[GUI Plugin] Kobo Utilities

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

Okay, I've clearly screwed up.

I've got two Kobo readers, same model (one is mine, one is my spouse's). Until recently, I've used two different computers to update them, but now that I'm trying to consolidate and update them both from one computer (with two separate Calibre libraries), I'm running into trouble.

Kobo Utilities sees them both as being the same reader, which means I can't set up separate profiles for them. Both are detected as having a serial number ending in 429. Interestingly, when KU backs up the database, on one it names it with the 429 serial number and on the other, it names it as ending in 297. So at some level, it's recognizing the difference.

I suspect that at some point in the deep reaches of history, I copied the entire data directory from one to the other. But that was several thousand books ago, and I'd hate to have to wipe both devices and start fresh.

Is there a way to (a) figure out which one has the spurious serial number and (b) change it to the correct number WITHOUT factory resetting the device?

Did you configure the Devices tab for individual use (also tick the configure options for each device box.) I don't use collections/shelves since Kobo started supporting Series, so I am not sure Collections honors this config

[Steven Karp]

Originally Posted by theducks

Did you configure the Devices tab for individual use (also tick the configure options for each device box.)

That's what I'm trying to do. The problem is that no matter which device I plug in, the Devices tab shows it as the 429 device. So I can't set a different profile for the other device, the one that's not really "429".

But, yes, "Configure options for each device" is checked. Again, the plugin just doesn't recognize them as different devices.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

That's what I'm trying to do. The problem is that no matter which device I plug in, the Devices tab shows it as the 429 device. So I can't set a different profile for the other device, the one that's not really "429".

But, yes, "Configure options for each device" is checked. Again, the plugin just doesn't recognize them as different devices.

That is weird. Mine came up Libra2 and Aura2. The name, not the internal models.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

Okay, I've clearly screwed up.
I've got two Kobo readers, same model (one is mine, one is my spouse's). Until recently, I've used two different computers to update them, but now that I'm trying to consolidate and update them both from one computer (with two separate Calibre libraries), I'm running into trouble.

Maybe a dumb question; what computer; what version of calibre.

[Steven Karp]

Perhaps I need to be clearer.

Both devices are Clara HD. The attached screenshot shows the KU Devices tab with neither reader connected. If I plug either of them in, the Status field shows connected, even though they should (logically) have different serial numbers.

If I do a database backup, one of the devices' backups gets named with that serial number, but the other uses a different serial number, one ending in 297. So at some level KU can distinguish between them, but not at the top level where it would decide which profile to use.

It's the same whether I use my Mac or my Windows machine (I'm trying to set it up so I only use the Mac for both). Freshly updated Calibre on both, so 8.2.1, but I saw the same thing the first time I tried this maneuver, back in the 7.x days. So I don't think the OS or Calibre versions are relevant here.

Where does KU get the serial number from when it first sees the device, and where does it get the serial number from when it does a database backup? If those are different, that would be a big clue toward figuring out how I fouled up.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That depends if the which translations use shelves and which use collections.

No, the issue is: The text that are shown in English in the screen not only are the labels, but the index to the translations. To change those strings by cosmetic (or brick-wall-head) reasons will mean that all the translation should be redone as the index have changed. And, seriously, to change that because ONE PERSON does not like the text....

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

Perhaps I need to be clearer.

Both devices are Clara HD. The attached screenshot shows the KU Devices tab with neither reader connected. If I plug either of them in, the Status field shows connected, even though they should (logically) have different serial numbers.

If I do a database backup, one of the devices' backups gets named with that serial number, but the other uses a different serial number, one ending in 297. So at some level KU can distinguish between them, but not at the top level where it would decide which profile to use.

It's the same whether I use my Mac or my Windows machine (I'm trying to set it up so I only use the Mac for both). Freshly updated Calibre on both, so 8.2.1, but I saw the same thing the first time I tried this maneuver, back in the 7.x days. So I don't think the OS or Calibre versions are relevant here.

Where does KU get the serial number from when it first sees the device, and where does it get the serial number from when it does a database backup? If those are different, that would be a big clue toward figuring out how I fouled up.

