ina library use

calibredb custom_columns

07-30-2017, 05:53 PM	#1
Rellwood Library Breeder (She/Her) Posts: 1,268 Karma: 1937891 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Fullerton, California Device: Paperwhite 2015 (2), PW 2024 (12 GEN), PW 2023 (11 GEN), Scribe (1st)	Question about the db file in SQlite For editing and reference purposes I have been poking around the db files using SQlite. I exported the columns to csv and having opened up only the books.csv I don't know what else I am going to be wondering about, but right now I have to know...what is the "flags" (K) column? Also, the lccn? Would be nice if there was a chapter in the manual that defined the columns.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Glo koboreader.sqlite File	LaLaLia	Kobo Reader	3	10-05-2014 08:05 PM
SQLite	Meeky	Kindle Developer's Corner	2	01-01-2013 11:02 AM
Question about the 'preloaded books' sqlite file.	cmm	Kobo Reader	3	08-06-2010 04:22 PM
file type question	dow	Sony Reader	22	02-04-2008 10:05 AM

07-30-2017, 10:31 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,725 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	what he said, and re 'lccn' - try google. BR

07-30-2017, 11:27 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,347 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Neither of those columns are currently used, they are present for backwards compatibility reasons. And I strongly discourage people from messing with the db file. You can cause all sorts of damage to your library that way. You want to do things with the db use the calibre DB API, which is documented int he manual.

08-01-2017, 05:46 PM	#5
Rellwood Library Breeder (She/Her) Posts: 1,268 Karma: 1937891 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Fullerton, California Device: Paperwhite 2015 (2), PW 2024 (12 GEN), PW 2023 (11 GEN), Scribe (1st)	@all, I suppose I should have prefaced my post with, "I made a copy and didn't touch the original that is currently being used in my library" regarding the db file. I am not so green as to understand that messing around with the working db file is just an invitation to having to use the restore file feature in Windows. When I said "editing and reference purposes" I only meant the various custom columns and Goodreads Shelves. SO....@Kovid, I shouldn't really worry about columns that don't make sense because they don't have anything to do with the metadata? I was only hoping to find the names of the custom columns in various libraries so that I could standardize them, and have the list for the tweaks. The same goes with the various tags. So, I am not really trying to get deep into the workings, just trying to get various info in ways that don't required endless catalogs.

08-01-2017, 06:51 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,054 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Custom column names are stored within the DB as a bit of fancy footwork./sleight of hand. It is a very elegant solution

08-01-2017, 10:25 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,347 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You want to get a lsit of custom columns ina library use calibredb custom_columns

Advert

Advert