Book summaries on the Kindle?

Uthred · 01-15-2011, 02:58 PM

Im wondering is there any way to get book summaries of the books on your Kindle, either by pulling from amazon.com or maybe from the tags? (does the kindle support tags?)

brewjono · 01-15-2011, 03:40 PM

There are at least 2 options that I know of.

Firstly you can make a change in preferences so that the social metadata and book cover get sent along with your book when you transfer to the Kindle.

NB: When I do this and open a book on my Kindle to look at this data I have to press previous page as it seems to open after the data. If I press back a few times I go backwards past the cover and into the data.

Preferences, Common options, Structure, Insert Metadata as page at start of book

The second option is to create a catalog.
A catalog is a file that gets transferred to you Kindle that can contain your entire library if you wish. It is searchable, and can include as much or as little info as you like.

It will have the covers, tags, summaries, social metadata the lot if you want.

There is a sticky for it in the Calibre forum here:-

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71143

Brewjohno.

Uthred · 01-15-2011, 05:34 PM

Cheers

leaston · 01-15-2011, 08:27 PM

Thanks brewjono - that's a new one on me and I appreciate your explanation

+ karma when I'm allowed to again.

franklu · 01-15-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewjono

There are at least 2 options that I know of.

Firstly you can make a change in preferences so that the social metadata and book cover get sent along with your book when you transfer to the Kindle.

NB: When I do this and open a book on my Kindle to look at this data I have to press previous page as it seems to open after the data. If I press back a few times I go backwards past the cover and into the data.

Preferences, Common options, Structure, Insert Metadata as page at start of book

The second option is to create a catalog.
A catalog is a file that gets transferred to you Kindle that can contain your entire library if you wish. It is searchable, and can include as much or as little info as you like.

It will have the covers, tags, summaries, social metadata the lot if you want.

There is a sticky for it in the Calibre forum here:-

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71143

Brewjohno.

Thanks,I'll try it.

wvcherrybomb · 01-15-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewjono

Firstly you can make a change in preferences so that the social metadata and book cover get sent along with your book when you transfer to the Kindle.

NB: When I do this and open a book on my Kindle to look at this data I have to press previous page as it seems to open after the data. If I press back a few times I go backwards past the cover and into the data.

Preferences, Common options, Structure, Insert Metadata as page at start of book

I wish I had known this a long time ago! Thanks for the info and karma to you.

davtay · 01-17-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewjono

There are at least 2 options that I know of.

Firstly you can make a change in preferences so that the social metadata and book cover get sent along with your book when you transfer to the Kindle.

NB: When I do this and open a book on my Kindle to look at this data I have to press previous page as it seems to open after the data. If I press back a few times I go backwards past the cover and into the data.

Preferences, Common options, Structure, Insert Metadata as page at start of the book

Brewjohno.

Is this a setting on the Kindle itself? I can't seem to figure out how to set it up. Or is this a setting in Calibre? Thanks for your help.

David.

kiwidude · 01-17-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtay

Is this a setting on the Kindle itself? I can't seem to figure out how to set it up. Or is this a setting in Calibre? Thanks for your help.

David.

It's a setting in Calibre - so the book gets modified when you send it to the Kindle device.

davtay · 01-17-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwidude

It's a setting in Calibre - so the book gets modified when you send it to the Kindle device.

Okay, thanks. I did that, deleted the books from my kindle, made sure my metadata was filled out (cover, summaries etc.), then reloaded them, but info doesn't seem to be there. I backpaged from where kindle opens books, but the metadata other than the cover doesn't seem to be there.

Maybe it only puts it in there if I reconvert the format, but as they are already .mobi it didn't put it in?

David.

chilady1 · 01-18-2011, 12:01 AM

I use the Calibre catalog feature and only have those books on my Kindle included in the catalog. To have my entire library in catalog form would make it too large. It really is one of Calibre's best features - love this. Good Luck!

STrucks · 01-18-2011, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtay

Okay, thanks. I did that, deleted the books from my kindle, made sure my metadata was filled out (cover, summaries etc.), then reloaded them, but info doesn't seem to be there. I backpaged from where kindle opens books, but the metadata other than the cover doesn't seem to be there.

