[Possible Bug] Unchanged Modification Date after Sigil edit

recook · 02-27-2021, 05:17 AM

Hi,

newest Calibre 5.12, Sigil 1.2.1:

After editing an EPUB with Sigil, saving and quitting, the Book modification date in Calibre stays unchanged.
--
regards,
-- recook

theducks · 02-27-2021, 06:16 AM

Modified is a Calibre action (because Calibre knows when it does a change)
OTOH , you just used Sigil. Calibre has no idea if you viewed, edited or aborted a session.

KevinH · 02-27-2021, 09:04 AM

But for epub3 couldn't calibre just use the official metadata dcterms:modified metadata item since it includes date and time down to the second as to when the file was last modified. That is part of the epub3 spec to update/change that anytime the edited epub3 is written.
Epub2 does not typically include the exact time in its modification date, so it probably can only be used if later than whatever value calibre sets now.

capink · 02-27-2021, 10:00 AM

Still not possible. Calibre does not have a way to know that the metadata in the epub3 file has actually been changed, when the modification happens by another program outside of calibre's control. Maybe a plugin that can communicate with both programs, if someone is interested in writing it.

kovidgoyal · 02-27-2021, 10:55 AM

The modified date in calibre refers to when any metadata associated with the book is changed, it *does not* know anything about changes to individual files in the book record.

KevinH · 02-27-2021, 11:44 AM

Oh, that makes sense. And calibre would show the dc:terms modified value in its metadata as well so the user gets both.

recook · 02-27-2021, 03:02 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The modified date in calibre refers to when any metadata associated with the book is changed, it *does not* know anything about changes to individual files in the book record.

But it could know because i start Sigil through the Pligin "Open With" and subsequently watch the file date, no?
--
regards,
-- recook

BetterRed · 02-27-2021, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recook

But it could know because i start Sigil through the Pligin "Open With" and subsequently watch the file date, no?

Calibre's last_modified/Modified column refers to the date/time the metadata, as represented in the library database, was last changed.

When you edit a format file (epub or azw3) with the calibre editor, the last_modified/Modified column in the book's library metadata is not changed.

The formats_modtimes(date_format) template function could be used to populate a custom column with file system Date modified values, but it would probably carry a performance penalty. See The calibre template language

BR

recook · 03-03-2021, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The modified date in calibre refers to when any metadata associated with the book is changed, it *does not* know anything about changes to individual files in the book record.

The quickest workaround i found is to make a trivial edit to a metadata field, like: focus title, F2, Enter. Presto, modification date changed.

Sorry i didn't have enough motivation yet to learn the template language (and Python). Is there some "Quick start" article i have overlooked?
--
regards,
-- recook

02-27-2021, 05:17 AM	#1
recook Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2018 Device: kobo Nia	[Possible Bug] Unchanged Modification Date after Sigil edit Hi, newest Calibre 5.12, Sigil 1.2.1: After editing an EPUB with Sigil, saving and quitting, the Book modification date in Calibre stays unchanged. -- regards, -- recook

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02-27-2021, 06:16 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,779 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Modified is a Calibre action (because Calibre knows when it does a change) OTOH , you just used Sigil. Calibre has no idea if you viewed, edited or aborted a session.

02-27-2021, 09:04 AM	#3
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 7,633 Karma: 5433388 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	But for epub3 couldn't calibre just use the official metadata dcterms:modified metadata item since it includes date and time down to the second as to when the file was last modified. That is part of the epub3 spec to update/change that anytime the edited epub3 is written. Epub2 does not typically include the exact time in its modification date, so it probably can only be used if later than whatever value calibre sets now.

02-27-2021, 10:00 AM	#4
capink Wizard Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1948136 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kindle	Still not possible. Calibre does not have a way to know that the metadata in the epub3 file has actually been changed, when the modification happens by another program outside of calibre's control. Maybe a plugin that can communicate with both programs, if someone is interested in writing it.

02-27-2021, 10:55 AM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,843 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The modified date in calibre refers to when any metadata associated with the book is changed, it does not know anything about changes to individual files in the book record.

02-27-2021, 11:44 AM	#6
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 7,633 Karma: 5433388 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Oh, that makes sense. And calibre would show the dc:terms modified value in its metadata as well so the user gets both.