[Device Plugin] Kobo Touch Extended Driver

[compurandom]

I'm still having problems with my kobo refusing to sync.
I think when calibre side loads news articles to the kobo, subsequent attempts to sync shelf info for those books fails. (At least, I think it is news articles.)

I've found running the following sqlite3 queries before ejecting fixes and/or prevents the issue.

update shelf set _issynced='true' where _issynced='false';
update ShelfContent set _issynced='true' where _issynced='false';

I don't create new shelves that often, so typically the first line doesn't do anything.

Would it be possible to add an option to this plugin to do something similar so that side loaded books have _issynced set to true when they are newly added?

Maybe a filter so that only certain shelves are marked to sync? (I do add kobo and overdrive books to specific shelves that it would be OK to sync, but probably fine if they are not synced, so I don't care either way on that.)

Since I've been doing this by hand, my sync issues have gone away, at least until I forget and have to reconnect to do it.

Let me know if you'd like me to experiment with this and have suggestions on how to narrow down the problem's exact trigger.

Note also, since this fixes sync, my kobo isn't getting stuck in a sync loop anymore and battery life is better!

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Maybe the encoding of the json went weird? I did some searching and found this:

That is correct. But, the issue is more to do with where the error occurred. The line where the error occurred is when the database is being read. I can't think of how the config file will affect that. I don't think it is coming from inside the loop, but, I'll have a look when I get a chance.

[dhampny]

Originally Posted by davidfor

There is still something wrong with what you have said you are doing and how it is configured.

Firstly, if you click the "Send to device" button, or use the menu and choose "Send to main memory" from the menu, it doesn't prompt for the format. When doing this, the calibre finds the format to send based on the order of the formats in the driver configuration. The format for the book that is the first in the enabled formats will be sent. If you do not have a suitable format, it will do a conversion. And it will convert to the top format in that list. That means, that if you have the default option, which is "kepup, epub, PDF, txt, cbz, cbr", and you have an epub, it will be sent. But, if your only format is a MOBI, it will be converted to kepub, if you have the Kepub Output plugin installed. Otherwise it will be converted to epub. After the conversion, the book will be sent.

The dialog you describe sounds like what you get if you choose the "Send specific format to" option. In this case, the dialog shows all formats that are configured for the device (the list above). And it shows which formats actually exist in the books you have selected. For kepubs, you were seeing "0 of 1 kepub" which means that you had selected 1 book and it didn't have a kepub format. When you selected this and pressed OK, you were telling calibre to convert the book to kepub and then send that to the device. Calibre will prompt to tell you it is doing this, but, that can be turned off.

If you are using the KoboTouchExtended driver, my recommendation is to use the simple "Send to device" and leave the driver configuration for formats to the default. This will mean the driver will transform epubs to kepubs when sending them to the device. But, if you do have a kepub in the library, it will be sent. There is generally no reason to have kepubs in the library, but, if you are resending books frequently, or to multiple devices, is faster to convert once and then send the kepub.

Thank you for your response.

What I have described is what is happening. I've used Calibre for many years and it's been the same for as long as I can remember. The only difference is the formats offered in the popup window between my Kobo readers and my Kindle readers.

After connecting my reader I select the book(s) I want to load by selecting the large 'Send to device' button. I don't use the associated dropdown arrow at all. (I'm unsure what that is called.) A popup 'Choose format' window opens and I am offered to 'Choose format to send to device'. If I have a Kobo connected the options are PDF and EPUB (It used to include KEPUB before I acted on jackie_w's post). If a Kindle is connected the options are AZW3 and MOBI.

Edited to add: I do not have any books in PDF or MOBI formats. I assume Calibre is offering to convert to these formats if desired.

Also to correct, I select the book(s) I want to load and then select the 'Send to device' button.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by dhampny

Thank you for your response.

What I have described is what is happening. I've used Calibre for many years and it's been the same for as long as I can remember. The only difference is the formats offered in the popup window between my Kobo readers and my Kindle readers.

