Why does changing ISBN for one format change all?

[peterdanckwerts]

I've just converted an ePub to mobi. When I try to change the ISBN for the mobi file, Calibre changes the ISBN for the ePub as well. This isn't actually a problem as I still have the original ePub, but surely Calibre shouldn't do it. The ISBN should be different for each format, just as a hardback book has a different one from a paperback.

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by peterdanckwerts

I've just converted an ePub to mobi. When I try to change the ISBN for the mobi file, Calibre changes the ISBN for the ePub as well. This isn't actually a problem as I still have the original ePub, but surely Calibre shouldn't do it. The ISBN should be different for each format, just as a hardback book has a different one from a paperback.

Calibre has "books" and "formats" for that book. Each book can have a single ISBN, but multiple formats. If you want different ISBNs for your different formats, you'll have to create separate records and treat each format as a distinct book.

[peterdanckwerts]

All I'm saying is that Calibre doesn't default to good practice. It shouldn't encourage users to apply the same ISBN to different formats.

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by peterdanckwerts

All I'm saying is that Calibre doesn't default to good practice. It shouldn't encourage users to apply the same ISBN to different formats.

I'd say the publishing industry doesn't default to good practice. It shouldn't be requiring the assignation of ISBNs to ebooks, and certainly not different ones to the same edition in different formats. This is the information age, one of the wonderful features of the information age is that information is easily manipulated by everybody, including individuals. That means that individuals can and will manipulate books: customize them, convert them to the format they like the best and generally, do whatever they like with them. As such an identifier system tied to specific formats is anachronistic, at best.

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by peterdanckwerts

All I'm saying is that Calibre doesn't default to good practice. It shouldn't encourage users to apply the same ISBN to different formats.

AFAICT, calibre is neutral on this. When you add a different format you've purchased, you can tell calibre to create a new record or add it to the existing record. Calibre doesn't care. The former is what you want, the latter is what I do. Adding books with a publisher-obtained ISBN is where the concept of ISBN has meaning, if it has any at all for ebooks.

As far as creating new formats by conversion - there is no applicable ISBN that's any better than the ISBN for the source format, so the new format should have the same ISBN as the source.

[paulfiera]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That means that individuals can and will manipulate books: customize them, convert them to the format they like the best and generally, do whatever they like with them. As such an identifier system tied to specific formats is anachronistic, at best.

Amen !