Books transferred no longer show as on the device

jwhittin · 11-01-2024, 07:13 PM

This is a wierd one. I've been using Calibre for years but in the last couple of weeks, every book I have transferred to my Kobo (Clara Colour) initially shows up as transferred and is readable on the Kobo, but then when I next load Calibre, in Library view they show as not on the device, and in Device view they are not there. But when I look using Windows Explorer, all the files are there in the expected folder.

Possible other relevant factors are that I seemed to have a Kobo library corruption about that time so reset the Kobo and recopied all files to it. Also, when resetting the Kobo it updated the firmware (to 4.40.23081).

Any ideas what could be the problem?

Many thanks

John

PeterT · 11-01-2024, 08:23 PM

In order for calibre to list the books on the Kobo, the books need to be present in the database on the device. This database is updated when the USB cable is disconnected.

Does calibre report any database errors?

Have you tried using the Kobo Utilities plugin to perform a database check?

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

jwhittin · 11-02-2024, 12:42 AM

Many thanks Peter

Calibre reported database errors before I reset the device. So the database is less than two weeks old.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Have you tried using the Kobo Utilities plugin to perform a database check?

Here is the result:

Spoiler:

DNSB · 11-02-2024, 02:50 AM

Your database is definitely corrupted. You can try signing out from More => Settings => Accounts, under the Kobo account sign out and then sign back in. This will replace the database with a blank one and all your sideloaded books will be re-imported along with any books in your Kobo account. All highlights, notes, and annotations will be lost.

I would strongly suggest setting up Kobo Utilities to automatically backup your database in future to make it easier to recover from a corrupted database.

jwhittin · 11-02-2024, 10:18 AM

Thanks David.

This also created some wierd results.

I signed out and back in as you suggested and the Kobo utilities indicated the database was OK. The only trouble was that this didn't re-import 50 of the books (out of 603) that were already on the device (they were the last 50 by Author sort). They didn't appear on the device nor showed on Calibre as on the device, yet they were in the folder structure of the device.

So I deleted the 50 titles from the Kobo using Windows File Explorer, re-signed out and back in, then re-transferred the 50 titles back onto the Kobo from Calibre, ejected the device then reconnected, and I got a database error again.

So I did it all again (actually now a third time as I made my own problems on one attempt), taking note of more things. And I noticed that after I had re-transferred the 50 titles onto the device from Calibre and ejected, the home screen display still said there were 553 books under "My Books" whereas within My Books, the filter dropdown showed 603. So this time I rebooted the device, the numbers aligned, and when I connected to the PC and used the Kobo Utilities check it showed the device database was OK.

So it's now working, although I have no idea why it wouldn't re-import the last 50 titles by Author sort, nor why the device needed to be rebooted after transferring titles from Calibre. I've transferred titles for over ten years, first to a Sony, then to a Kobo Clara HD, and most recently to a Kobo Clara Colour, and never had to reboot before.

So does this mean that in future I have to eject and reboot the Kobo after every transfer in future? Have they changed something in the Kobo firmware or Calibre recently that requires this perhaps?

Anyway, many thanks for your help and hopefully someone can provide an answer on my last two questions.

John

ownedbycats · 11-02-2024, 02:32 PM

When the firmware had a glitch that failed to properly close the database during USB export, I made a habit of rebooting the device before doing the second reconnect to transfer the subtitles and series information, and it helped. But as far as I know (I haven't really been paying attention to the recent firmware threads

) the glitch was fixed.

This NickelMenu config will add an easy-access reboot button to the main menu:

Code:

menu_item : main : Reboot Device : power : reboot

I also had spontaneous database corruptions when the internal storage on my Aura HD started to fail.

EDIT: At least one user has reported the database-corruption happening with 4.40, which is only available for the newest devices: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...34#post4454934

jwhittin · 11-02-2024, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

This NickelMenu config will add an easy-access reboot button to the main menu

Thanks for this suggestion. I don't use NickelMenu but will keep it in mind as an option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I also had spontaneous database corruptions when the internal storage on my Aura HD started to fail.

I sincerely hope this isn't the case - my Clara Colour is only a few months old and has had a very easy life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

At least one user has reported the database-corruption happening with 4.40, which is only available for the newest devices

My gut feel is that this could be the issue - I only noticed the problem about two weeks ago which is when the firmware was upgraded. Is there an easy way to revert which doesn't then get overridden on the next reset?

Thanks again to all
John

ownedbycats · 11-03-2024, 12:09 AM

If you don't mind being unable to use Sync, you can downgrade the firmware and turn off the wifi.

jwhittin · 11-03-2024, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

If you don't mind being unable to use Sync, you can downgrade the firmware and turn off the wifi.

