Something's modifying my files and I can't work out what

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Siavahda

That only links to a single comment/reply, not the whole thread, so I don't know what was happening there?

On top right of the post I linked to, there's a link to the original thread.

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Do you know what kind of occasions causes Calibre to make an auto backup like that?

Good question. Kovid said this a couple of times in this forum, but I can't remember, and the last time I searched I couldn't find it.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Siavahda

I love the idea of this, and I have installed it, but I haven't yet found any Instructions for the Tech Illiterate, so I'm going to be a while messing with it. (If anyone knows of any instructions like that, please link me!)

Just create a date column, using the format you prefer. I use dd-MM-yyyy hh:mm.

Then add a new row (plus sign), and select such column by double clicking the first row field; then the Settings field on the right side of the first row field will be enabled and you can open the Events Setting.

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by Siavahda

No. I genuinely haven't touched them, except to send (some of them) to my kobo, using the send to device function.

Do you have a copy of an ebook before the change? Maybe in a backup location?
If yes, get both books and do a compare on them and see what changed.
Calibre can do the compare.

If you don't, then seriously consider a backup routine.

[maddz]

At one point I had Kobo Utilities set to automatically create a back-up of the device database on connection, and I found that was resetting the last modified date for all my books, not just the newly added ones. That got unchecked pretty quickly once I sussed what was going on.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

At one point I had Kobo Utilities set to automatically create a back-up of the device database on connection, and I found that was resetting the last modified date for all my books, not just the newly added ones. That got unchecked pretty quickly once I sussed what was going on.

Well, try the database backup again. Firmware has been upgraded and Kobo Utilities has been upgraded. See if it still causes the problem (I don't see this problem).

[theducks]

Originally Posted by maddz

At one point I had Kobo Utilities set to automatically create a back-up of the device database on connection, and I found that was resetting the last modified date for all my books, not just the newly added ones. That got unchecked pretty quickly once I sussed what was going on.

The backed up (kobo) database has nothing to do with the Library. It is a zip that gets placed in a designated folder (I have 2 Kobos, 2 folders)
I still believe it is reading status or notes that is touching the Calibre DB (modified)

[Siavahda]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

Just create a date column, using the format you prefer. I use dd-MM-yyyy hh:mm.

Then add a new row (plus sign), and select such column by double clicking the first row field; then the Settings field on the right side of the first row field will be enabled and you can open the Events Setting.

Thank you, I tentatively think I have it working now!

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Thank you, I tentatively think I have it working now!

glad you managed to implement it

[Siavahda]

All right, I have the Last Modified plugin/new date modified column set to count

Book Metadata Changed
Book Format Added
Book Cover Modified
Book Modified By Calibre Editor
Book Created

Today a handful of books jumped to the top of the modified column despite me not touching them in any way. So I'm assuming whatever it is doing this, edited one or more of those metrics in the affected books.

(There was a good suggestion up-thread to compare to my backups, but I don't have backups for my Calibre library, only my e-devices. I will have to rectify that in future.)

What could be editing any of those metrics?

I looked through user-added plugins to see what's there. The only ones that are new (in the last week or so, since getting my kobo) are Kindle hi-res covers, Kobo Metadata, Resize Cover, and Last Modified. Could any of those be doing it?

I *think* there are some newly-activated plugins that I did not have to install, that were in Calibre already, but I don't know a way to see only those.

Of the 7 books affected, I am POSITIVE that one did not have any tags, but now it does. I can't swear that the other six had zero tags - I don't remember either way - but now I'm thinking it's Kobo Metadata, importing tags (and maybe other things?) to the affected files. Is that something that plugin can do on its own?

[Sirtel]

No, certainly not. I keep only custom tags and all my metadata is heavily edited, so I'd notice any unwanted changes immediately. Nothing ever changes the metadata on its own, without my input.

Then again, I only ever edit metadata manually, I never download it. Did you download metadata for any book recently?

[Siavahda]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

No, certainly not. I keep only custom tags and all my metadata is heavily edited, so I'd notice any unwanted changes immediately. Nothing ever changes the metadata on its own, without my input.

Then again, I only ever edit metadata manually, I never download it. Did you download metadata for any book recently?

Yes, for quite a few books. Not the 7 affected today, though.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Yes, for quite a few books. Not the 7 affected today, though.

Well, the next time you do it, see if anything changed for any other books after downloading metadata. That's the only thing I can think of at the moment.

The modified date changes all the time for me too, I just ignore it, as it can't be relied on in any significant way. For me it's more important to keep track of file changes (by using the editor), so my Last Modified plugin is customized to show only editor changes.

[Comfy.n]

@Siavahda I suggest you install Calibre Config Reports, it might help you find something.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=369555

History tab logs some stuff. There is also Audit Log plugin but it might be outdated.

Also, go to the Help tab and hit the Metadata backup button from time to time.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Yes, for quite a few books. Not the 7 affected today, though.

A case change caused by a recent download on any metadata that is common to those books.

This is a relational database. so a number of fields have a controlling table and individual book entries link to that (index).
Authors
Publishers
Tags
Series (the name)

a download may 'update' the tag case to science even if you had Science. These are not case sensitive, so it gets updated rather than a new entry
The others are case sensitive so you won't trigger a change to that entry. so

Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A Heinlein
Robert Heinlein

are treated as 3 entries, not a change to all 3 if a new version is added.