Save or Save a Copy?

[EditorOne]

I'm beginning to use the Calibre Editor instead of Sigil, but I can't figure out where the editor saves the book. If I click Save, then go to Calibre to upload the book and test it in various formats, the file in my document folder does not show a recent save. If I click Save a Copy, and navigate to the folder and click on the file I want to replace, I now have the most recent save. That doesn't constitute a lot of extra work, but it is puzzling.

I assume that the editor saves the files in some deep, dark, secret place in my computer that I have yet to find. (it doesn't go to the Calibre Library). Since there are no save options available in preferences, I don't know how to tell the program to save in the folder I would like to specify.

I found some older threads about save issues, but they didn't seem to apply. Any thoughts?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by EditorOne

I'm beginning to use the Calibre Editor instead of Sigil, but I can't figure out where the editor saves the book. If I click Save, then go to Calibre to upload the book and test it in various formats, the file in my document folder does not show a recent save. If I click Save a Copy, and navigate to the folder and click on the file I want to replace, I now have the most recent save. That doesn't constitute a lot of extra work, but it is puzzling.

I assume that the editor saves the files in some deep, dark, secret place in my computer that I have yet to find. (it doesn't go to the Calibre Library). Since there are no save options available in preferences, I don't know how to tell the program to save in the folder I would like to specify.

I found some older threads about save issues, but they didn't seem to apply. Any thoughts?

'Save'
overwrites the original...wherever it was (assumes proper permissions)

'Save a copy'
allows you choice.
So the big Q.
Where did you put it (and what did you name it)

[EditorOne]

It never asked me where to put it. I assumed it would go to the folder from which I opened the original file, using the same file name as the original. But it doesn't. It shows the most recent save as the last time the original file was saved by Sigil.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by EditorOne

It never asked me where to put it. I assumed it would go to the folder from which I opened the original file, using the same file name as the original. But it doesn't. It shows the most recent save as the last time the original file was saved by Sigil.

What OS?

Windows brings up a file dialog when using 'Save a copy'
FWIW a 'Save as' usually allows a file format selection. Save a copy does not convert

[EditorOne]

I'm using Windows 8.1. it's very puzzling. I can manage the problem, but I don't understand why when I save, the file in use does not show the time the file was modified (which I have set to view in my folder). Thanks. I'll keep fiddling with it and if it suddenly is fixed, I'll let you know.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by EditorOne

I'm using Windows 8.1. it's very puzzling. I can manage the problem, but I don't understand why when I save, the file in use does not show the time the file was modified (which I have set to view in my folder). Thanks. I'll keep fiddling with it and if it suddenly is fixed, I'll let you know.

It's Windows
Been using Win since 3.11. (95, 95c, 98, 98se, XPpro, W7HP/Pro)
They fix stuff that ain't broke and break stuff that was not in need of fixing .

Is W8, ME resurrected

[BetterRed]

It works fine in Windows 8 (and 8.1) - like shooting ducks on a pond

@EditorOne, if you started the editor from within a calibre library the book should be saved in the book folder. Press O on the book in the book list and the folder will open. Check its attributes (read only ?) and permissions.

Otherwise check the attributes and permissions of the file you started with. Rumour is, one of the popular torrent clients has started marking finished torrents as read only - maybe you fell down that rabbit hole too.

Save As works as the same as other applications such as Sigil, spreadsheets, text editors, image editors, you have to tell it where to save.

As a final resort you could try bypassing the Windows file dialogues, not sure of it works in Win 8, see CALIBRE_NO_NATIVE_FILEDIALOGS in Customizing calibre — Environment Variables

Added - What file system are you using on 8.1, I came across one the other day with ReFS installed... owner wondered why things didn't work, it was a bespoke system built for gaming <sigh>

No problems on Windows 10 Preview with NTFS

BR

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by EditorOne

I'm using Windows 8.1. it's very puzzling. I can manage the problem, but I don't understand why when I save, the file in use does not show the time the file was modified...

Windows 8.1 File Explorer definitely updates time correctly for the existing file when it is saved, and so overwritten, from Calibre's Editor (version 2.12).

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

Windows 8.1 File Explorer definitely updates time correctly for the existing file when it is saved, and so overwritten, from Calibre's Editor (version 2.12).

True, although sometimes in Win8.1 if File Explorer is open when I save, the FE window doesn't update. If I press F5 while in File Explorer, it updates.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by icallaci

True, although sometimes in Win8.1 if File Explorer is open when I save, the FE window doesn't update. If I press F5 while in File Explorer, it updates.

Windows 8.1 is not alone in this, the refreshing of the File Explorer (Windows Explorer on earlier Windows versions) sometimes not happening after a change unless the window is manually refreshed has been around for many years (can't recall for XP but certainly for Vista, 7 and now 8). {EDIT: I wonder if it was this that theducks was alluding to?}

Given that, my comment in my earlier post was aimed at File Explorer updates being no different after a save from Editor than they are from any other application i.e. the save behaviour of Editor in Windows 8 is normal.

The refresh is not something that worries me so I have not tested or taken much notice of this, but I think that if left long enough the window may refresh itself (always? or sometimes?). That leads me to think that the quirk or "feature" is perhaps related to something in the Windows handling of its write caching buffer and File (Windows) Explorer.

[EditorOne]

Originally Posted by theducks

What OS?

Windows brings up a file dialog when using 'Save a copy'
FWIW a 'Save as' usually allows a file format selection. Save a copy does not convert

In the Calibre editor, there is no "Save as" choice. You either save or save a copy. What do I do if I want to save the current file under a different name? It appears my only choice is to save a copy, then close the current file and open the copy to edit and revise. My purpose is that i need to make some major changes without losing what I have done previously (just in case I really screw it up with the changes). I'm getting different issues with various devices that I'm trying to resolve.

[EditorOne]

Another question, maybe for another thread?
What do the different colors mean in the Calibre CSS?
In general, everything before the colon is green; after the colon I get either green or orange. Does the different color suggest an error? I had thought it was distinguishing between text (green) and numbers (orange) in the definition, but with "color: black;" the word "black" is orange.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by EditorOne

In the Calibre editor, there is no "Save as" choice. You either save or save a copy. What do I do if I want to save the current file under a different name? It appears my only choice is to save a copy, then close the current file and open the copy to edit and revise. My purpose is that i need to make some major changes without losing what I have done previously (just in case I really screw it up with the changes). I'm getting different issues with various devices that I'm trying to resolve.

open, save as "ebook-original.epub", and update the main copy.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by EditorOne

Another question, maybe for another thread?
What do the different colors mean in the Calibre CSS?
In general, everything before the colon is green; after the colon I get either green or orange. Does the different color suggest an error? I had thought it was distinguishing between text (green) and numbers (orange) in the definition, but with "color: black;" the word "black" is orange.

It is common in programming type editors to color code various parts
Keywords
arguments
comments
literals (text)
brackets

in the CSS, some arguments are keywords: page-break-before: always rather than just a mix of values and units (a keyword): font-size: 2em;

Incomplete entries may assume the WRONG color .foo { stuff (no closing }, a missing semicolon ...)
The validator is the true test.

[EditorOne]

Originally Posted by theducks

It is common in programming type editors to color code various parts
Keywords
arguments
comments
literals (text)
brackets

in the CSS, some arguments are keywords: page-break-before: always rather than just a mix of values and units (a keyword): font-size: 2em;

Incomplete entries may assume the WRONG color .foo { stuff (no closing }, a missing semicolon ...)
The validator is the true test.

Thanks. That makes sense, but in my transition from Sigil to Calibre editor, I was used to everything in black.