Kobo Libra 2: PDF metadata is incorrect

Phssthpok · 05-06-2026, 11:16 AM

I have just decided to store some PDF books on my Libra 2, but when I upload them from Calibre the metadata is being taken from somewhere else. I've checked the Calibre metadata and it's correct, but I get titles like "Author - Title" by "Unknown author", or 0123456789.pdf by Unknown Author, or the author is called "Doe, John (1885-1923)" (with quotes) instead of John Doe.

Where is it getting this from, and what can I do about it?

Phssthpok · 05-06-2026, 03:02 PM

I have found a PDF metadata editor which seems to do the trick -- except that I can't figure out how to include series info. Any ideas?
(This thread probably belongs elsewhere -- sorry!)

nickpheas · 05-14-2026, 08:21 AM

I think series info is a specific Calibre thing. At least when I'm editing epubs with Sigil it includes the option, but mentions Calibre as the reason why you'd d it. Can you not just put things right in Calibre and then move the works onto your device?

theducks · 05-14-2026, 09:28 AM

Series do not exist :^)

That is the only reason I can think of that the 'standards' groups have not addressed in all the decades the e-documents have been in use.

BetterRed · 05-14-2026, 07:10 PM

For PDFs, the Embed metadata tool will write calibre's non Dublin Core metadata elements (i.e. calibre:series, title_sort, author_sort, timestamp) into a calibre-ebook.com/xmp-namespace, custom columns are stored in there too, in a calibre:custom_column 'list' (bag).

If you open the PDF in a viewer such as Acrobat or PDF xChange and delve into the Document Properties, you'll find them.

BR

DNSB · 05-14-2026, 10:55 PM

For ePub3 ebooks, there is a standard for series though not the simplest (did you really expect anything else for a group effort?).

Code:

<meta property="belongs-to-collection" id="c01">The Lord of the Rings</meta>
<meta refines="#c01" property="collection-type">series</meta>
<meta refines="#c01" property="group-position">2</meta>

For PDF books? You can include series but, the last time I looked, it is in custom metadata and there is no standard which means tools to make use of it are pretty close to non-existent.

05-06-2026, 11:16 AM	#1
Phssthpok Age improves with wine. Posts: 621 Karma: 95229 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: Kindle Oasis, Kobo Libra II	Kobo Libra 2: PDF metadata is incorrect I have just decided to store some PDF books on my Libra 2, but when I upload them from Calibre the metadata is being taken from somewhere else. I've checked the Calibre metadata and it's correct, but I get titles like "Author - Title" by "Unknown author", or 0123456789.pdf by Unknown Author, or the author is called "Doe, John (1885-1923)" (with quotes) instead of John Doe. Where is it getting this from, and what can I do about it?

05-14-2026, 10:55 PM	#6
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 51,958 Karma: 180003020 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For ePub3 ebooks, there is a standard for series though not the simplest (did you really expect anything else for a group effort?). Code: <meta property="belongs-to-collection" id="c01">The Lord of the Rings</meta> <meta refines="#c01" property="collection-type">series</meta> <meta refines="#c01" property="group-position">2</meta> For PDF books? You can include series but, the last time I looked, it is in custom metadata and there is no standard which means tools to make use of it are pretty close to non-existent. Last edited by DNSB; 05-14-2026 at 10:58 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bug - Amazon Metadata series # incorrect	JohnnyBook	Calibre	12	02-17-2026 03:02 PM
opf to pdf formatting incorrect	Mary01	PDF	1	01-06-2017 12:23 PM
Incorrect formatting when i convert PDF to MOBI	watashi420	Conversion	2	09-01-2013 12:01 AM
Incorrect published data in downloaded metadata	ASpence	Library Management	14	09-16-2011 09:45 PM
calibre shows incorrect metadata.	clear	Calibre	2	11-22-2010 06:47 AM

05-06-2026, 03:02 PM	#2
Phssthpok Age improves with wine. Posts: 621 Karma: 95229 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: Kindle Oasis, Kobo Libra II	I have found a PDF metadata editor which seems to do the trick -- except that I can't figure out how to include series info. Any ideas? (This thread probably belongs elsewhere -- sorry!)

05-14-2026, 08:21 AM	#3
nickpheas Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2025 Device: Kindle paperwhite	I think series info is a specific Calibre thing. At least when I'm editing epubs with Sigil it includes the option, but mentions Calibre as the reason why you'd d it. Can you not just put things right in Calibre and then move the works onto your device?

05-14-2026, 09:28 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,780 Karma: 64144480 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Series do not exist :^) That is the only reason I can think of that the 'standards' groups have not addressed in all the decades the e-documents have been in use.

05-14-2026, 07:10 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,681 Karma: 33011292 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	For PDFs, the Embed metadata tool will write calibre's non Dublin Core metadata elements (i.e. calibre:series, title_sort, author_sort, timestamp) into a calibre-ebook.com/xmp-namespace, custom columns are stored in there too, in a calibre:custom_column 'list' (bag). If you open the PDF in a viewer such as Acrobat or PDF xChange and delve into the Document Properties, you'll find them. BR