After connecting my reader I select the book(s) I want to load by selecting the large 'Send to device' button. I don't use the associated dropdown arrow at all. (I'm unsure what that is called.) A popup 'Choose format' window opens and I am offered to 'Choose format to send to device'. If I have a Kobo connected the options are PDF and EPUB (It used to include KEPUB before I acted on jackie_w's post). If a Kindle is connected the options are AZW3 and MOBI.

Edited to add: I do not have any books in PDF or MOBI formats. I assume Calibre is offering to convert to these formats if desired.

Also to correct, I select the book(s) I want to load and then select the 'Send to device' button.

The issue is that what you describe does not match what happens here. When I press the "Send to device" button, I do not get prompted to choose the format to send. The format is automatically selected based on the options in the driver and sent. And a conversion is done if necessary. Checking the options on the menu for the "Send to device", there is an option to set the default action for the button. You must have changed that sometime in the past to use "Send specific formats". And honestly, using that as the default is why you are getting this problem. The defaults all would have worked.

But, the other question is why the behaviour changed for you. The statement above that it has been the same for years contradicts that. That implies that you have always chosen the "0 of 1 kepub" when prompted for the format to send. But, if that was the case, you would always have triggered a conversion to kepub before sending the book and that would mean that you would have had kepubs added to the library. If this was not happening, then there was a bug. Calibre is supposed to do this, and it always has. In fact, it is something that people complain about. And was one of the reasons for why the KoboTouchExtended drive was created and works in the way it does.

What I suspect is that up until recently, the kepub choice did not exist in the "Choose format" dialog. And that you chose the epub format (for PDF when sending it). My guess is that you have recently installed the Kepub Output plugin. This plugin is used to convert books to kepub. And when it is installed, one of the affects is that the "Choose format" dialog will include an option for kepub because calibre can now convert to that that format.

[dhampny]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The issue is that what you describe does not match what happens here. When I press the "Send to device" button, I do not get prompted to choose the format to send. The format is automatically selected based on the options in the driver and sent. And a conversion is done if necessary. Checking the options on the menu for the "Send to device", there is an option to set the default action for the button. You must have changed that sometime in the past to use "Send specific formats". And honestly, using that as the default is why you are getting this problem. The defaults all would have worked.

But, the other question is why the behaviour changed for you. The statement above that it has been the same for years contradicts that. That implies that you have always chosen the "0 of 1 kepub" when prompted for the format to send. But, if that was the case, you would always have triggered a conversion to kepub before sending the book and that would mean that you would have had kepubs added to the library. If this was not happening, then there was a bug. Calibre is supposed to do this, and it always has. In fact, it is something that people complain about. And was one of the reasons for why the KoboTouchExtended drive was created and works in the way it does.

What I suspect is that up until recently, the kepub choice did not exist in the "Choose format" dialog. And that you chose the epub format (for PDF when sending it). My guess is that you have recently installed the Kepub Output plugin. This plugin is used to convert books to kepub. And when it is installed, one of the affects is that the "Choose format" dialog will include an option for kepub because calibre can now convert to that that format.

I inadvertently misled you with my statement "same for years". I've only been reading on Kobo for a couple of years but have read on Kindle (and Nook, Sony and iPad before that) for many years prior, so have seen this behavior with azw3 (and epub) for a long time. So the kepub format has only come into play for the past couple of years. I did have the Kepub Output plugin installed but have just removed it.

The other part of my issue was that I just recently installed the Kobo Touch Extended Driver and thought what i was experiencing was the correct behavior. It wasn't until I read more threads that I began realizing I must be wrong because I was creating a kepub file and that's when I started my inquiry.

I haven't yet found how to reset the default action for "Send to device" (that isn't an option that I can see) but will keep investigating.

Thank you for your time and effort.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by dhampny

I haven't yet found how to reset the default action for "Send to device" (that isn't an option that I can see) but will keep investigating.

