[GUI Plugin] Kobo Utilities

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Skydog

To be honest, I don't recall ever noticing a connection status. I assumed, incorrectly, that since I had always made manual backups that automated ones would work as well. What happens "under the hood" that is different between manual/automated?

If you have any of the automatic options configured, the plugin gets called each time a device is connected. It checks if the device is a Kobo device and runs whatever is needed. If the actions are specific to a device, then it runs whatever is supposed to be run for that device. And the device is based on the id saved and if it matches the id that calibre gets from the device.

The manual options for storing the reading status is the same as the automatic option. The manual backup does the same thing as the automatic, but you are prompted where to put the backup and name the file.

Currently there are four devices listed in the plugin, all of which display the correct s/n. There have been no factory resets, only patching applied with each firmware update (and Calibre 4.23 => 5.xx). I'll check for status icons at first available opportunity tomorrow, then should I just remove all devices and start from scratch?

If what you have agrees with your devices, I would leave them there and check when you connect that device. If it doesn't match then, you can remove the old one and add the correct details. I do this occasionally as some of my devices get reset for various tests and the stop being matched.

[Happy_Reader]

I have been using my Kobo forma for several years with Calibre (on linux). Recently - last weekend - calibre is unable to connect to the device.
I did a full reset of the device, same result. Linux can connect to the device, I can copy/delete files to the device using linux file manager. But calibre doesn't notice the device.

Using Kobo Utilities: v2.14.0
Calibre: 5.22.0
Kobo software version: 4.26.16704

It's not clear to me what changed. Any suggestions on what to try?

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by Happy_Reader

I have been using my Kobo forma for several years with Calibre (on linux). Recently - last weekend - calibre is unable to connect to the device.
I did a full reset of the device, same result. Linux can connect to the device, I can copy/delete files to the device using linux file manager. But calibre doesn't notice the device.

Using Kobo Utilities: v2.14.0
Calibre: 5.22.0
Kobo software version: 4.26.16704

It's not clear to me what changed. Any suggestions on what to try?

A better subforum in which to ask would be "Devices" where there is a specific sticky and connection problems are discussed in detail.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by davidfor

If you have any of the automatic options configured, the plugin gets called each time a device is connected. It checks if the device is a Kobo device and runs whatever is needed. If the actions are specific to a device, then it runs whatever is supposed to be run for that device. And the device is based on the id saved and if it matches the id that calibre gets from the device.

The manual options for storing the reading status is the same as the automatic option. The manual backup does the same thing as the automatic, but you are prompted where to put the backup and name the file.


If what you have agrees with your devices, I would leave them there and check when you connect that device. If it doesn't match then, you can remove the old one and add the correct details. I do this occasionally as some of my devices get reset for various tests and the stop being matched.

All four devices have connected w/icons. Again, no backup files were created automatically. I made manual backups for each device, as usual, with no problems.

I'm out of ideas.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Skydog

All four devices have connected w/icons. Again, no backup files were created automatically. I made manual backups for each device, as usual, with no problems.

I'm out of ideas.

In that case, run calibre in debug mode and post the log after connecting one of the devices. I should be able to see what is happening from that.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by davidfor

In that case, run calibre in debug mode and post the log after connecting one of the devices. I should be able to see what is happening from that.

Prior to seeing your post, I decided to remove all devices and start over. I have added only one device, with the same data entered exactly as before. This time, a backup was created upon connection to the existing directory. For the moment, I plan to hold off on adding more devices until I am convinced all is well. If I had been doing something incorrectly previously, I am at a loss to what it may have been. Adding devices to the plugin is straightforward.

Thank you for your help!

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Happy_Reader

I have been using my Kobo forma for several years with Calibre (on linux). Recently - last weekend - calibre is unable to connect to the device.
I did a full reset of the device, same result. Linux can connect to the device, I can copy/delete files to the device using linux file manager. But calibre doesn't notice the device.

Using Kobo Utilities: v2.14.0
Calibre: 5.22.0
Kobo software version: 4.26.16704

It's not clear to me what changed. Any suggestions on what to try?

