[GUI Plugin] calibre Auto-Updater

[JSWolf]

Why is it I cannot perform a repair install when the .msi file is in a different location then it was when it was installed?

[dunhill]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why is it I cannot perform a repair install when the .msi file is in a different location then it was when it was installed?

That's exactly why the plugin defaults to the Downloads folder. Windows Installer caches the source path of the .msi. If we let users move the installer to arbitrary or temporary folders before finishing the process, future 'Repair' or 'Uninstall' actions might fail because Windows can't find the original source. By keeping it in a standard, predictable location, we minimize these registry conflicts for the average user.

[dunhill]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have some ideas for updated to the plug-in that would make it much more useful.

Allow us to select a directory we want to put the installer in and name the installer based on the version number. Putting is in the Windows Downloads directory with a fixed name is not a good idea. We would not have an older version should we want to go back. Also, I'd rather be able to clean out the downloads directory when I want.

There have been some minor cases where something wasn't working and the only solution was to go to the previous version.

Hi JSWolf, thank you for the detailed feedback.

To clarify the vision behind this plugin: The main goal is to provide a 'one-click' update experience for the average user who doesn't want any complications. I want to keep the interface as clean as possible.

Regarding your specific points:

On the Download Location: I chose the standard Downloads folder to ensure the plugin works 'out-of-the-box' on any PC without requiring any initial configuration or path setup from the user.

On the Filename and Rollbacks: I think your point about keeping previous versions is valid for some users. However, anyone needing an older version can always find the complete archive of all previous installers here: https://download.calibre-ebook.com/.

Future Improvement: To balance simplicity and your suggestion, I will look into adding the version number to the filename (e.g., calibre-9.5.0-x64.msi) in a future update. This solves the 'rollback' issue without adding complex settings menus.

Thanks for helping me polish this tool!"

[dunhill]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I downloaded calibre via the plugin and I did an md5sum of both installers and they matched.

Thank you so much for taking the time to verify the MD5 checksum, JSWolf!
It’s great to have confirmation from an experienced user that the download process is identical to the manual one. I really appreciate your thoroughness; it gives me and the rest of the community peace of mind regarding the plugin's integrity.
Your feedback on the installation logic is also very helpful. I’m definitely taking your suggestions into account to make this tool more robust while maintaining the simplicity I’m aiming for.
Thanks again for the support and for testing the plugin so carefully!

[thiago.eec]

Originally Posted by dunhill

Thank you so much for the tips, Kovid! I really appreciate you taking the time to point me in the right direction.
Automating the installation via msiexec and hdiutil sounds like the perfect path to make the experience seamless. I will definitely look into the update-on-osx script for inspiration.
For now, I'll focus on making sure the download process is 100% stable across all platforms with the current manual steps, and then I'll start working on full automation for the next major release. Thanks again!

A long time ago I got a bat script posted by @eschwartz that automated calibre updates using Windows Task Scheduler. Like @Kovid said, it uses msiexec. The task was set to run this script everyday, and install it silently if a new version is found.

@echo off

calibre-debug.exe -c "import urllib.request as u; from calibre.constants import numeric_version; raise SystemExit(int(numeric_version  < (tuple(map(int, u.urlopen('http://code.calibre-ebook.com/latest').read().decode('utf-8').split('.'))))))"

if %ERRORLEVEL%==0 (
echo calibre is up to date.
)	else (
calibre.exe --shutdown-running-calibre
msiexec /passive /i http://status.calibre-ebook.com/dist/win64
)

P.S.: If Windows determines a restart is needed, it will do that automatically, so I set it up to run at night.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dunhill

Hi JSWolf, thank you for the detailed feedback.

To clarify the vision behind this plugin: The main goal is to provide a 'one-click' update experience for the average user who doesn't want any complications. I want to keep the interface as clean as possible.

Regarding your specific points:

On the Download Location: I chose the standard Downloads folder to ensure the plugin works 'out-of-the-box' on any PC without requiring any initial configuration or path setup from the user.

On the Filename and Rollbacks: I think your point about keeping previous versions is valid for some users. However, anyone needing an older version can always find the complete archive of all previous installers here: https://download.calibre-ebook.com/.

Future Improvement: To balance simplicity and your suggestion, I will look into adding the version number to the filename (e.g., calibre-9.5.0-x64.msi) in a future update. This solves the 'rollback' issue without adding complex settings menus.