With the Kobo USB-connected to calibre ...
Right-click the Send-to-device button and select menu item Set default send to device action.
Then pick whichever action you'd like to happen in future when you left-click the main Send-to-device button.

[dhampny]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

With the Kobo USB-connected to calibre ...
Right-click the Send-to-device button and select menu item Set default send to device action.
Then pick whichever action you'd like to happen in future when you left-click the main Send-to-device button.

I wasn't stopping at "set default send to device action ->Send to Main Memory", I was going one step deeper and selecting send a specific format to main memory (although Calibre didn't ask me what format). When I stopped at the first step of just sending to the device Main Memory the process began working properly and I'm no longer experiencing the popup format window.

Thank you!

[zzzhudanhzzz]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Sorry, you aren't ready. The drivers don't support the Aura HD yet. The next calibre release should include the changes needed.

Can I get a link for the sd image for the N647 Kobo WiFi, Please?

[ownedbycats]

Question: I use "Do not treat replacements as new books." However, whenever I replace a book on my Libra H2O, the cover thumbnail goes blank and then re-generates. This didn't happen with my Aura HD.

Any idea what might the difference be?

Thanks.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

With the Kobo USB-connected to calibre ...
Right-click the Send-to-device button and select menu item Set default send to device action.
Then pick whichever action you'd like to happen in future when you left-click the main Send-to-device button.

Ironically, I was the one who suggested this sub-forum @dhampny for assistance. Reading his posts, I am experiencing the same - a popup "select format" menu appears when I click on "Send to Device" and it always has, for the many years I have used Calibre. I had no idea that this was not normal behavior. What is different in my case, is that I have epub listed first, kepub second on the priority list. I have followed your steps but a popup menu still asks for format (1 of 1 epub at the top) regardless. Further, if I select kepub, I also end up with an unwanted kepub format in the library. It's obvious I don't understand how the plugin works. Everything I've tried results in no change, which is why I have always had to "select format" every time I side load to my devices and never realized that something is not configured correctly.

[theducks]

@skydog
That is because you Right clicked, that you must make a choice
(that says, make a Library copy, then send)

If you take the default action (as set), the PI does the On the fly thing ONLY.
So only use the right click if you want to send something OTHER than KEPUB/EPUB (assumes Library has)

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by theducks

@skydog
That is because you Right clicked, that you must make a choice
(that says, make a Library copy, then send)

If you take the default action (as set), the PI does the On the fly thing ONLY.
So only use the right click if you want to send something OTHER than KEPUB/EPUB (assumes Library has)

Thank you, theducks. Actually, the pop-up appeared just by clicking on "Send to Device," without right-clicking. Every time. I made sure to double-check settings (when connected) and formats listed. I finally gave up, disabled the Touch Extended Driver, enabled the Kobo Touch Driver and that solved my problem. No more Kepubs.

[theducks]

That makes me think that the format you HAVE was not valid (to be sent) to a Kobo.
Be sure yo use the 'Configure Plugin' on the send to Device icon. (the one in Preferences is the default FOR NEW DEVICES

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by theducks

That makes me think that the format you HAVE was not valid (to be sent) to a Kobo.
Be sure yo use the 'Configure Plugin' on the send to Device icon. (the one in Preferences is the default FOR NEW DEVICES

Thank you again. The PI has always been configured but apparently never correctly. I have uninstalled/reinstalled the PI, and reconfigured referencing all your points. I believe it's correct now, no dialog box appears when just clicking on 'Send to Device' and no Kepub in the library.

Thank you very much for your help!

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Question: I use "Do not treat replacements as new books." However, whenever I replace a book on my Libra H2O, the cover thumbnail goes blank and then re-generates. This didn't happen with my Aura HD.

Any idea what might the difference be?

Thanks.

I think I figured this out. Manually uploading the covers with Kobo Utilities stopped the re-generation.