Updating database on Kobo Forma

[maddz]

Ah, it's a metadata plugboard issue: {#lead}/{series}/{series}-{series_index:>2s} {#subseries} {#subseries_index:>2s}:{title} - {authors}

I think this must be a hangover from when I was using the Icarus. I'll try deleting it.

Edited to add:

Finally got things how I want them. Deleting the old metadata plugboard lost the prefix, using the device menu to update metadata, then Kobo Utilities but unchecking the series and index option has produced what I want displayed in My Books.

Phew! Now for factory resets on Forma #1 & #3 (#2 is still at the repair shop and I will be lucky to collect it next month) and re-transferring my library, this time splitting between SFF and non-SFF. I've also got to decide whether I want to split my SFF library into smaller batches or keep #2 as a back-up device.

[WhatCheer]

Originally Posted by DNSB

If you try to move the books, your Kobo's database will not know they have been moved. The last time I did this for a friend, we backed up the reading status/etc., deleted the books on the device from calibre and then resent them. It took a while for the books to be sent in blocks and then re-imported but it was worth the time. Their first pass moving the directories directly caused issues where books were duplicated in the database.

Thank you, that's very helpful to know! Also darn, it sounds like A Project and possible more than I feel comfortable attempting at least at the moment. I do have backups with Kobo Utilities, but I'm not sure how it would work to back up reading statuses, etc. and then apply just those elements after reimporting everything, as opposed to just restoring completely from a backup, which I assumed I'd do one day when my little old Clara finally gives up on me. I suppose until I do decide to take this on as a larger project, it wouldn't do any harm to keep the new template as is and continue sending new titles to the subfolder so that at least I'm not continuing to exacerbate the problem of clogging up the root directory, or is that a terrible idea?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

Definitely something weird with my set up:

I'm still running Calibre 7.26, and have Kobo Utilities 3.7.2 (downgraded from the latest version)

Both KoboTouch drivers are configured identically:
File Formats tab the Save template = Ebooks/{title} - {authors} {series}{series_index:| - | - }
Collections tab has #myshelves for the collections column, and Create collections and Delete empty collections ticked, as well as Upload covers and Do not treat replacements as new books. Other fields are unchecked or blank.
Metadata tab has Update metadata on device checked, along with Set series information, Update metadata on book details pages and Subtitle with the value {#subseries:|| {#subseries_index} - } {#myshelves} {#hugonominees:|| - {#hugonominees}}. Again, nothing else is ticked or filled in.

I send books to the device, disconnect, allow them to import, then reconnect. Then in the Device menu I click update cached metadata on device. Disconnect.

What I see is books with no series set are prefixed by //- : followed by title - Author, books with series have title - author, series, series index, and if there is a subseries, I see that and the index in the subtitle field. Then the author appears again in the last field.

If I reconnect, and use Kobo Utilities to update metadata, I get
Title
Subtitle template information which will always include the collections prefixed by subseries & subseries index if any
Series (if any) BUT NO SERIES INDEX
Author

How can I see the series index when updating metadata using Kobo Utilities? I always used to before I upgraded the plug-in earlier in the month.

Upgrade to 9.17.0 if you can and then see how things work.

[maddz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Upgrade to 9.17.0 if you can and then see how things work.

Got it working properly by deleting an old metadata plugboard I used to use years ago.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

Got it working properly by deleting an old metadata plugboard I used to use years ago.

You should still update. to the latest version.

[maddz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You should still update. to the latest version.

Probably.

But I have calibre installations on the Mac Mini, the Mac Book Pro, the new iMac, and the old iMac (which won't be upgradeable as it's 32 bit not 64 bit). The new iMac has 2 installations - mine and Paul's on different accounts. We need to merge those 2 installations before we upgrade, and Paul needs to clean up his metadata (mine is clean). He also doesn't split omnibi as I do...

So it ain't going to happen anytime soon. I suspect it will be a retirement job for me in about 18 months.

[JSWolf]

The solution i(IMHO) is to stop using calibre on the old iMac. Then you can upgrade to the current version. You don't have to wait for a library cleanup to upgrade.

[theducks]

The built in Copy to Library tool will deal with older to newer versions of Calibre.
OTOH I would never try going down-rev as some newer feature support / data could be discarded.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by theducks

The built in Copy to Library tool will deal with older to newer versions of Calibre.
OTOH I would never try going down-rev as some newer feature support / data could be discarded.

Why would you need to copy to a new library just to update calibre? Just backup the old library before the upgrade.

[maddz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The solution i(IMHO) is to stop using calibre on the old Mac Mini. Then you can upgrade to the current version. You don't have to wait for a library cleanup to upgrade.

The newest machine is the Mac Mini - it's a M4 purchased earlier this year. The new iMac is about 7 years old and won't take the next Mac OS (it's an Intel machine). That's the machine where we each have an account and both our calibre installations are in Shared. The Mini only has my account. Paul is planning to replace the new iMac with a Mini, probably next year. Then the new iMac will be retired, and probably the MacBook Pro (I only use it for iTunes and I can always use the old iMac version).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

The newest machine is the Mac Mini - it's a M4 purchased earlier this year. The new iMac is about 7 years old and won't take the next Mac OS (it's an Intel machine). That's the machine where we each have an account and both our calibre installations are in Shared. The Mini only has my account. Paul is planning to replace the new iMac with a Mini, probably next year. Then the new iMac will be retired, and probably the MacBook Pro (I only use it for iTunes and I can always use the old iMac version).

The iMac needs to be no longer part of this scenario. It's the weak link. Share the Mac Mini instead. Then you can run the latest calibre.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why would you need to copy to a new library just to update calibre? Just backup the old library before the upgrade.

I thought he wanted to merge an 32 bit Calibre Library with a newer 64 bit Library???

[maddz]

What I want to end up with is a single (shared) installation on a single modern machine with proper back-ups.

So I need to ensure everything is consolidated in calibre on the new iMac and then I can delete my old calibre libraries. But it takes time which I don't really have; I have old calibre libraries scattered all over the place; I have multiple copies in the cloud as well.

Basically, we've only shared a machine since he purchased the new iMac and copied his installation onto it and my installation from the old iMac, which is why we each have a calibre instance on the shared drive.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by maddz

What I want to end up with is a single (shared) installation on a single modern machine with proper back-ups.

So I need to ensure everything is consolidated in calibre on the new iMac and then I can delete my old calibre libraries. But it takes time which I don't really have; I have old calibre libraries scattered all over the place; I have multiple copies in the cloud as well.

Basically, we've only shared a machine since he purchased the new iMac and copied his installation onto it and my installation from the old iMac, which is why we each have a calibre instance on the shared drive.

Then Copy to Library works and brings all the metadata Calibre knows
about.

Note this IS a Calibee tool, NOT the normal ADD.
Also note, If there is already a Target entry. The settings in Preferences: Adding Books: Adding actions (a tab) prevail. THIS IS A setting on the target, but I would set both JIC
This works over a wired local network as long as you PUSH to the target.
A mounted hard drive is still the best. Just switch to the mounted source Library and CTL to the target.

[maddz]

Originally Posted by theducks

Then Copy to Library works and brings all the metadata Calibre knows
about.

Note this IS a Calibee tool, NOT the normal ADD.
Also note, If there is already a Target entry. The settings in Preferences: Adding Books: Adding actions (a tab) prevail. THIS IS A setting on the target, but I would set both JIC
This works over a wired local network as long as you PUSH to the target.
A mounted hard drive is still the best. Just switch to the mounted source Library and CTL to the target.

How does it work with duplicates bearing in mind that it's quite likely they'll have different IDs?