Two Questions

nynaevelan · 10-29-2010, 11:51 PM

Hi:

I'm back again

.... I have two questions, I hope they are simple to answer:

1. When creating the opf file with the books, is it possible for the custom column data to be exported with the books?? According to the help this will help restore a library if it is destroyed or corrupted, but when importing individual books into the library I notice none of the custom column info is being imported. If this feature does not yet exist, is it doable for it to be added?
2. Check Library feature - how do I tell the feature to ignore certain extensions, I could not find it in the help file?

Manichean · 10-30-2010, 03:29 AM

ad 1.) The custom column information is exported. I'm guessing you don't see custom columns created when (re)importing because, well, Calibre doesn't do that. To recreate the library including custom columns, use calibredb restore_database.

chaley · 10-30-2010, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

2. Check Library feature - how do I tell the feature to ignore certain extensions, I could not find it in the help file?

Put the extensions in the 'extensions to ignore' box on the check library dialog, separated by commas. Don't include the leading dot.

nynaevelan · 10-30-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

ad 1.) The custom column information is exported. I'm guessing you don't see custom columns created when (re)importing because, well, Calibre doesn't do that. To recreate the library including custom columns, use calibredb restore_database.

I do not want to restore the database (at least at this point I don't), I had a conflict between having the db open in two places via dropbox and the books which I had added to the library were no longer there. So I re-added them hoping all the info from the opf file would be imported but none of the info from the custom fields was imported, so I am wondering is this info in the opf file?

nynaevelan · 10-30-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

Put the extensions in the 'extensions to ignore' box on the check library dialog, separated by commas. Don't include the leading dot.

I tried that but the opf files still show up in the check.

chaley · 10-30-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

I tried that but the opf files still show up in the check.

Are these OPF files that are supposed to be there? If so, then I wonder why they are showing up at all.

What problem category are the files appearing in? What is the full name of the OPF file? What OS are you using?

chaley · 10-30-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

1. When creating the opf file with the books, is it possible for the custom column data to be exported with the books?? According to the help this will help restore a library if it is destroyed or corrupted, but when importing individual books into the library I notice none of the custom column info is being imported. If this feature does not yet exist, is it doable for it to be added?

According to my experiments, custom metadata is imported if you use Add books from directory (One book per directory). The book format(s) and the opf must be in that directory.

If I add the book directly from the format, then calibre uses the OPF inside the book, which almost certainly won't have the correct custom field information in it.

nynaevelan · 10-30-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

According to my experiments, custom metadata is imported if you use Add books from directory (One book per directory). The book format(s) and the opf must be in that directory.

If I add the book directly from the format, then calibre uses the OPF inside the book, which almost certainly won't have the correct custom field information in it.

I use the Add Books - From Single Directory option when adding books and bot the book and opf are in this directory.

I just double checked to make sure and using the Add Books from Single Directory does not use the info from the opf file. Is this possible??

chaley · 10-30-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

I use the Add Books - From Single Directory option when adding books and bot the book and opf are in this directory.

To get information from an OPF separate from the book, you must use the Add books from directory (One book per directory). Or at least, that is what I had to do to make it work.

My experiment is with an epub and its matching metadata.opf, copied from my library.

nynaevelan · 10-30-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

Are these OPF files that are supposed to be there? If so, then I wonder why they are showing up at all.

What problem category are the files appearing in? What is the full name of the OPF file? What OS are you using?

I am not sure if it is supposed to be there, it is the metadata.opf file and it shows up in the invalid authors section. Oh and it is in the directory with the metadata file, not the subdirectories for the books.

jackie_w · 10-30-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

Put the extensions in the 'extensions to ignore' box on the check library dialog, separated by commas. Don't include the leading dot.

I hope you don't mind me adding my own question here about the Check Library function.

I use SyncToy to do my backups and it uses a small .dat file to do its job. I tried to exclude dat files from flagging during Check Library but it keeps showing up. Screencap attached.

This is pretty trivial but I would like to know if I'm doing something wrong.

P.S. I know about the metadata.opf issue so I'm not bothered about that.

theducks · 10-30-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

I am not sure if it is supposed to be there, it is the metadata.opf file and it shows up in the invalid authors section. Oh and it is in the directory with the metadata file, not the subdirectories for the books.

