Need someone to help me formulate a question

[vikischeldrup]

I have been trying to add books to my calibre 3.12 after adding, many of the books show titles but NO formats. I don't know what words to use in search. I have used calibre quite a lot but sometimes mess up a setting, or can't figure out how to ask the question. Please, someone with patience, help me figure out what is wrong?
Viki

[theducks]

formats:false

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by vikischeldrup

I have been trying to add books to my calibre 3.12 after adding, many of the books show titles but NO formats. I don't know what words to use in search. I have used calibre quite a lot but sometimes mess up a setting, or can't figure out how to ask the question. Please, someone with patience, help me figure out what is wrong?
Viki

Where don't the formats show - in book details (right sidebar), metadata edit, Tag Browser?

How do you do the adding? Some methods have options that will exclude some file types.

BR

[vikischeldrup]

For some books, book formats don't show in Format Column. the name, author, etc. shows. All the other books that I add in the same session show everything ok. I have been deleting the no format ones, but would like to know why this is happening. I could have a setting wrong but I don't know what, and why it only happens to some books from each add books session. would you like a screenshot? Thank you for your time.
Viki
Oh. I use the add books function, from all directories, from the folder I have downloaded them to. I know about the different formats. but these don't list any formats, and when I try to open them, the message about no available formats pops up. as far as I can tell. no file types have been excluded.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by vikischeldrup

For some books, book formats don't show in Format Column. the name, author, etc. shows. All the other books that I add in the same session show everything ok. I have been deleting the no format ones, but would like to know why this is happening. I could have a setting wrong but I don't know what, and why it only happens to some books from each add books session. would you like a screenshot? Thank you for your time.
Viki
Oh. I use the add books function, from all directories, from the folder I have downloaded them to. I know about the different formats. but these don't list any formats, and when I try to open them, the message about no available formats pops up. as far as I can tell. no file types have been excluded.

Yes, some screen shots would help, particularly where they "don't show in Format Column", of what you see in the metadata edit formats box, and what plugins you have installed.

What happens if you drag-n-drop one of the problematic files onto the book list?

Where did the problematic books come from, what format is the download, and do they have DRM encryption? If they're from Amazon, and the format is KFX then maybe you have the problem discussed here ==>> Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre

BR

[Lizj1]

Hi, Do you have multiple entries for some books? I am thinking, if you added them from an existing Calibre library, maybe an entry is getting created for the .opf file as well as for the actual book file?

OR, it could be that the .opf file is added to the current library, but the actual book files are rejected as duplicates?

But this could be complete nonsense, if they are newly downloaded books....

Liz

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Lizj1

Hi, Do you have multiple entries for some books? I am thinking, if you added them from an existing Calibre library, maybe an entry is getting created for the .opf file as well as for the actual book file?

OR, it could be that the .opf file is added to the current library, but the actual book files are rejected as duplicates?

But this could be complete nonsense, if they are newly downloaded books....

Liz

The OPF only replicates the DB entries (what you see in the GUI) for restoration purposes.
I have my 'what to do if duplicates' setting in adding books, set to create a new record IF THE SAME FORMAT. The Dups warning does apply to an DB entry

[Lizj1]

Originally Posted by theducks

The OPF only replicates the DB entries (what you see in the GUI) for restoration purposes.
I have my 'what to do if duplicates' setting in adding books, set to create a new record IF THE SAME FORMAT. The Dups warning does apply to an DB entry

Great - I'll try that - I still sometimes get caught out, and create records with no formats for newly added books.

[vikischeldrup]

Originally Posted by vikischeldrup

For some books, book formats don't show in Format Column. the name, author, etc. shows. All the other books that I add in the same session show everything ok. I have been deleting the no format ones, but would like to know why this is happening. I could have a setting wrong but I don't know what, and why it only happens to some books from each add books session. would you like a screenshot? Thank you for your time.
Viki
Oh. I use the add books function, from all directories, from the folder I have downloaded them to. I know about the different formats. but these don't list any formats, and when I try to open them, the message about no available formats pops up. as far as I can tell. no file types have been excluded.

Here are some screenshots of my calibre. Thank you all for suggestions. Investigation continues...

[theducks]

They don't show in the details panel, either, so #2 is correct.

If we assume you have tapped O (open containing folder), and there IS a book of the format missing:
It got there by bypassing Calibre.
or
Someone synced the metadata.db while calibre was running (and it synced in the wrong direction). So you ended up with a DB that had a copy, but the copy did not come with it. IMHO Managing by sysnc is fraught with these issues.

Always disable sync while using the GUI. Better yet, Only Shadow sync (make a copy) of the Master Library

Bottom line: Run Library Maintenance. Fix the issues. Stop doing that what broke it in the first place.

[theducks]

AND
FWIW Formats is not a standard column (spreadsheet view). You must have created a custom column to make it visible outside of the Details or Information panes

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by vikischeldrup

[ . . . ]

Here are some screenshots of my calibre. Thank you all for suggestions. Investigation continues...

Yes the screenshots help.

What file type did you add to create the books with no formats?

And I repeat my earlier questions

Originally Posted by BetterRed

What happens if you drag-n-drop one of the problematic files onto the book list?

Where did the problematic books come from, what format is the download, and do they have DRM encryption? If they're from Amazon, and the format is KFX then maybe you have the problem discussed here ==>> Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre

I suspect its some sort of issue with DRM, do you have a de-DRM plugin installed?

Assuming you still have the file for "Close to the Bone" try drag/dropping it onto the book details for that book.

BR