Embed series into books

[just_jeepin]

I've tried the embed metadata button but it does not seem to embed the series info into an azw3. Is that not possible?

Will it work with epub (as I'm planning on switching from Kindle to Kobo)?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by just_jeepin

I've tried the embed metadata button but it does not seem to embed the series info into an azw3. Is that not possible?

Will it work with epub (as I'm planning on switching from Kindle to Kobo)?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Only epub3 has a standard for embedding series metadata. However, calibre will embed the series data in epub2 and likely azw3 but there is no standard and I am not aware of an ereader that will use that metadata. OTOH, calibre and the KoboTouch driver can be configured to send the series metadata to the database on the Kobo ereader. The only gotcha is that it takes two connections, one sends the book and on disconnect, the book is imported. On the second connection, the series metadata can be added to the now existing entry for the book in the database.

[uli]

The NickelSeries add-on mod for Kobo can read calibre series metadata.
Just need one connect with plugboard {series} does the trick!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by just_jeepin

I've tried the embed metadata button but it does not seem to embed the series info into an azw3. Is that not possible?

Will it work with epub (as I'm planning on switching from Kindle to Kobo)?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Given that you are moving to Kobo, Kobo supports series without the need to have the series in the OPF. Kobo handles series very well. You don't even need to creates series based collections. But if you want series info in the ePub, you can use Calibre to update the ePub's metadata.

One thing though, in order to get the series info on the kobo, you have to plug it back into the USB once more after you've side loaded your eBooks. Using NickelMenu, you won't have to unplug the USB cable to connect a second time.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by just_jeepin

I've tried the embed metadata button but it does not seem to embed the series info into an azw3. Is that not possible?

Will it work with epub (as I'm planning on switching from Kindle to Kobo)?

That isn't what the embed metadata function is about. When you change the metadata using calibre, it doesn't change the actual book. When you make a change, it is written into the database, but, the books stays the same. Calibre will update the actual book at certain times. Some are when the book is exported from calibre via send-to-device or save-to-disk. Others are when a conversion is done, using Polish books or when you edit the book. And there are other ways.

The embed metadata function was added so that the book in the library can be updated without other side-effects. In my mind it is only needed if you use books directly from the library in other tools. For example, if you edit the book using Sigil, you probably want the metadata updated in the book file.

When you send a book to the device, metadata will be updated in the book file. But, only what is valid in that format. And then it requires the device or app to read the metadata from the book. To the best of my knowledge, AZW3 doesn't support series info, so it doesn't get added. ePub2 also doesn't support series info, but, it supports application specific attributes, so calibre uses that. There are applications that read this, but, I don't know of a ereader device that does.

I don't believe Kindles support series info in any form. A metadata plugboard can be used to add the series info to the title or other metadata the device reads. Kobo devices do support series info, but, it doesn't read this from the sideloaded books. The KoboTouch and KoboTouchExtended driver supports adding the series info when the device is plugged in. And there is an addon for the device to do it as well.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by davidfor

That isn't what the embed metadata function is about. When you change the metadata using calibre, it doesn't change the actual book. When you make a change, it is written into the database, but, the books stays the same. Calibre will update the actual book at certain times. Some are when the book is exported from calibre via send-to-device or save-to-disk. Others are when a conversion is done, using Polish books or when you edit the book. And there are other ways.

The embed metadata function was added so that the book in the library can be updated without other side-effects. In my mind it is only needed if you use books directly from the library in other tools. For example, if you edit the book using Sigil, you probably want the metadata updated.

When you send a book to the device, the metadata will be updated. But, only what is valid in that format. And then it requires the device or app to read the metadata. To the best of my knowledge, AZW3 doesn't support series info, so it doesn't get added. ePub2 also doesn't support series info, but, it supports application specific attributes, so calibre uses that. There are applications that read this, but, I don't know of a ereader device that does.

I don't believe Kindles support series info in any form. A metadata plugboard can be used to add the series info to the title or other metadata the device reads. Kobo devices do support series info, but, it doesn't read this from the sideloaded books. The KoboTouch and KoboTouchExtended driver supports adding the series info when the device is plugged in. And there is an addon for the device to do it as well.