If this file is the one in the same directory as metadata.db and Authors folder, it can be deleted.
It was a bug that caused the file to be incorrectly created during the import process, but before the import was finally saved to the correct folder.

chaley · 10-30-2010, 11:58 AM

Multi-response.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

I am not sure if it is supposed to be there, it is the metadata.opf file and it shows up in the invalid authors section. Oh and it is in the directory with the metadata file, not the subdirectories for the books.

As theducks said, that file can be (and should be) deleted. It is created in error in calibre versions 0.7.24 and earlier.

@nynaevelan and @jackie_w: I went back and looked at my code. Extensions to ignore is used only inside book folders. It is ignored for items outside of books. I now remember that I did this on purpose, because I didn't want the checker to be accidentally crippled by an injudicious ignore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I use SyncToy to do my backups and it uses a small .dat file to do its job. I tried to exclude dat files from flagging during Check Library but it keeps showing up. Screencap attached.

I will look at adding wildcards to the files to ignore items. This would provide finer-grained control than an extension.

jackie_w · 10-30-2010, 12:04 PM

@chaley, Thanks for clarifying. Now at least I know (for once) I wasn't being a dummy.

nynaevelan · 10-30-2010, 12:16 PM

Thanks guys, I will delete the file since it is the one with the metadata.db file. As to the adding books I would prefer to continue to use the Add books from single directory because I store all my backups in a single folder. If I double-click the opf file from windows explorer, will this import the book into Calibre??

If it is not possible, is there a way to tell the Add Books icon to select which add type is the default without selecting the drop down menu? I usually just click the button and it uses the Add from Single Directory type, I would rather not have to click the dropdown option. Lazy I know but it is my preferred method.

BTW, I hope all my questions do not bother you guys, the more I enjoy a program the more I try to use it to its full potential.

10-29-2010, 11:51 PM	#1
nynaevelan eBook Junkie Posts: 1,526 Karma: 1464018 Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire 2020, Kindle PW2	Two Questions Hi: I'm back again .... I have two questions, I hope they are simple to answer: 1. When creating the opf file with the books, is it possible for the custom column data to be exported with the books?? According to the help this will help restore a library if it is destroyed or corrupted, but when importing individual books into the library I notice none of the custom column info is being imported. If this feature does not yet exist, is it doable for it to be added? 2. Check Library feature - how do I tell the feature to ignore certain extensions, I could not find it in the help file?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K3 Here, Have any questions?	Anarel	Amazon Kindle	15	08-26-2010 08:34 PM
Classic Some questions	markolopolos1	Barnes & Noble NOOK	11	07-18-2010 11:07 PM
Help with a few questions	markman	Which one should I buy?	3	01-14-2010 04:57 PM
Two questions	darkmonk	Calibre	17	01-18-2009 12:30 AM
2 questions	AJ Starr	Which one should I buy?	6	07-03-2008 12:37 PM

10-30-2010, 03:29 AM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	ad 1.) The custom column information is exported. I'm guessing you don't see custom columns created when (re)importing because, well, Calibre doesn't do that. To recreate the library including custom columns, use calibredb restore_database.

10-30-2010, 12:04 PM	#14
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,251 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	@chaley, Thanks for clarifying. Now at least I know (for once) I wasn't being a dummy.

10-30-2010, 12:16 PM	#15
nynaevelan eBook Junkie Posts: 1,526 Karma: 1464018 Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Fire 2020, Kindle PW2	Thanks guys, I will delete the file since it is the one with the metadata.db file. As to the adding books I would prefer to continue to use the Add books from single directory because I store all my backups in a single folder. If I double-click the opf file from windows explorer, will this import the book into Calibre?? If it is not possible, is there a way to tell the Add Books icon to select which add type is the default without selecting the drop down menu? I usually just click the button and it uses the Add from Single Directory type, I would rather not have to click the dropdown option. Lazy I know but it is my preferred method. BTW, I hope all my questions do not bother you guys, the more I enjoy a program the more I try to use it to its full potential.

Advert

Advert