Aura H2O sideloaded books do not appear in library

RAH · 02-09-2017, 04:05 PM

Hello. I just bought an Aura H2O. I got it up and going and then connected to my PC and copied a bunch (using Total Commander - like Windows Explorer) of non-drm epubs to the external sd card, and also a few to the built-in storage. The problem is, I cannot get the library to recognize that they are there. I have searched this forum a lot and cannot find one thread on this seemingly simple topic. Please help!!

JSWolf · 02-09-2017, 04:44 PM

Try Calibre.

RAH · 02-09-2017, 05:11 PM

Thanks for your suggestion, JS. I am familiar with Calibre (using it mostly for Alf, for backups), but since I've always been able to get books to my Nook Simple Touch using a PC file manager (and since the doc says you can), I was surprised to be having such trouble with the Kobo.

However, I have discovered the problem - you must use the ROOT directory of the external sd card and/or the built-in storage. I had been copying my epubs into a kobo subdirectory (probably should have realized not to fool with it!). Once I put my files in the root of either storage place, the device immediately noticed the change and updated the library (didn't even have to power off). So, it's looking really fine now.

JSWolf · 02-09-2017, 06:09 PM

One advantage using Calibre gives you is the ability to manage collections very easily.

RAH · 02-09-2017, 07:42 PM

I'll check that out. And Calibre would have copied the epubs correctly from the word go, of course, which would have saved me much hair-pulling and swearing. Guess it's time for me to change my (dinosaur) ways.

JSWolf · 02-09-2017, 08:26 PM

Read the Kobo forum for how to configure collections. Also read in the Calibre plugins about Kobo Utilities.

John F · 02-09-2017, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAH

Thanks for your suggestion, JS. I am familiar with Calibre (using it mostly for Alf, for backups), but since I've always been able to get books to my Nook Simple Touch using a PC file manager (and since the doc says you can), I was surprised to be having such trouble with the Kobo.

However, I have discovered the problem - you must use the ROOT directory of the external sd card and/or the built-in storage. I had been copying my epubs into a kobo subdirectory (probably should have realized not to fool with it!). Once I put my files in the root of either storage place, the device immediately noticed the change and updated the library (didn't even have to power off). So, it's looking really fine now.

I believe sub directories are OK, they just can't be in directories that begin with a "."
I have my books in a sub directory named "books".

robko · 02-09-2017, 09:37 PM

What John F said. You can create your own sub-directories for ease of file management if you want (they won't be shown by the device UI though), just don't put it in any directory that begins with a ".". Those are "hidden" OS directories. Calibre gives you lots of options for managing things, but no reason you can't just dump them on there if that's the way you want to go.

RAH · 02-10-2017, 09:20 AM

Yeah, that's what I get for being a techie and having my file manager show "hidden" directories. I should have noticed the "." ! I haven't tried using my own subdirs below the root, but it makes perfect sense and I think I read it somewhere else while beating my head against the wall trying to figure it out earlier.

Much thanks, everyone!

DNSB · 02-10-2017, 07:04 PM

deleted post. Should have finished reading the thread before replying.

02-09-2017, 04:05 PM	#1
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	sideloaded books do not appear in library Hello. I just bought an Aura H2O. I got it up and going and then connected to my PC and copied a bunch (using Total Commander - like Windows Explorer) of non-drm epubs to the external sd card, and also a few to the built-in storage. The problem is, I cannot get the library to recognize that they are there. I have searched this forum a lot and cannot find one thread on this seemingly simple topic. Please help!!

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02-09-2017, 04:44 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Try Calibre.

02-09-2017, 05:11 PM	#3
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	Thanks for your suggestion, JS. I am familiar with Calibre (using it mostly for Alf, for backups), but since I've always been able to get books to my Nook Simple Touch using a PC file manager (and since the doc says you can), I was surprised to be having such trouble with the Kobo. However, I have discovered the problem - you must use the ROOT directory of the external sd card and/or the built-in storage. I had been copying my epubs into a kobo subdirectory (probably should have realized not to fool with it!). Once I put my files in the root of either storage place, the device immediately noticed the change and updated the library (didn't even have to power off). So, it's looking really fine now.

02-09-2017, 06:09 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	One advantage using Calibre gives you is the ability to manage collections very easily.

02-09-2017, 07:42 PM	#5
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	I'll check that out. And Calibre would have copied the epubs correctly from the word go, of course, which would have saved me much hair-pulling and swearing. Guess it's time for me to change my (dinosaur) ways.

02-09-2017, 08:26 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Read the Kobo forum for how to configure collections. Also read in the Calibre plugins about Kobo Utilities.

02-09-2017, 09:37 PM	#8
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	What John F said. You can create your own sub-directories for ease of file management if you want (they won't be shown by the device UI though), just don't put it in any directory that begins with a ".". Those are "hidden" OS directories. Calibre gives you lots of options for managing things, but no reason you can't just dump them on there if that's the way you want to go.

02-10-2017, 09:20 AM	#9
RAH Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Kobo Aura H20; Kobo ClaraBW	Yeah, that's what I get for being a techie and having my file manager show "hidden" directories. I should have noticed the "." ! I haven't tried using my own subdirs below the root, but it makes perfect sense and I think I read it somewhere else while beating my head against the wall trying to figure it out earlier. Much thanks, everyone!

02-10-2017, 07:04 PM	#10
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,175 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	deleted post. Should have finished reading the thread before replying.