Some parts of your explanation are not clear to me when you talk about the metadata being updated; I can't tell if you're talking about the metadata in calibre's library or the metadata inside the book file. Every time you say the metadata is updated I think you should specify whether you're talking about in the book file or in calibre's library or in the database on the ereader or wherever.

Likewise, you used the term sideload which, in my opinion, is a buzz word that's primarily used and understood on mobileread but the average user who's not a regular here may not understand what that term means.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by hobnail

Some parts of your explanation are not clear to me when you talk about the metadata being updated; I can't tell if you're talking about the metadata in calibre's library or the metadata inside the book file. Every time you say the metadata is updated I think you should specify whether you're talking about in the book file or in calibre's library or in the database on the ereader or wherever.

I don't really agree with you, but, it is probably clearer to be specific. But, honestly, those aren't the bits I would have picked as needing clarification.

Likewise, you used the term sideload which, in my opinion, is a buzz word that's primarily used and understood on mobileread but the average user who's not a regular here may not understand what that term means.

I'll disagree on that. When I searched for sideload, MR wasn't on the first five pages of results. It is easy to work out what it means. It is even easier to ask for an explanation of what is meant.

[theducks]

Shouldn't that be 'Bottom Load"?
All my devices have the USB port on the bottom

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by theducks

Shouldn't that be 'Bottom Load"?
All my devices have the USB port on the bottom

Okay, so I bottom load my Clara HD and side load my Forma? That's going to be confusing.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Okay, so I bottom load my Clara HD and side load my Forma? That's going to be confusing.

Even though the USB cable is on the bottom .It's still a side.

[BetterRed]

When I first struck the word sideload I assumed I'd wandered into a washing machine or earth moving forum.

BR

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

When I first struck the word sideload I assumed I'd wandered into a washing machine or earth moving forum.

BR

I'd never heard it before until I came here. The word sideloading is quicker to type than "transfering your book to your ereader", nevertheless I'm not a fan of specialized jargon, especially when trying to help others who may or may not understand it.

[just_jeepin]

Thanks for the info. I just hate that Calibre keeps the Metadata in an separate file. I want my metadata stored IN the file that way it's not tied to that one app.

That's why I don't use many of the photo apps as very few actually make changes to the Metadata in the actual jpg file. I can see not altering a document that's lossy (photo tweaking) but text Metadata in jpgs and ebooks are lossless and should be in the actual file.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by just_jeepin

Thanks for the info. I just hate that Calibre keeps the Metadata in an separate file. I want my metadata stored IN the file that way it's not tied to that one app.

That's why I don't use many of the photo apps as very few actually make changes to the Metadata in the actual jpg file. I can see not altering a document that's lossy (photo tweaking) but text Metadata in jpgs and ebooks are lossless and should be in the actual file.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

For supported ebook formats, you can use calibre's Polish function to embed metadata. Just remember that surprisingly few formats support embedding metadata and even fewer have decent documentation on what the embedded metadata should look like.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by just_jeepin

Thanks for the info. I just hate that Calibre keeps the Metadata in an separate file. I want my metadata stored IN the file that way it's not tied to that one app.

That's why I don't use many of the photo apps as very few actually make changes to the Metadata in the actual jpg file. I can see not altering a document that's lossy (photo tweaking) but text Metadata in jpgs and ebooks are lossless and should be in the actual file.

Epub 2 doesn't support series metadata. For epub3s I use Sigil's metadata editor (dunno about how to do it with Calibre). I add the metadata belongs-to-collection giving it the name of the series (Add Metadata button). Then with that selected I use the Add Property button and add collection-type and set it to series, then add the property group-position and add its series position. You need to do this before you add the book to Calibre; I don't know if you could edit the book's metadata in Sigil after the book has been added to Calibre and then make Calibre extract it into its metadata.

That's a bit of work and I only do it on books that I've reworked from books from Project Gutenberg. For getting the series information onto the ereader (Kobo in my case), what Calibre does is sufficient for library, amazon, etc. books. But I agree with you about storing it in the book; it makes more sense to me to put it in the book but there are no doubt good reasons Calibre does it the way it does.