Re-sending modified books to Kobo

[PunkyKoopa]

Hi,

Sometimes I like to try new settings for my metadata or change settings in the KTE driver. I usually delete the book on my Kobo and the resend the book.

Do I need to delete the books or is there a way to resend all my books without deleting them first?

It's safe to send all my books at once or can I corrupt the database?

Thank you!

[Sirtel]

If you only change the metadata, not the files themselves, there will be no need to delete and resend the books. Calibre will update the metadata on the device automatically (the metadata management must be set to automatic in the settings).

Deleting and resending books is necessary only when you have edited the files themselves (for example, in Sigil or the Calibre editor).

[PunkyKoopa]

And what about changes in KTE, for example the length of the hyphenation?

Thank you.

[rashkae]

This can be tricky. The KTE default is to replace the book file in place and 'trick' the kobo into thinking it's the same book. The benefit is that you can replace the book and retain all your bookmarks, annotation and reading position.

This works fine for most small changes, (like tweaking the css of the book, and presumably, any of the settings in KTE itself.. But it will break things in interesting ways if the contents of the (x)html files have been changed/edited significantly, (ie, paragraphs added or removed, files split at different points, files added or removed to the book, any changes to the table of contents, etc.) . It won't corrupt your whole database, but that one book will probably have to be deleted and replaced.

If you are making the kinds of changes to books that will confuse the kobo, you have to either remove the book from the kobo first, or Uncheck the option "Do not treat replacements as new books" in the KTE options. (it's in the "Collections, covers & Uploads" tab. Since I frequently make large edits to my books, including fixing page split issues, I leave that option unchecked.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

If you only change the metadata, not the files themselves, there will be no need to delete and resend the books. Calibre will update the metadata on the device automatically (the metadata management must be set to automatic in the settings).

Deleting and resending books is necessary only when you have edited the files themselves (for example, in Sigil or the Calibre editor).

It depends on what sort of changes are made. Most changes do not need to have the existing copy removed before sending the new copy. I believe even a ToC change can be dealt with by a ToC update (I'd have to double check that).

So to clarify, it's not necessary to remove the existing copy before sending the new copy even if you've edited the code. I've done this a number of times with no ill effect.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rashkae

If you are making the kinds of changes to books that will confuse the kobo, you have to either remove the book from the kobo first, or Uncheck the option "Do not treat replacements as new books" in the KTE options. (it's in the "Collections, covers & Uploads" tab. Since I frequently make large edits to my books, including fixing page split issues, I leave that option unchecked.

What sort of changes will confuse the Kobo? I've never replaced an eBook on my Kobo that's caused any sort of confusion.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What sort of changes will confuse the Kobo? I've never replaced an eBook on my Kobo that's caused any sort of confusion.

Try mucking with the table of contents, removing or adding a html file and quite a few other changes that modify the file structure and then resending the book with Do not treat replacments as new books checked.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Try mucking with the table of contents, removing or adding a html file and quite a few other changes that modify the file structure and then resending the book with Do not treat replacments as new books checked.

I cannot say I've added or removed an HTML file. But I have changed the ToC and I believe you can now update the ToC on the Kobo.

[DNSB]

The ToC is read on import and I have managed to cause myself issues when I added/removed ToC entries. I learned this the hard way when editing Gutenberg books when I merged and split files to get 1 chapter per file and forgot to remove the checkmark before resending them.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The ToC is read on import and I have managed to cause myself issues when I added/removed ToC entries. I learned this the hard way when editing Gutenberg books when I merged and split files to get 1 chapter per file and forgot to remove the checkmark before resending them.

That is not an issue any longer. Kobo Utilities has an option to update the ToC in the Kobo's database.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That is not an issue any longer. Kobo Utilities has an option to update the ToC in the Kobo's database.

Umm... Given that is not an action that is run automatically when sending a book to a Kobo, which is easier? Sending the ebook with Do not treat replacements as new books disabled and just reading or starting to read the book, realizing that the ToC is hooped, reconnecting to calibre, using the Update ToC for Selected Books option, safely ejecting and then continuing to read?

Personally, I favour a minimum therblig variant.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Umm... Given that is not an action that is run automatically when sending a book to a Kobo, which is easier? Sending the ebook with Do not treat replacements as new books disabled and just reading or starting to read the book, realizing that the ToC is hooped, reconnecting to calibre, using the Update ToC for Selected Books option, safely ejecting and then continuing to read?

Personally, I favour a minimum therblig variant.

But if you have highlights/bookmarks then you want to replace what's there and then update the ToC. You don't have to reconnect to update the ToC. Besides, you should know you've changed the ToC and then update it.

The other thing you will need to do is remembering to set the option again. It's not easier then updating the ToC. I would say about the same level of easy.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But if you have highlights/bookmarks then you want to replace what's there and then update the ToC. You don't have to reconnect to update the ToC. Besides, you should know you've changed the ToC and then update it.

The highlights I add to books are overwhelmingly edit points. I will do those at the same time that I edit the book for other reasons. I would need a more compelling reason to disable replacements being treated as new books. Also for my workflow, almost all editing takes place before the ePub leaves the intake library and gets sent to my ereader.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The other thing you will need to do is remembering to set the option again. It's not easier then updating the ToC. I would say about the same level of easy.

My workflow very seldom calls for setting the option so less effort for me in the long run and comes closer to a null therblig operation.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The highlights I add to books are overwhelmingly edit points. I will do those at the same time that I edit the book for other reasons. I would need a more compelling reason to disable replacements being treated as new books. Also for my workflow, almost all editing takes place before the ePub leaves the intake library and gets sent to my ereader.

My highlights are for errors or things I want to fix. Sometimes I find enough things needing fixing that I'll fix them and resend the fixed copy. It's been a long time since I've had to change the ToC for a resend.

[John Hopper]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What sort of changes will confuse the Kobo? I've never replaced an eBook on my Kobo that's caused any sort of confusion.

I've found that if I want to edit the title or change the cover, I have to delete and resend. Not that this is a major issue, as it's not something I do often.

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