Merging different versions of *same format*

SteveG23 · 06-25-2026, 05:22 PM

I suspect this just can't be done in Calibre -
I sometimes have more than one .epub verion of the same book - e.g., one with illustrations and one without, one that is more complete but another with a better table of contents, better proofread, etc. I'd like to be able to merge the .epub versions into one record without deleting one of them, but can't find a way. This would especially be useful if one of them is several MB in size and the other slimmed down, and I want only the smaller one on a particular device where space is an issue. Renaming one of them doesn't do it. Saving one of them in .epub only, and the other in (say) .mobi only, would be a clumsy workaround. Keeping them as separate records isn't horrible, but makes it harder to tell if I have accidentally kept actual duplicates. Am I overlooking an option?

Karellen · 06-25-2026, 05:37 PM

Save them in the Data folder for that library record.

SteveG23 · 07-03-2026, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

Save them in the Data folder for that library record.

You mean to relocate them separately, by File Explorer or the like? Other than that, I know of no way to "save them" in an already existing folder. I can certainly do that, but then they don't show up in the Library listing - they become essentially invisible.

Comfy.n · 07-03-2026, 12:37 PM

See this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=358636

How to Use and Manage Data Files
Instead of manually digging through your computer's file system, Calibre provides a dedicated tool to manage this folder directly.

Select the book in your Calibre library.
Click the Edit metadata button's drop-down arrow and choose Manage data files.
In the pop-up window, you can view, add, or delete associated files (e.g., PNG, Word docs).

BetterRed · 07-03-2026, 07:31 PM

You can Merge by drag-n-drop, i.e. drag Book A on to Book B, you can also turn it off:

Click image for larger version

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BR

06-25-2026, 05:22 PM	#1
SteveG23 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPaq - MS Reader	Merging different versions of same format I suspect this just can't be done in Calibre - I sometimes have more than one .epub verion of the same book - e.g., one with illustrations and one without, one that is more complete but another with a better table of contents, better proofread, etc. I'd like to be able to merge the .epub versions into one record without deleting one of them, but can't find a way. This would especially be useful if one of them is several MB in size and the other slimmed down, and I want only the smaller one on a particular device where space is an issue. Renaming one of them doesn't do it. Saving one of them in .epub only, and the other in (say) .mobi only, would be a clumsy workaround. Keeping them as separate records isn't horrible, but makes it harder to tell if I have accidentally kept actual duplicates. Am I overlooking an option?

07-03-2026, 07:31 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,728 Karma: 34252730 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	You can Merge by drag-n-drop, i.e. drag Book A on to Book B, you can also turn it off: BR

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06-25-2026, 05:37 PM	#2
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,864 Karma: 9600930 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Save them in the Data folder for that library record.

07-03-2026, 12:37 PM	#4
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 2,318 Karma: 7990245 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: Libra Colour	See this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=358636 How to Use and Manage Data Files Instead of manually digging through your computer's file system, Calibre provides a dedicated tool to manage this folder directly. Select the book in your Calibre library. Click the Edit metadata button's drop-down arrow and choose Manage data files. In the pop-up window, you can view, add, or delete associated files (e.g., PNG, Word docs).