Thanks for helping me polish this tool!"

But it would be better if we could choose our own location. Downloads is a directory I don't want to use. I delete everything in there.

[dunhill]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But it would be better if we could choose our own location. Downloads is a directory I don't want to use. I delete everything in there.

I totally understand your workflow. Many power users prefer to keep their systems strictly organized and avoid using the default Downloads folder for anything persistent.

My priority for this initial version was to ensure it worked for the 'plug-and-play' user without requiring any setup. However, I’ve noted your request. Adding an option in the plugin's configuration to choose a custom download path is a logical next step for a future 'Advanced' settings tab.

For now, I’m focused on ensuring the core update engine and the progress bar are 100% stable across all Windows/Mac environments. Once that's solid, I'll look into adding more customization options like the one you suggested.

Thanks for the input

[dunhill]

Hi JSWolf,

After reviewing the code and the current workflow, I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding here. The plugin does NOT install calibre into the Downloads folder.

The plugin simply uses the Downloads folder as a temporary bridge to fetch the official .msi file. Once the download is complete, the plugin launches that installer. It is then the official calibre setup that handles the actual installation into your standard system directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\Calibre2).

The file in the Downloads folder is just the 'installer package'. You can delete it immediately after the update is finished. Using the standard Downloads folder ensures that the plugin works 'out-of-the-box' without needing initial setup.

However, to satisfy all workflows, I will be adding a configuration window in the next update. This will allow users to choose a custom folder for the installer download. If no folder is configured, the plugin will simply fall back to the default Downloads folder.

Thanks for the feedback!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dunhill

Hi JSWolf,

After reviewing the code and the current workflow, I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding here. The plugin does NOT install calibre into the Downloads folder.

The plugin simply uses the Downloads folder as a temporary bridge to fetch the official .msi file. Once the download is complete, the plugin launches that installer. It is then the official calibre setup that handles the actual installation into your standard system directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\Calibre2).

The file in the Downloads folder is just the 'installer package'. You can delete it immediately after the update is finished. Using the standard Downloads folder ensures that the plugin works 'out-of-the-box' without needing initial setup.

However, to satisfy all workflows, I will be adding a configuration window in the next update. This will allow users to choose a custom folder for the installer download. If no folder is configured, the plugin will simply fall back to the default Downloads folder.

Thanks for the feedback!

I know calibre is not installed in Downloads. But the installer is and that has to change as I cannot stand the Downloads directory.

[dunhill]

New features in v1.2.0:
Download folder selector: You can now choose exactly where you want the installer to be saved (.msi or .dmg). Ideal for those who want to keep their downloads folder clean or use a temporary folder.

Dynamic version detection: The plugin no longer uses generic names. It now queries the official calibre server directly to obtain the exact version number (e.g., calibre-64bit-9.5.0.msi).

Smart forced shutdown (Windows): The `--shutdown-running-calibre` command has been implemented before launching the installer. This ensures that calibre releases all files and the database, preventing "file in use" errors during the update.

[kovidgoyal]

@dunhill: Note that on Windows shutdown running calibre is not sufficient it can leave viewer and edit windows around. There is no general method for shutting them down. You would need to use something like psutil to search for the processes and kill them and running shutdown running calibre.

[BetterRed]

If calibre is running from a portable install the msi installer won't run 'properly' either. IIRC it pops a Cancel, Retry, Continue query, with warning that Continue will necessitate a Windows Restart.

BR

[Terisa de morgan]

Thank you, it has worked for me now. I haven't checked the download folder change because I've updated before, but I'll do the next time. And thank you for the plugin, it simplifies the update.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dunhill

Smart forced shutdown (Windows): The `--shutdown-running-calibre` command has been implemented before launching the installer. This ensures that calibre releases all files and the database, preventing "file in use" errors during the update.

One thing. If after doing the shutdown, are you are then waiting a specific time before starting the install? If so, what what about the varying time it can take to do the config backup with the backup plug-in?

[dunhill]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If calibre is running from a portable install the msi installer won't run 'properly' either. IIRC it pops a Cancel, Retry, Continue query, with warning that Continue will necessitate a Windows Restart.

BR

The plugin clearly states that it is not usable in portable, flatpak, or appimage installations.