Import books from excel, csv or similar list?

[unboggling]

@chaley, your explanation was extremely helpful and not at all pedantic. I'd been thinking in too linear a mode. I hope I'm getting it. To restate to make sure I understand:

Abstract Breeder generates itself on the fly when User tells it to fetch a foreign format (which it adopts) or birth a new format. User asks Breeder who asks it's cousin MetadataHandler to associate external or internal bookMetadata with 0 to n format children living in an abstract Book in an abstract Library. Thus generating a new or changing an old bookConcept that doesn't really exist except in mind of User. What really exists is a formatfile with metadata in it or associated with it, a formatfile without metadata, or a metadata set without a formatfile.

Wow. I feel like I just ran uphill 5 miles with a 50 pound pack on my back.

[Debby]

I created a CVS file of my Calibre library (via convertbooks) and would like to make changes to the metadata. Specifically: tags, title name, summary, etc. Can I then reimport that list back into Calibre?

I think this is different from what this post was originally discussing as the books and are all in the database and I want to update my existing library. Or have I misunderstood?

Thank you!

[Manichean]

No, you can't. At least not with Calibre alone. With some additional scripting, it should be possible- use the calibredb command to update the metadata.

[Debby]

Would you mind pointing me to the correct command(s)? There is not a specific command listed for “updating” and I am uncertain which one makes the most sense. Most of my confusion is around what actually updates Metadata. So, in attempt to see if I am understanding…….
If I add a format, doesn’t that also that update the metadata? In the export section there is a --dont-update-metadata
Is --update-metadata a valid command? I suppose that would be too easy

Or do I use set_Metadata and use field names? If I do that do I just add the ones I changed?
--fields title, comments, tags, series_index, series

Another option would be to add --duplicates, -d But, does that update the metadata?

If I understood the first part of the post, I use the correct code in a .bat file (pointing it to the caliber spreadsheet). Since I am only using the existing variable names I do not need to concatenate data. Am I at least heading in the correct direction?

Thanks.....

[Manichean]

Have a look at this if you want to update the metadata inside the Calibre database.