When your device is connected to calibre and you configure the plugin, your device will appear in the "Devices" tab. At that point, if your device is in the table there will an icon as shown in the picture and, if your device is not there, the button "Add connected device" (or something like that) will be active and you will be able to add the device to the table (and rename it).

[Majutsushi]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

Perhaps I need to be clearer.

Both devices are Clara HD. The attached screenshot shows the KU Devices tab with neither reader connected. If I plug either of them in, the Status field shows connected, even though they should (logically) have different serial numbers.

If I do a database backup, one of the devices' backups gets named with that serial number, but the other uses a different serial number, one ending in 297. So at some level KU can distinguish between them, but not at the top level where it would decide which profile to use.

It's the same whether I use my Mac or my Windows machine (I'm trying to set it up so I only use the Mac for both). Freshly updated Calibre on both, so 8.2.1, but I saw the same thing the first time I tried this maneuver, back in the 7.x days. So I don't think the OS or Calibre versions are relevant here.

Where does KU get the serial number from when it first sees the device, and where does it get the serial number from when it does a database backup? If those are different, that would be a big clue toward figuring out how I fouled up.

I think the problem is that by copying the contests from the old device from the new one you also copied the file 'driveinfo.calibre' which Calibre uses to identify devices, which means that now both devices look like the same device. As I understand the code at the moment the current best way to fix this should be this:

1. Remove both devices from the Devices tab.
2. Remove the file 'driveinfo.calibre' from the root directory of both devices.
3. Eject and re-plug the devices (this may be optional but can't hurt).
4. Re-add the devices in the Devices tab.

There is an open issue about changing the device matching so that this situation shouldn't happen again, but I need to find the time to implement that first.

[Majutsushi]

As for the shelves/collections issue, I certainly want to update the UI to refer to the current name so that people who have never used older firmware versions understand what the features are referring to. The fact that this invalidates the translations is unfortunate, but I don't think it's a good idea to refer to old terms that many people will not be familiar with. I would certainly be happy if people sent in updated translations for this. In fact I would like to start using the Transifex service to make it easier to contribute translations just like the KoboTouchExtended plugin is doing, but again this is something that I need to find the time for. There is only so much I can do in my free time.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Majutsushi

Eject and re-plug the devices (this may be optional but can't hurt).

NickelMenu lets you connect without re-plugging the cable, in case you find yourself doing frequently.

[JSWolf]

delete post as @Majutsushi said it first about multiple devices in KU.

[PeterT]

Might I suggest that the "fixes" already made for shelves be reverted until the time a correct, comprehensive, translation friendly fix is performed.


Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

[Steven Karp]

Originally Posted by Majutsushi

I think the problem is that by copying the contests from the old device from the new one you also copied the file 'driveinfo.calibre' which Calibre uses to identify devices, which means that now both devices look like the same device. As I understand the code at the moment the current best way to fix this should be this:

1. Remove both devices from the Devices tab.
2. Remove the file 'driveinfo.calibre' from the root directory of both devices.
3. Eject and re-plug the devices (this may be optional but can't hurt).
4. Re-add the devices in the Devices tab.

This sounds extremely promising, and I'll give it a shot first chance I get. From reading the above, it sounds like this can all be done with Calibre running. Is that true, or should I exit Calibre after step 1, then launch it again after step 3?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

This sounds extremely promising, and I'll give it a shot first chance I get. From reading the above, it sounds like this can all be done with Calibre running. Is that true, or should I exit Calibre after step 1, then launch it again after step 3?

You don't need to stop calibre.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Steven Karp

This sounds extremely promising, and I'll give it a shot first chance I get. From reading the above, it sounds like this can all be done with Calibre running. Is that true, or should I exit Calibre after step 1, then launch it again after step 3?

IMO you should eject the device between step 1 and step 2, then plug the device in again in step 3. Reason: calibre creates the driveinfo file when the device is initially connected unless the file is already there.

Personally, I would quit calibre after step 1 and restart it at step 3, just to be sure that no traces of the old information is still around.