Maybe it only puts it in there if I reconvert the format, but as they are already .mobi it didn't put it in?

David.

I've found that to be the case as well. If I add the summary metadata to an epub and convert to mobi, it transfers to the kindle. If I add the data to an existing mobi file, it doesn't transfer over.

Also as a test I took an existing mobi file, added summary data and converted to mobi again. This time the information did transfer over.

Does anyone know of a way to get it to work without resorting to such a bizarre step?

FF2 · 01-18-2011, 11:20 AM

I'd think one way or the other, you'd have to convert the book again to incorporate new data into what is not just a text file where you can open it and place the new stuff up front, in the middle or even at the end. These files are "compiled" and whether your rename the process to "add metadata" or still call it "convert" would make no difference - somehow the old book needs to be processed (open/separate to appropriate components), the new data added and then reprocessed back to an appropriate mobi form (in this case).

davtay · 01-18-2011, 12:15 PM

I am going to try and batch reconvert my Calibre library, delete my books off of my kindle and resend. Crossing fingers...

davtay · 01-18-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtay

I am going to try and batch reconvert my Calibre library, delete my books off of my kindle and resend. Crossing fingers...

Sorry to be quoting myself, but this is what I did. It took several hours to reconvert my Caliber library, but after conversion and reinstalling on the Kindle, the summaries are there. You just have to backpage from the beginning. Hope this helps.

David.

wvcherrybomb · 01-18-2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtay

Sorry to be quoting myself, but this is what I did. It took several hours to reconvert my Caliber library, but after conversion and reinstalling on the Kindle, the summaries are there. You just have to backpage from the beginning. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll just stick to adding summaries for new additions. I have way too many books and collections to do this. I'll just have to look at the Amazon descriptions for existing books.

01-15-2011, 02:58 PM	#1
Uthred Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: iRex DR1000S	Book summaries on the Kindle? Im wondering is there any way to get book summaries of the books on your Kindle, either by pulling from amazon.com or maybe from the tags? (does the kindle support tags?)

01-15-2011, 03:40 PM	#2
brewjono Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 501816 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Device: K3, K4, KPW	There are at least 2 options that I know of. Firstly you can make a change in preferences so that the social metadata and book cover get sent along with your book when you transfer to the Kindle. NB: When I do this and open a book on my Kindle to look at this data I have to press previous page as it seems to open after the data. If I press back a few times I go backwards past the cover and into the data. Preferences, Common options, Structure, Insert Metadata as page at start of book The second option is to create a catalog. A catalog is a file that gets transferred to you Kindle that can contain your entire library if you wish. It is searchable, and can include as much or as little info as you like. It will have the covers, tags, summaries, social metadata the lot if you want. There is a sticky for it in the Calibre forum here:- https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71143 Brewjohno. Last edited by brewjono; 01-15-2011 at 03:43 PM. Reason: added

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01-15-2011, 05:34 PM	#3
Uthred Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: iRex DR1000S	Cheers

01-15-2011, 08:27 PM	#4
leaston Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 1135030 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: England Device: Boox Go Color 7, Kobo Forma, Kindle Keyboard	Thanks brewjono - that's a new one on me and I appreciate your explanation + karma when I'm allowed to again.

01-18-2011, 12:01 AM	#10
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	I use the Calibre catalog feature and only have those books on my Kindle included in the catalog. To have my entire library in catalog form would make it too large. It really is one of Calibre's best features - love this. Good Luck!

01-18-2011, 11:20 AM	#12
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	I'd think one way or the other, you'd have to convert the book again to incorporate new data into what is not just a text file where you can open it and place the new stuff up front, in the middle or even at the end. These files are "compiled" and whether your rename the process to "add metadata" or still call it "convert" would make no difference - somehow the old book needs to be processed (open/separate to appropriate components), the new data added and then reprocessed back to an appropriate mobi form (in this case).

01-18-2011, 12:15 PM	#13
davtay The Continental Posts: 63 Karma: 2222222 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Paducah, KY U.S.A. Device: Kindle Oasis 3	I am going to try and batch reconvert my Calibre library, delete my books off of my kindle and resend. Crossing fingers...