I don't use sync at all - all books are sideloaded - but I've found that if I have to rebuild the database with a sign out and sign in, as part of the sign in, it turns on WiFi, registers the device, and upgrades the firmware automatically. I guess I can not give it the WiFi password, but will that cause problems with the device not being registered? Or perhaps I haven't been thinking it through and that's a benefit? 😃

ownedbycats · 11-03-2024, 12:59 AM

Sign in, turn off wifi, then downgrade the firmware.

jwhittin · 11-03-2024, 01:24 AM

Thanks ownedbycats (we're owned by three cats by the way

), if I have the problem again, or get sick of rebooting after every transfer (at least one per week), I'll take that strategy. I really appreciate the advice.

John

11-01-2024, 07:13 PM	#1
jwhittin Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kobo Clara Colour	Books transferred no longer show as on the device This is a wierd one. I've been using Calibre for years but in the last couple of weeks, every book I have transferred to my Kobo (Clara Colour) initially shows up as transferred and is readable on the Kobo, but then when I next load Calibre, in Library view they show as not on the device, and in Device view they are not there. But when I look using Windows Explorer, all the files are there in the expected folder. Possible other relevant factors are that I seemed to have a Kobo library corruption about that time so reset the Kobo and recopied all files to it. Also, when resetting the Kobo it updated the firmware (to 4.40.23081). Any ideas what could be the problem? Many thanks John

11-02-2024, 02:32 PM	#6
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,974 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	When the firmware had a glitch that failed to properly close the database during USB export, I made a habit of rebooting the device before doing the second reconnect to transfer the subtitles and series information, and it helped. But as far as I know (I haven't really been paying attention to the recent firmware threads ) the glitch was fixed. This NickelMenu config will add an easy-access reboot button to the main menu: Code: menu_item : main : Reboot Device : power : reboot I also had spontaneous database corruptions when the internal storage on my Aura HD started to fail. EDIT: At least one user has reported the database-corruption happening with 4.40, which is only available for the newest devices: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...34#post4454934 Last edited by ownedbycats; 11-02-2024 at 06:59 PM.

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11-01-2024, 08:23 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,511 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	In order for calibre to list the books on the Kobo, the books need to be present in the database on the device. This database is updated when the USB cable is disconnected. Does calibre report any database errors? Have you tried using the Kobo Utilities plugin to perform a database check? Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

11-02-2024, 02:50 AM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,191 Karma: 168983734 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Your database is definitely corrupted. You can try signing out from More => Settings => Accounts, under the Kobo account sign out and then sign back in. This will replace the database with a blank one and all your sideloaded books will be re-imported along with any books in your Kobo account. All highlights, notes, and annotations will be lost. I would strongly suggest setting up Kobo Utilities to automatically backup your database in future to make it easier to recover from a corrupted database.

11-02-2024, 10:18 AM	#5
jwhittin Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kobo Clara Colour	Thanks David. This also created some wierd results. I signed out and back in as you suggested and the Kobo utilities indicated the database was OK. The only trouble was that this didn't re-import 50 of the books (out of 603) that were already on the device (they were the last 50 by Author sort). They didn't appear on the device nor showed on Calibre as on the device, yet they were in the folder structure of the device. So I deleted the 50 titles from the Kobo using Windows File Explorer, re-signed out and back in, then re-transferred the 50 titles back onto the Kobo from Calibre, ejected the device then reconnected, and I got a database error again. So I did it all again (actually now a third time as I made my own problems on one attempt), taking note of more things. And I noticed that after I had re-transferred the 50 titles onto the device from Calibre and ejected, the home screen display still said there were 553 books under "My Books" whereas within My Books, the filter dropdown showed 603. So this time I rebooted the device, the numbers aligned, and when I connected to the PC and used the Kobo Utilities check it showed the device database was OK. So it's now working, although I have no idea why it wouldn't re-import the last 50 titles by Author sort, nor why the device needed to be rebooted after transferring titles from Calibre. I've transferred titles for over ten years, first to a Sony, then to a Kobo Clara HD, and most recently to a Kobo Clara Colour, and never had to reboot before. So does this mean that in future I have to eject and reboot the Kobo after every transfer in future? Have they changed something in the Kobo firmware or Calibre recently that requires this perhaps? Anyway, many thanks for your help and hopefully someone can provide an answer on my last two questions. John

11-03-2024, 12:09 AM	#8
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,974 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	If you don't mind being unable to use Sync, you can downgrade the firmware and turn off the wifi.

11-03-2024, 12:59 AM	#10
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,974 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Sign in, turn off wifi, then downgrade the firmware.

11-03-2024, 01:24 AM	#11
jwhittin Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kobo Clara Colour	Thanks ownedbycats (we're owned by three cats by the way ), if I have the problem again, or get sick of rebooting after every transfer (at least one per week), I'll take that strategy. I really appreciate the advice. John

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