Renaming files in the data directory

[Kelzan]

I have a question regarding the associated data files stored in the "data" directory for a book entry. I have a Calibre library where I keep my sheet music and songbooks, mostly in PDF format. Some of the books are play-along music books that have mp3 music files that I store as associated data files for the book. On several of these, however, I'm wanting to go in and add better tagging to the MP3's, and even rename the files.

Is this going to mess things up in the library if I rename files that have already been added as data files? Is the data file information stored explicitly when adding to the data directory, or does Calibre simply treat anything it finds in the data directory as a data file associated with that particular book entry? I always use the Calibre interface when adding data files to an entry, but if I were to simply copy something into the data file directly, would it be treated the same way?

On a similar note, does Calibre support subdirectories within the data directory? So far I've always kept things flat, and if I need multiple subdirectories I'll zip everything up into a single archive file, but it would be nice to leave it unzipped if subdirectories are handled correctly.

Thanks for any help or insight on this!

[kovidgoyal]

This should be easy for you to check yourself. Rename a file and see if anything bad happens. To answer your question, no calibre does not keep a list of data files in the database so you should be able to rename them with no problems. And no it doesnt require no sub-directories.

[theducks]

Use Calibre to rename.
Have it show the data files : Right click on the file: rename
I don't think you can create a folder this way

[BetterRed]

If the 'data' folder doesn't exist when you open it, calibre will create it…before opening it.



You can add, delete and rename subfolders and files in the 'data' folder as you please… the things you shouldn't do are:

• rename the 'data' folder;
• move files from the book folder to data folder — use file manager copy to data folder, and then use calibre to remove from book folder;
• move files from the data folder to book folder — use calibre to add the file to book files, and file manager to delete the file from the data folder.

If the 'data' folder is no longer required, open the book folder and delete it.

If a 'data' folder is empty the 'has_extra_files" template function will return false.

BR

[theducks]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If the 'data' folder doesn't exist when you open it, calibre will create it…before opening it.

Attachment 220728

You can add, delete and rename subfolders and files in the 'data' folder as you please… the only thing you shouldn't do is rename the 'data' folder.

Attachment 220729

If the 'data' folder is no longer required, open the book folder and delete it.

If a 'data' folder is empty the 'has_extra_files" template function will return false.

BR

How / where to find that first context menu? (I don't currently use data folders...but it has possibilities in my use case )

[BetterRed]

The Alt+O shortcut to open 'data' folder is custom.

I must tidy up that menu.

The lack of icons comes from an Environment variable: CALIBRE_NO_ICONS_IN_MENUS — I spotted it one day when I wanted to check the name of another EnvVar to post here — love at first sight.

I must add a line to my post… no moving.

BR

[theducks]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Attachment 220734

The Alt+O shortcut to open 'data' folder is custom.

I must tidy up that menu.

The lack of icons comes from an Environment variable: CALIBRE_NO_ICONS_IN_MENUS — I spotted it one day when I wanted to check the name of another EnvVar to post here — love at first sight.

I must add a line to my post… no moving.

BR

I had just been using 'o' and not a context menu. So nothing else was special.

[BetterRed]

I Noned or changed all single character shortcuts on day one, for me they are an in-principle no-no, besides which they take precedence over keyboard searching in the book list.

BR