Kobo Collection Manager revisited

[PeterT]

I stand corrected AGAIN. Helps if you have the shelf/collection setting done correctly in the driver.

The STANDARD Kobo Touch driver DOES sync shelves/collections on the initial sync. Info on Shelf Contents is stored in the table ShelfContent with the key being the location on the Kobo that the book has been stored.

on the other hand, SERIES info is stored in the Kobo Content table, which is the table populated by the eReader when it scans for content.

This is why CollectionManager sets collections on the initial connection, but then totally ignores series info.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The filename? What if I have two books with the same name?

Jon, could you download the collection manager and try it.

[PeterT]

Actually the filename is the fully qualified name; not just the epub. So for instance my testing had

INSERT INTO ShelfContent(rowid,ShelfName,ContentId,DateModified,_IsDeleted,_IsSynced) VALUES(381,'ToReadSoon','file:///mnt/onboard/Lawrence, Mark/Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence.epub','2025-04-23T17:56:53Z','false','false');

[JeanC]

I got most of my info from working with claude.ai and others. Lots of trial and error, then i asked it to go search github for how the calibre kobo driver does it, and i had an addon called autoshelf, who did a similar thing.
Conclusion, to add/modify collections you are dealing with tables shelf and shelfcontent. The main table however, content, should be left alone, the kobo handles that on reconnect.

I included my main.cpp, i'm open to suggestion, have been thinking like putting it up on github if there's interest.

Originally Posted by PeterT

Actually the filename is the fully qualified name; not just the epub. So for instance my testing had

INSERT INTO ShelfContent(rowid,ShelfName,ContentId,DateModified,_IsDeleted,_IsSynced) VALUES(381,'ToReadSoon','file:///mnt/onboard/Lawrence, Mark/Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence.epub','2025-04-23T17:56:53Z','false','false');

[jgray]

Unlike the others, this is just what I want - something that only handles collections. That was the only reason I installed Calibre. I don't use its other functions.

Thanks for posting about this.

[jgray]

How do I add a book to multiple collections? For example, Fiction and Mystery.

[JeanC]

Just add it twice, once to each collection.

Which kobo do you have?

Originally Posted by jgray

How do I add a book to multiple collections? For example, Fiction and Mystery.

[jgray]

When I drag it from the right side to a collection, it's then no longer listed on the right.

[JeanC]

Yes that's how it works. The box on the right has the books that are not in any collection. If you drag one into a collection it is removed from that list.

A collection is tied to a map. If you want the same book twice you have to use File - Upload to upload it to the other map/collection too.

What kobo did you use my app on?

Originally Posted by jgray

When I drag it from the right side to a collection, it's then no longer listed on the right.

[jgray]

Sage.

[mrmikey]

I just came across this program, it's great, simple to use, small and definitely works, thank you.
Any chance there's a similar one around that'll work with the same way series?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mrmikey

I just came across this program, it's great, simple to use, small and definitely works, thank you.
Any chance there's a similar one around that'll work with the same way series?

There is an excellent program to manage series on Kobo. It's called calibre. And as long as you are using calibre to manage series, you may as well use calibre to manage collections as well.

[mrmikey]

I agree, Calibre is an excellent program and have no qualms with it whatsoever. I still intend to use it for metadata among other things but...saying that it's a lot more program than what I need.
I much prefer the simple way to make folders (for lack of a better description) for collections in JeanC's program and place the books in that on my device.
Can I go thru installing plugins in Calibre for making series and collections on my Kobo Clara, placing the books in each, probably as I'm not totally computer illiterate. But why not do it the simpler way, IMHO.
My 2 cents worth, actually only 1-1/2 cents in Canuk bucks :-).

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by mrmikey

I agree, Calibre is an excellent program and have no qualms with it whatsoever. I still intend to use it for metadata among other things but...saying that it's a lot more program than what I need.
I much prefer the simple way to make folders (for lack of a better description) for collections in JeanC's program and place the books in that on my device.
Can I go thru installing plugins in Calibre for making series and collections on my Kobo Clara, placing the books in each, probably as I'm not totally computer illiterate. But why not do it the simpler way, IMHO.
My 2 cents worth, actually only 1-1/2 cents in Canuk bucks :-).

If you don't use most features of calibre and feel it's overkill for your needs, by all means use something simpler. Whatever floats your boat.

As for myself, I'm a heavy calibre user and use a lot of its features and plugins. There's nothing comparable for my needs out there. Kobo collections are just one calibre feature among many that I use.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mrmikey

I agree, Calibre is an excellent program and have no qualms with it whatsoever. I still intend to use it for metadata among other things but...saying that it's a lot more program than what I need.
I much prefer the simple way to make folders (for lack of a better description) for collections in JeanC's program and place the books in that on my device.
Can I go thru installing plugins in Calibre for making series and collections on my Kobo Clara, placing the books in each, probably as I'm not totally computer illiterate. But why not do it the simpler way, IMHO.
My 2 cents worth, actually only 1-1/2 cents in Canuk bucks :-).

Thing is, at the moment, there's no program that I know of outside of calibre for managing series on a Kobo. And since you'd need calibre to manage series, it's a good idea to also manage collections.