Try updating to calibre 5.22.1. There was an issue with 5.22.0 and Linux device detection.

[davidfor]

I have just updated the plugin to fix a problem with the Order Shelves function. The only change is:

• Fix: "DateModified" not qualified in query used in Order Shelves.

Calibre will announce the update in the next hour or so. If there are any problems, please report them hee.

[Arararara]

does using this plugin prevents my kobo from getting corupted ?cuz rn thats what happens every time i plug it in to pc

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Arararara

does using this plugin prevents my kobo from getting corupted ?cuz rn thats what happens every time i plug it in to pc

No! The corruption seems to be an Elipsa only issue

[Minotaur]

Just had to restore my Forma database from an auto-backup, followed by restoring bookmarks. Glad I have this installed!

[targosh]

Is there a way to pull reading stats for each book from Kobo to the Calibre? I wanted to see my reading speed in a custom Calibre column.

Does anyone knows how to do it?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by targosh

Is there a way to pull reading stats for each book from Kobo to the Calibre? I wanted to see my reading speed in a custom Calibre column.

Does anyone knows how to do it?

At the moment, no. Getting the time spent reading is possible, but has issues with accuracy and doesn't take into account reading the same book on multiple devices. I may add it if I have time.

[targosh]

Originally Posted by davidfor

At the moment, no. Getting the time spent reading is possible, but has issues with accuracy and doesn't take into account reading the same book on multiple devices. I may add it if I have time.

Thanks David. You're doing a great job with this plugin anyways so I don't wanna ask for too much. If I knew how to write code/plugin I'd help. However I noticed in the Kobo database that the record for time spent reading is stored in it but not in the book metadata. Is that what you are refering to? I'm not sure why this would have issues with accuracy but I thought that storing this information in the Kobo database and not in the metadata actually helps with info for multiple devices. Anyways, hope you have time to implement it the way you think is best.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by targosh

Thanks David. You're doing a great job with this plugin anyways so I don't wanna ask for too much. If I knew how to write code/plugin I'd help. However I noticed in the Kobo database that the record for time spent reading is stored in it but not in the book metadata. Is that what you are refering to? I'm not sure why this would have issues with accuracy but I thought that storing this information in the Kobo database and not in the metadata actually helps with info for multiple devices. Anyways, hope you have time to implement it the way you think is best.

The time reading is actually stored in two places. There table called "Events" which stores all sorts of information about what happens as you use the device. For books, it stores details about when you open and close the book, how long you are reading for each time, how often you use the dictionary and even how many page turns you do. A lot of this is stored in a blob which I do not know how to decode. Some of this is synced, some isn't.

There are some easier to see columns for time spent reading and when the book was opened elsewhere in the database. This does not appear to be synced. It is effectively the time spent reading a book on the current device. If you read on multiple devices, there isn't really a way to tell what the total time taken is. (Get 10 minutes from one device, then 10 minutes from another. Then, when you plugin in a device, it now has 20 minutes. Without recording each time period and which device it came from, there is no way to know if that is a new 20 minutes, or includes one of the earlier records.)

The accuracy of the time recorded has been questioned by plenty of people in the Kobo forum. It's been a while since I bothered to work it out. But, a simple issue is that it includes time when you aren't actually looking at the device. That includes the time between putting the device down and it going to sleep. I have the sleep timer set to 15 minutes. That is frequently triggered, but, it is included in the time the device records for reading. And has been particularly bad while the Olympics was on. I'd be reading in front of the TV, look up to watch an event, and come back when I notice the ereader screen flash as it sleeps. It meant lots of extra time when I wasn't actually reading.

The other part is simply the code needed. It needs a new column, plus all the checks to make sure it is updated correctly. I cleaned this up earlier in the year, so it won't be that bad, but it still takes time. And adding it also prompts the question about what other stats, useful or otherwise, can be extracted. Adding this has been in the back of my mind, but, so far I have been able to convince myself it is not something I am interested in