[GUI Plugin] Annotations

[benweasel]

Hi and thanks in advance for your time and patience.
I'm using a Pocketbook PB634 on Calibre 8.8 - I manage to load books with no issues at all but I'm unable to fetch annotations from the books. This is the error I get

Eccezione non gestita stands for "Unmanaged exception"

calibre, version 8.8.0
ERRORE: Eccezione non gestita: <b>UnboundLocalError</b>:cannot access local variable 'finish' where it is not associated with a value

calibre 8.8  embedded-python: True
macOS-15.5-arm64-arm-64bit Darwin ('64bit', '')
('Darwin', '24.5.0', 'Darwin Kernel Version 24.5.0: Tue Apr 22 19:54:26 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.121.6~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8112')
Python 3.11.12
OSX: ('15.5', ('', '', ''), 'arm64')
Interface language: it
EXE path: /Applications/calibre.app/Contents/MacOS/calibre
Successfully initialized third party plugins: Annotations (1, 17, 13) && Find Duplicates (1, 10, 9) && Goodreads (1, 8, 3) && Goodreads Sync (1, 16, 11) && PocketBook Improved Device Interface (1, 0, 4) && Pocketbook Collections (1, 2, 6)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 363, in fetch_usb_connected_device_annotations
    self.fetch_usb_device_annotations(self.get_connected_device_primary_name())
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 407, in fetch_usb_device_annotations
    annotated_book_list = self.get_annotated_books_on_usb_device(reader_app)
                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 624, in get_annotated_books_on_usb_device
    ra.get_active_annotations()
  File "/var/folders/q5/z79z5dzx1fl4b8fv0ws2z38r0000gn/C/calibre-p0rdivjv/calibre_annotations_plugin/PocketBook.py", line 62, in get_active_annotations
  File "/var/folders/q5/z79z5dzx1fl4b8fv0ws2z38r0000gn/C/calibre-p0rdivjv/calibre_annotations_plugin/PocketBook.py", line 344, in _fetch_annotations
  File "/var/folders/q5/z79z5dzx1fl4b8fv0ws2z38r0000gn/C/calibre-p0rdivjv/calibre_annotations_plugin/PocketBook.py", line 419, in _read_database_annotations
UnboundLocalError: cannot access local variable 'finish' where it is not associated with a value

Tried searching in the forum but no success so far. Any clues?

Thanks

[dunhill]

I think the clue is here:
UnboundLocalError: cannot access local variable 'finish' where it is not associated with a value
This means that within the Annotations plugin (specifically in the plugin's PocketBook.py file), there is a variable called finish that the code attempts to use, but it was never defined in certain cases.

[kuttan]

Dear all

I am the below error when i installed the annotation plugin in Calibre and get annotation.

I have setup new filed in calibre for pulling annotations. I have connected Kobo Libre Color. Please suggest.

Thank you.

calibre, version 8.10.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>TypeError</b>:'str' object is not callable

calibre 8.10  embedded-python: True
Linux-6.15.1-surface-2-x86_64-with-glibc2.36 Linux ('64bit', 'ELF')
('Linux', '6.15.1-surface-2', '#2 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Tue Jun 24 21:02:07 UTC 2025')
Python 3.11.12
Interface language: None
EXE path: /opt/calibre/bin/calibre
Successfully initialized third party plugins: Annotations (1, 17, 13) && Kobo Utilities (2, 24, 3)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 363, in fetch_usb_connected_device_annotations
    self.fetch_usb_device_annotations(self.get_connected_device_primary_name())
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 407, in fetch_usb_device_annotations
    annotated_book_list = self.get_annotated_books_on_usb_device(reader_app)
                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 624, in get_annotated_books_on_usb_device
    ra.get_active_annotations()
  File "/tmp/calibre-zng_zxr5/calibre_annotations_plugin/KoboTouch.py", line 72, in get_active_annotations
  File "/tmp/calibre-zng_zxr5/calibre_annotations_plugin/KoboTouch.py", line 378, in _fetch_annotations
TypeError: 'str' object is not callable

[cerebrollywood]

Hello everyone,

thanks to anyone involved in the making and sharing of this plugin. I'm not a tech savvy person but you this whole thread helped me retrieving my highlights and save them in Calibre (FINALLY!!!).

I do have a question, though. Now that the plugin created the custom column with the Annotations, how do I "import" them on a secondary device?

I have two Kobo, I use both of them to read depending if I'm out and about or just at home chilling. Through the KoboUtilities plugin I managed to sync the reading point between books. I was hoping to sync the highlights/annotations using this plugin. Is that possible? If so, how should I do it? So far, nothing I tried was successful (again, not very techy!)

Thank you so much

[aik099]

Originally Posted by kuttan

Dear all

I am the below error when i installed the annotation plugin in Calibre and get annotation.

I have setup new filed in calibre for pulling annotations. I have connected Kobo Libre Color. Please suggest.

