Adding / Updating New Editions

[PJGarner]

Hi there!

So, I have a number of books that I want to replace with newer, edited versions. When I add them using the "Add books" function, it creates new entries in the library with the metadata from the epub file. The older files have had their entries edited with various custom tags, descriptions, etc.
Is there a way to copy the old files metadata onto the new one and then delete the old one, or do I need to do this manually?

I'm using 9.12 on a Windows 11 PC and haven't made any changes to how Calibre organizes the Library from installation except for it's location.

Thanks, PJG

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by PJGarner

Hi there!

So, I have a number of books that I want to replace with newer, edited versions. When I add them using the "Add books" function, it creates new entries in the library with the metadata from the epub file. The older files have had their entries edited with various custom tags, descriptions, etc.
Is there a way to copy the old files metadata onto the new one and then delete the old one, or do I need to do this manually?

I'm using 9.12 on a Windows 11 PC and haven't made any changes to how Calibre organizes the Library from installation except for it's location.

Thanks, PJG

Select the book you want to replace. Press the E key to bring up the metadata editor window. In the upper right order, select and delete the eBook that's there. Then drag/drop the new version you want in the save place in the upper right. If you've a different cover, once you've put the book you want in place of the one that was there, just select the book and click the blue button next to the format and that will copy the cover.

[BetterRed]

In your file manager:

copy the revised format file (EPUB, PDF, AZW . . . whatever) to the clipboard (Ctrl+C),

in calibre

select the book where you want to put the revised format file,
select Add books->Add files to selected book records from clipboard (I have given it a shortcut Alt+Shift+V)
something like this will pop

Then sort out any issues regarding the cover

BR

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

In your file manager:

copy the revised format file (EPUB, PDF, AZW . . . whatever) to the clipboard (Ctrl+C),

in calibre

select the book where you want to put the revised format file,
select Add books->Add files to selected book records from clipboard (I have given it a shortcut Alt+Shift+V)
something like this will pop

Attachment 224970

Then sort out any issues regarding the cover

BR

Doing it the correct way keeps you out of the library and it should allow the filesize to be correct.

[BetterRed]

There is no 'correct' way, and can you provide evidence that 'my way' does not adjust the size.

BR

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

There is no 'correct' way, and can you provide evidence that 'my way' does not adjust the size.

BR

I copied a 0.5MB eBook over a 3.1MB eBook and restarted calibre and the listing still shows as 3.1MB. Doing it the way I described, thee listing now shows as 0.5MB correctly. This is why making changes to the library outside of the GUI is not a good idea. The database won't know about any changes you've made.

[DNSB]

Personally, I just drop the replacement book in the same format on the cover image in the details view. No need to delete the old copy.

You can use the Quality Check plugin to correct erroneous book sizes.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I copied a 0.5MB eBook over a 3.1MB eBook and restarted calibre and the listing still shows as 3.1MB. Doing it the way I described, thee listing now shows as 0.5MB correctly. This is why making changes to the library outside of the GUI is not a good idea. The database won't know about any changes you've made.

Rubbish, there is no intrinsic difference between drag-dropping a format file from somewhere into the MDE formats box, and copying the file into the clipboard and then pasting that into the book using the relevant calibre Add Books action:



And I don't have to restart calibre to see the new size, it changes in front of my eyes.

BR