Update authors with Calibre/KoboUtilities?

CathyA · 04-17-2025, 08:08 PM

I am trying to fix the library on my Kobo so that books with multiple authors will appear separately in each author's list in the UI. I have a metadata plugboard that is working fine for new books that are sent to the device. But I can't find a way to fix the ones that are already there without deleting and resending them. For the older books, if the authors in Calibre are "A A & B B", they show up on the Kobo authors tab only as "A A".

KoboUtilities has a tool to update the metadata on the device, and there is a checkbox to use the plugboard (see screenshot below), but either it doesn't work or I am doing something wrong. No matter what options I select, it changes the author to "A A & B B", which is better than what I had, but I was hoping to get them set to "A A, B B".

Does anybody have any ideas on how to make this work? I have tried it with the "Update Kobo ePubs" box checked and unchecked. That made no visible difference.

jackie_w · 04-18-2025, 06:10 AM

Does the metadata plugboard for Authors, described in this post, help?

ETA: In addition, the main KOBOTOUCH driver can be configured (tab 'Metadata, on device & advanced') to automatically update metadata on the device during every USB-connect to calibre.

CathyA · 04-18-2025, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Does the metadata plugboard for Authors, described in this post, help?

ETA: In addition, the main KOBOTOUCH driver can be configured (tab 'Metadata, on device & advanced') to automatically update metadata on the device during every USB-connect to calibre.

Yes, that's how my plugboard and metadata settings are configured. It works fine for sending new books or for updating any metadata other than authors. If I change the series name in Calibre, it's automatically changed on the next connection. If I change the author name, even for a book with only one author, it doesn't get updated on the Kobo unless I delete it and resend it.

JSWolf · 04-18-2025, 10:03 AM

I would post in the Kobo Utilities thread in case it's a KU problem that needs to be fixed.

04-17-2025, 08:08 PM	#1
CathyA Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 903052 Join Date: Jun 2017 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Update authors with Calibre/KoboUtilities? I am trying to fix the library on my Kobo so that books with multiple authors will appear separately in each author's list in the UI. I have a metadata plugboard that is working fine for new books that are sent to the device. But I can't find a way to fix the ones that are already there without deleting and resending them. For the older books, if the authors in Calibre are "A A & B B", they show up on the Kobo authors tab only as "A A". KoboUtilities has a tool to update the metadata on the device, and there is a checkbox to use the plugboard (see screenshot below), but either it doesn't work or I am doing something wrong. No matter what options I select, it changes the author to "A A & B B", which is better than what I had, but I was hoping to get them set to "A A, B B". Does anybody have any ideas on how to make this work? I have tried it with the "Update Kobo ePubs" box checked and unchecked. That made no visible difference. Attached Thumbnails

04-18-2025, 06:10 AM	#2
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,251 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	Does the metadata plugboard for Authors, described in this post, help? ETA: In addition, the main KOBOTOUCH driver can be configured (tab 'Metadata, on device & advanced') to automatically update metadata on the device during every USB-connect to calibre. Last edited by jackie_w; 04-18-2025 at 06:17 AM. Reason: ETA

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04-18-2025, 10:03 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,745 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I would post in the Kobo Utilities thread in case it's a KU problem that needs to be fixed.

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