Tracking original / source format?

threejosh · 01-26-2011, 02:51 PM

Hi all,

I haven't been able to find any way to deal with this - but I'm hoping for some expert opinions about if there's already some solution before I submit a feature request.

Basically for various reasons I _really_ like to keep track of which files are 'original' and which are converted from another format.

If there's no way to keep track of this, I'd be just as happy if I could get calibre to automatically delete (or not store) 'auto-conversions' done when loading titles onto a device from a incompatible source format.

For example - if I have a mobi file that I purchased and I load it onto my nook (which supports only epub), calibre will create an epub and transfer that over. Now the book entry will show that I have mobi and epub versions - but I don't see any way to know that the mobi is an original and the epub is a conversion. Or alternately to get caliber to simply not save the conversion in the main directory structure. Ideas?

Thanks!
-josh

Starson17 · 01-26-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threejosh

I _really_ like to keep track of which files are 'original' and which are converted from another format.... Ideas?

1) Tag the original as such and keep two book entries - originals and conversions (you can duplicate any book record by merging into an empty record with Merge-Keep Others), or
2) Put your original format into a .rar file along with another file, like This_is_the_original.txt and add the rar to the record, or
3) Add to the comment field "The original source file is ....", or
4) Copy the original and add an extension to it .original so you have your book.mobi and book.mobi.original as a marker, or
5)Add a tag: original_is_mobi for mobi originals, and original_is_epub for epub originals, etc. or ...

theducks · 01-26-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threejosh

Hi all,

I haven't been able to find any way to deal with this - but I'm hoping for some expert opinions about if there's already some solution before I submit a feature request.

Basically for various reasons I _really_ like to keep track of which files are 'original' and which are converted from another format.

If there's no way to keep track of this, I'd be just as happy if I could get calibre to automatically delete (or not store) 'auto-conversions' done when loading titles onto a device from a incompatible source format.

For example - if I have a mobi file that I purchased and I load it onto my nook (which supports only epub), calibre will create an epub and transfer that over. Now the book entry will show that I have mobi and epub versions - but I don't see any way to know that the mobi is an original and the epub is a conversion. Or alternately to get caliber to simply not save the conversion in the main directory structure. Ideas?

Thanks!
-josh

You might create a custom (see image) column "Master", Note it only allows a single format to be set.

Starson17 · 01-26-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

You might create a custom (see image) column "Master", Note it only allows a single format to be set.

I like that even better than my options. There's more than one way to paint an ocelot.

theducks · 01-26-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starson17

I like that even better than my options. There's more than one way to paint an ocelot.

Always use a very long handled brush

threejosh · 01-26-2011, 11:40 PM

Thanks for all the replies so far!

Unfortunately I've tried most of the suggestions and they haven't really worked for me.

I've tried to use tags / fields to keep track of of what files I've imported/added directly and what is an output of a conversion. I came to the conclusion that it would be a lot easier for the software to keep track of if there isn't already some other solution

I'm playing with the idea of just having multiple full copies of my main library. One with only source formats, and a full duplicate used to actually load stuff onto my eReaders. This would probably be the least amount of work if there isn't some more automated solution, though it's far from a perfect solution I think.. *shrug*

itimpi · 01-27-2011, 03:31 AM

There has been discussion of Calibre being enhanced to have the idea of an 'archive' or 'master' format of a book that would be stored like any other format is at the moment. This would contain a format of a book that would never be over-written during conversion, so it could fulfil the role you are looking for.

However, as far as I know, this has not yet moved beyond the concept stage. I think that this is because although the concept is simple it touches on lots of areas of the Calibre code so the implementation would be a non-trivial task.

Perkin · 01-27-2011, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starson17

I like that even better than my options. There's more than one way to paint an ocelot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Always use a very long handled brush

Or use waterproof paint and scuba gear

(There's a submarine anchored near where I live called HMS Ocelot)

theducks · 01-27-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perkin

Or use waterproof paint and scuba gear

(There's a submarine anchored near where I live called HMS Ocelot)

I will never understand HM Navy (ex-USN here), naming a water vessel after a LAND animal and a Cat to boot

Starson17 · 01-28-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itimpi

There has been discussion of Calibre being enhanced to have the idea of an 'archive' or 'master' format of a book that would be stored like any other format is at the moment. This would contain a format of a book that would never be over-written during conversion, so it could fulfil the role you are looking for.

There's also been discussion of adding an option (sort of like the new book tagging option) that would write the original path and filename during import into the comments section. It wouldn't do anything other than tell you what format was used to first create a book record and where that format was found.

texasnightowl · 01-28-2011, 08:47 PM

I use custom columns. I have a custom column for "Original Format" which I populate with mobi or epub or whatever. And then I have a custom column for "Source" which I populate with Amazon or B&N or Kobo or whatever. Works for me. However, I do also keep a copy of my original purchase, DRM and all, in a separate folder. I have a "ebooks" folder where I download all my ebook purchases into. Then I import them into Calibre and then move the original downloads into a different folder like "ebooks - Amazon".

01-26-2011, 02:51 PM	#1
threejosh Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Nook, Kindle PW2, Kindle Fire 10	Tracking original / source format? Hi all, I haven't been able to find any way to deal with this - but I'm hoping for some expert opinions about if there's already some solution before I submit a feature request. Basically for various reasons I _really_ like to keep track of which files are 'original' and which are converted from another format. If there's no way to keep track of this, I'd be just as happy if I could get calibre to automatically delete (or not store) 'auto-conversions' done when loading titles onto a device from a incompatible source format. For example - if I have a mobi file that I purchased and I load it onto my nook (which supports only epub), calibre will create an epub and transfer that over. Now the book entry will show that I have mobi and epub versions - but I don't see any way to know that the mobi is an original and the epub is a conversion. Or alternately to get caliber to simply not save the conversion in the main directory structure. Ideas? Thanks! -josh

01-27-2011, 03:31 AM	#7
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	There has been discussion of Calibre being enhanced to have the idea of an 'archive' or 'master' format of a book that would be stored like any other format is at the moment. This would contain a format of a book that would never be over-written during conversion, so it could fulfil the role you are looking for. However, as far as I know, this has not yet moved beyond the concept stage. I think that this is because although the concept is simple it touches on lots of areas of the Calibre code so the implementation would be a non-trivial task. Last edited by itimpi; 01-27-2011 at 04:29 AM.

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01-26-2011, 11:40 PM	#6
threejosh Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Nook, Kindle PW2, Kindle Fire 10	Thanks for all the replies so far! Unfortunately I've tried most of the suggestions and they haven't really worked for me. I've tried to use tags / fields to keep track of of what files I've imported/added directly and what is an output of a conversion. I came to the conclusion that it would be a lot easier for the software to keep track of if there isn't already some other solution I'm playing with the idea of just having multiple full copies of my main library. One with only source formats, and a full duplicate used to actually load stuff onto my eReaders. This would probably be the least amount of work if there isn't some more automated solution, though it's far from a perfect solution I think.. shrug

01-28-2011, 08:47 PM	#11
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 699 Karma: 1001556 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	I use custom columns. I have a custom column for "Original Format" which I populate with mobi or epub or whatever. And then I have a custom column for "Source" which I populate with Amazon or B&N or Kobo or whatever. Works for me. However, I do also keep a copy of my original purchase, DRM and all, in a separate folder. I have a "ebooks" folder where I download all my ebook purchases into. Then I import them into Calibre and then move the original downloads into a different folder like "ebooks - Amazon".

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