Thank you.

calibre, version 8.10.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>TypeError</b>:'str' object is not callable

calibre 8.10  embedded-python: True
Linux-6.15.1-surface-2-x86_64-with-glibc2.36 Linux ('64bit', 'ELF')
('Linux', '6.15.1-surface-2', '#2 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Tue Jun 24 21:02:07 UTC 2025')
Python 3.11.12
Interface language: None
EXE path: /opt/calibre/bin/calibre
Successfully initialized third party plugins: Annotations (1, 17, 13) && Kobo Utilities (2, 24, 3)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 363, in fetch_usb_connected_device_annotations
    self.fetch_usb_device_annotations(self.get_connected_device_primary_name())
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 407, in fetch_usb_device_annotations
    annotated_book_list = self.get_annotated_books_on_usb_device(reader_app)
                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "calibre_plugins.annotations.action", line 624, in get_annotated_books_on_usb_device
    ra.get_active_annotations()
  File "/tmp/calibre-zng_zxr5/calibre_annotations_plugin/KoboTouch.py", line 72, in get_active_annotations
  File "/tmp/calibre-zng_zxr5/calibre_annotations_plugin/KoboTouch.py", line 378, in _fetch_annotations
TypeError: 'str' object is not callable

This question has been answered before in https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=1214 .

[aik099]

Originally Posted by cerebrollywood

Hello everyone,

thanks to anyone involved in the making and sharing of this plugin. I'm not a tech savvy person but you this whole thread helped me retrieving my highlights and save them in Calibre (FINALLY!!!).

I do have a question, though. Now that the plugin created the custom column with the Annotations, how do I "import" them on a secondary device?

I have two Kobo, I use both of them to read depending if I'm out and about or just at home chilling. Through the KoboUtilities plugin I managed to sync the reading point between books. I was hoping to sync the highlights/annotations using this plugin. Is that possible? If so, how should I do it? So far, nothing I tried was successful (again, not very techy!)

Thank you so much

No. This plugin can only write annotations into Calibre from the Device. Not write them back to Device.

[Leonatus]

Originally Posted by aik099

This question has been answered before in https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=1214 .

I had the same issue referred by kuttan, and can confirm that with the beta version the plugin works! Thank you,Terisa, above all!

[bopuc]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Can you try if this plugin works?

As for many others, this hotfix works for me. Thank you very very much, Terisa.

Can you kindly confirm that the only change you made for this fix is in `readers/KoboTouch.py` at lines 378-379?

#with closing(apsw.Connection(self.device.device_database_path())) as connection:
with closing(apsw.Connection(self.device.device_database_path)) as connection:

(I've run a comparison between the last officially released plugin code and your "beta" hotfix and that's the only thing that shows up. I just want to make sure.

[bopuc]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'll see what I can do to get this changed to a new version number and added to the first post.

Hello PeterT!
Do you have such access to the original repo?

(Generally to everyone here)

There's a fair number of us who depend on this plugin (or want to) and it may be time to pick it up, dust it off and carry it forward.

I think one way to do this would be to fork the source to an "organization" repo, and have at least 3 people be admins on that, sharing maintainer duties.

It'd also be great if individual contributors/maintainers for the various Reader support classes could step up (I don't think any single person should be expected to support all reader devices/apps…).

I could set that up and help with governance/management. It'd at least be a first step. Then we could merge in the various hotfixes and pull requests that have surfaced in the last few years and release something reliable again.

[PeterT]

Oops I'd forgotten about this. Am out right now but will check when I get home

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by bopuc

As for many others, this hotfix works for me. Thank you very very much, Terisa.

Can you kindly confirm that the only change you made for this fix is in `readers/KoboTouch.py` at lines 378-379?

#with closing(apsw.Connection(self.device.device_database_path())) as connection:
with closing(apsw.Connection(self.device.device_database_path)) as connection:

(I've run a comparison between the last officially released plugin code and your "beta" hotfix and that's the only thing that shows up. I just want to make sure.

Yes, that's the only change as it was the issue. I don't know the plugin but I'm able to debug that and I think I asked about the element

[Leonatus]

Originally Posted by bopuc

There's a fair number of us who depend on this plugin (or want to) and it may be time to pick it up, dust it off and carry it forward.

In the meantime, Kobo owners can switch to the Kobo Utilities plugin, which provides a similar feature.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by Leonatus

In the meantime, Kobo owners can switch to the Kobo Utilities plugin, which provides a similar feature.

Has the plugin changed? Before, it linked with this plugin, it didn't collect Annotations itself.

[bopuc]

Originally Posted by Leonatus

In the meantime, Kobo owners can switch to the Kobo Utilities plugin, which provides a similar feature.

Kobo Utilities allows only either to copy/paste formatted annotations from selected book(s) and backup of annotation file. Both these options require further manual processing and use totally different formats from what Annotations uses when it (automatically) puts the annotations in the Calibre database.

I want to make it *easier* to manage annotations (90% of the value, for me, in reading ebooks), not harder.

[Leonatus]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Has the plugin changed? Before, it linked with this plugin, it didn't collect Annotations itself.

As I got the above mentioned error message, I tried the KoboUtilities plugin, and it worked. I'm not a technic, so I can't give further explications, but the remarks bopuc made are pretty correct, as far as I can see.