Saving metadata to file?

[aritza]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Whether the files inside the database have the metadata within the file updated or not is inconsequential since every method that exports a book updates the metadata in the process of that export.

I guess it's inconsequential assuming that Calibre is around as long as my book collection is, or as long as I don't find a program that I find more suitable to my needs. In any one of those situations, I would rather have the metadata inside my collection. It's something that I have to think about. I've seen such situations happen. Imagine an MP3 collection where the metadata was not inside the MP3's but in the iTunes or the Media Player database. Who would want that?

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by aritza

Imagine an MP3 collection where the metadata was not inside the MP3's but in the iTunes or the Media Player database. Who would want that?

If you want the metadata updated in your ebook file, convert it to the same format. I prefer to keep my original file untouched, and have metadata updated in the copy of the original when I Send it to my reader or Save it to my disk. I consider that to be safer. If I'm sure that the updated copy on my disk or reader is good, I may overwrite the original, but I don't like having that original touched until I'm certain the update process will go well. Each to their own.

[kovidgoyal]

@aritza: Ebook formats, unlike MP3, are not capable of storing all the needed metadata.

[jacktanner]

Just started using Calibre today. Very neat tool. I have to say though, this not saving ebook metadata to the ebook file itself (and only saving to the database) is really counterintuitive.

I understand that not all metadata can be stored in all ebook formats. That said, it feels weird to have a PDF ebook where the metadata fields are blank or wrong even though the metadata is correct in the Calibre db.

[aritza]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

@aritza: Ebook formats, unlike MP3, are not capable of storing all the needed metadata.

Well here is something I didn't know. That is absolutely amazing to me. It is unbelievable that they would develop electronic book formats and not make room for all the metadata.

I wonder if there is anybody doing anything about this? MP3's originally had limited metadata capabilities but then extensions were made that allow you to even insert lyrics.

I still think it would be good to have a simple way to save metadada to file, like a button in the Edit Metadata window. It would be also be helpful to have Calibre tell me what data was not going to be saved and keep that additional data in the database and, optionally, in a text file.

Thanks again for the information.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by aritza

IIt would be also be helpful to have Calibre tell me what data was not going to be saved and keep that additional data in the database and, optionally, in a text file.

If you see it in Calibre Meta-data window, it is stored in the db.
Calibre does not read the Meta-data from the Bazillion books in your library every time

If you want an export that data, read about using the command line tool: calibredb http://calibre-ebook.com/user_manual/cli/cli-index.html (I believe this allows export of your custom fields also. (note to self: "There is a reason Calibre's manual is kept on-line. It goes out of date, just about every week))