calibre send ebook to device incompatible with kobo clara koreader USBMS

[vyvlad]

Versions info:

• kobo clara HD
• kobo version 4.31.19086
• koreader v2022.01, installed via script
• calibre 5.36, no kobo addons
  • template: books/{series:re(',)}/{series_index:0>2s:titlecase()|| - }{title} by {authors}
    

When transferring books via koreader's USBMS, the files are transferred correctly, calibre lists them as On Device, and koreader can read them. However, after disconnecting and reconnecting the clara, the books are no longer shown as on the device. This does not happen with the Kobo Clara's stock USB mass storage functionality.

Some investigation showed that at the start of the second connection, the file metadata.calibre actually contains the added ebook, but then for some reason calibre immediately removes it (though it leaves the file itself in place).

I've attached the calibre logs for sending a book, disconnecting, and reconnecting, while using koreader's USBMS (lightly edited for clarity - all info about connecting to device and sending the book is shown).

Is there any way to be able to use koreader's USBMS, or do I need to switch back to Nickel to transfer books?

[PeterT]

The Kobo touch driver retrieves the info as to what books are on the device from the Kobo maintained database on the device. This database is updated by Nickle on the device after a USB disconnect when it does the importing of new content.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[JSWolf]

I suggest you update to the current daily KOReader in case this problem has been fixed since the January stable. I've use dailies when something was changed that I wanted without having to wait for the next stable.

One note: When you have any questions regarding KOReader, please post in the KOReader forum.

[davidfor]

As @PeterT said, the KoboTouch driver uses the database on the device to see books. Anything not in the database is invisible to the driver. That is because if the books are not in the database, then nickel, the software supplied with the device, does not know about them. If you are bypassing nickel, then the KoboTouch driver will not find any books on the device.

If you don't want to use nickel, then don't use the KoboTouch driver. Disable it and either use the "Folder Device Interface" driver or the "User Defined USB" driver. Both of these will treat the device as basic USBMSD and scan the filesystem for books.

This information should be somewhere in the KOReader documentation. I don't use it, so I've never looked.

[lightmaster]

Originally Posted by davidfor

If you don't want to use nickel, then don't use the KoboTouch driver. Disable it and either use the "Folder Device Interface" driver or the "User Defined USB" driver. Both of these will treat the device as basic USBMSD and scan the filesystem for books.

How do you override the default driver for a Kobo in Calibre? Can't figure that out.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by lightmaster

How do you override the default driver for a Kobo in Calibre? Can't figure that out.

Go into preferences and disable the builtin KoboTouch driver and, if installed, the KoboTouchExtended driver.