Transfering Metadata help

dawogboro · 01-25-2009, 03:59 PM

Newbie here.

I have many pdfs (mainly technical whitepapers), the names of the titles of which are sometimes far from meaningful. As I cannot edit the PDF to make the titles mean something to me, I though I could get a similar effect using Calibre.

1: I add all of the pdf files to the Cailbre Library on my PC (WinXP SP3)
2: I then deleted removed via Calibre all my pdf books (mistake I know)
3: Using Caliber, I painstakingly edit each book, making the title more meaingfull and adding tags allowing for automatic creation of collection.s on the sony
4: I then send using the books to device to my prs-505
5: After books are transferred I unplug reader from computer

The Problem:
The changes I made do not appear to be transferred along with the pdf books. So the titles revert back to the original meaningless titles. Tags seems to be transferred which so I get collecyions created.

Anyone know if I am doing something wrong or how to achieve meaningful titles without having to edit on the reader directly via Calibre.

Thanks

kovidgoyal · 01-25-2009, 04:16 PM

This is a known problem with transferring pdf,txt files, where the reader insists on regenerating the metadata from the original file, overwriting any changes in calibre.

dawogboro · 01-26-2009, 02:21 AM

Thank You. Are you saying this is not a problem with other formats, epub, rtf or lrf?

If this is the case I could convert the pdf's to another format the Sony supports.

Thanks for your hekp

roger64 · 01-28-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

This is a known problem with transferring pdf,txt files, where the reader insists on regenerating the metadata from the original file, overwriting any changes in calibre.

I use a workaround for it because I also lost previously some meta-data for PDF(coming back to the "old" name that I had changed).

Now before sending a pdf file with calibre, I first edit the meta-data with a freeware called A-PDF INFO Changer using Wine on my Ubuntu. After that, I remarked that my changes are taken into account in a stable way.

Hope this could help.

llasram · 01-28-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger64

Now before sending a pdf file with calibre, I first edit the meta-data with a freeware called A-PDF INFO Changer using Wine on my Ubuntu. After that, I remarked that my changes are taken into account in a stable way.

Try the 'update_info' option of pdftk. There should be a package in your distro ('pdftk' in Debian, so hopefully Ubuntu too?).

roger64 · 01-28-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llasram

Try the 'update_info' option of pdftk. There should be a package in your distro ('pdftk' in Debian, so hopefully Ubuntu too?).

Indeed it does the trick too. Same package. Thanks to a Debian cousin.

dawogboro · 01-30-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger64

I use a workaround for it because I also lost previously some meta-data for PDF(coming back to the "old" name that I had changed).

Now before sending a pdf file with calibre, I first edit the meta-data with a freeware called A-PDF INFO Changer using Wine on my Ubuntu. After that, I remarked that my changes are taken into account in a stable way.

Hope this could help.

Bingo!! Worked a treat, thanks!

sirbruce · 03-05-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

This is a known problem with transferring pdf,txt files, where the reader insists on regenerating the metadata from the original file, overwriting any changes in calibre.

FYI, this happens with PRC files as well. I can convert them to MOBI and then upload to get correct metadata, but that's annoying. Any idea when this will be fixed?

itimpi · 03-06-2009, 01:59 AM

This is a problem in the Reader software - not in Calibre.

The solution is to edit the original file using some appropriate tool (not caliber).

kovidgoyal · 03-06-2009, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

FYI, this happens with PRC files as well. I can convert them to MOBI and then upload to get correct metadata, but that's annoying. Any idea when this will be fixed?

The PRC files you're having trouble with are obsolete and have no support for setting metadata which is why this happens. The only solution is to convert them

sirbruce · 03-06-2009, 04:58 AM

Sorry, I was under the impression that Calibre would modify the metadata on export. Makes sense that it can't if it's confined to the file itself.

kovidgoyal · 03-06-2009, 12:05 PM

it does but not all files support setting metadata

sirbruce · 03-06-2009, 12:06 PM

Rodger dodger. Ugh, I hate format wars...

01-25-2009, 03:59 PM	#1
dawogboro The Audacity Of Dreams Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Transfering Metadata help Newbie here. I have many pdfs (mainly technical whitepapers), the names of the titles of which are sometimes far from meaningful. As I cannot edit the PDF to make the titles mean something to me, I though I could get a similar effect using Calibre. 1: I add all of the pdf files to the Cailbre Library on my PC (WinXP SP3) 2: I then deleted removed via Calibre all my pdf books (mistake I know) 3: Using Caliber, I painstakingly edit each book, making the title more meaingfull and adding tags allowing for automatic creation of collection.s on the sony 4: I then send using the books to device to my prs-505 5: After books are transferred I unplug reader from computer The Problem: The changes I made do not appear to be transferred along with the pdf books. So the titles revert back to the original meaningless titles. Tags seems to be transferred which so I get collecyions created. Anyone know if I am doing something wrong or how to achieve meaningful titles without having to edit on the reader directly via Calibre. Thanks

03-06-2009, 01:59 AM	#9
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	This is a problem in the Reader software - not in Calibre. The solution is to edit the original file using some appropriate tool (not caliber). Last edited by itimpi; 03-06-2009 at 02:12 AM.

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01-25-2009, 04:16 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,626 Karma: 28549046 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	This is a known problem with transferring pdf,txt files, where the reader insists on regenerating the metadata from the original file, overwriting any changes in calibre.

01-26-2009, 02:21 AM	#3
dawogboro The Audacity Of Dreams Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Thank You. Are you saying this is not a problem with other formats, epub, rtf or lrf? If this is the case I could convert the pdf's to another format the Sony supports. Thanks for your hekp

03-06-2009, 04:58 AM	#11
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	Sorry, I was under the impression that Calibre would modify the metadata on export. Makes sense that it can't if it's confined to the file itself.

03-06-2009, 12:05 PM	#12
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,626 Karma: 28549046 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	it does but not all files support setting metadata

03-06-2009, 12:06 PM	#13
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	Rodger dodger. Ugh, I hate format wars...