Calibre Kobo Utilities - Wishlist!!

[Stevex]

I don't think there's any easy way to do this at the moment?
So one for the wislist, I may well find I'm alone of course!
My request: version checking of books in calibre library/ies against versions on device. I quite often update my 'central copy' and forget to update the device copy. I think any check would have to be on file size only because md hash or whatever would take forever, but for 99.99% this would be fine.
Just a thought, if I am alone on this one, the story of my life ;-)

[JSWolf]

There is anther way to do this that already works. Have a look at the Reading List plugin. You can configure it so that you can add books to a list that can be automatically added to your Reader when you connect it to Calibre. So after you update, you can add to the list and not have to remember to replace.

[davidfor]

@Stevex: Jon described what I do.

Plus, there isn't any practical check that can think of. The file size of the book in the calibre library is usually different to the size after it is sent to the device as the metadata and the cover will be updated. And if you use the option of the driver to add CSS, or the extended driver, it gets less likely still.

[PeterT]

Maybe something as simple as comparing the date the book was added to the Kobo to the last modified date on the PC? Yes I realize there might be some false results..

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Stevex]

You are right.
The only way would be inside Calibre, if the editor wrote a version stamp in the epub.
In the longer run, it would maybe make sense if the Calibre library management itself became abit more Sharepoint-y
But ok no quick fix.
The list thing is interesting but for two reasons doesnt work for me onthis. Interesting to know it's there though.
Thank you!
Steve
Ps Peter I've just seen your message. Hmmm i had initially ruled that out, but the more I think on it, the more I think you might have a point!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Stevex

The list thing is interesting but for two reasons doesnt work for me onthis. Interesting to know it's there though.
Thank you!
Steve

Why doesn't the Reading List plugin work for you? It would do exactly what you want. Once configured, you edit the book, save the book, add to the list and next time you plugin your Reader, the book is sent to the Reader for update. Problem solved. There's no reason that I can think of that this won't work.

[Stevex]

2 reasons, i want going to go into detail but:
(1) the whole maintaining the list-for-each-device thing
(2) sometimes I want to keep the device version separate

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Stevex

2 reasons, i want going to go into detail but:
(1) the whole maintaining the list-for-each-device thing
(2) sometimes I want to keep the device version separate

1. That's just configuring multiple lusts for multiple devices. Once done, managing the lists is trivial.

2. If you mean you also want to keep the version that's on your Reader then when you know the book you want to edit, copy it to a different Calibre library before you edit. Then edit and replace. if I have it wrong, please explain.

[Stevex]

Hi Jon
Everything is possible as you say, but the reality is, if it's not quick and mindless, I dont do it. Especially constantly maintaining reading lists of thousands of items.
All I wanted was an amber light on a version check, to warn me I must think about this, not always my strong point...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Stevex

Hi Jon
Everything is possible as you say, but the reality is, if it's not quick and mindless, I dont do it. Especially constantly maintaining reading lists of thousands of items.
All I wanted was an amber light on a version check, to warn me I must think about this, not always my strong point...

It is quick and mindless. You don't have to think about it. You just have to do it.

As for maintaining thousands of items, you don't have to do that. Once properly configured, you just select the books you want and put them in the list you want. Then once you connect the Reader associated with that list, the books get put on your Reader and then removed from the list. It's all automatic except your adding what books you want on your Reader to the appropriate list.

The process goes like this...you edit a book and then put it on the list for your Kobo. You edit another book and then put it on the list for your Kobo. You edit a third book and put it on the list for your Kobo. You can view the list any time you want before the books are added to your Kobo. You connect your Kobo to the computer and your Calibre library. The books then get sent to your Kobo and removed from the list. It's all all neatly automated and you won't have lists with thousands of items. In fact, after you connect your Kobo, that list will be empty.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Maybe something as simple as comparing the date the book was added to the Kobo to the last modified date on the PC? Yes I realize there might be some false results..

Yes, that would work. But, all you really need to do is sort by the modified date in the calibre library and send anything that has been modified since the last time you synced to that device. That will include books where the metadata has changed but the book contents haven't, but it is a good starting point.

The problem I have with doing anything like this is that the Reading List solution works so well. A list for each device. When I add or change a book, I decide which devices I want it on and add it to the appropriate lists. Connect the device, the books are sent and the list is cleared. An important thing about this is that I am making the decision about the device the book goes on when I add or change the book. Not some time later when I might have forgotten what the change was and whether I want it on a particular device.

[JSWolf]

Stevex, you won't find a better solution then the Reading List solution because there isn't one and nobody is going to write one for you since one already exists.

[JSWolf]

If you don't go with the Reading List plugin, then what you want will never happen.

[davidfor]

Jon: Any particular reason you felt the need to repeat yourself 24 hours apart?

And while I'm not interested in doing this, someone else might be. I have no hassle with adding function to the driver or any of my plugins that someone else wrote. But I don't promise not to fiddle with it

And I'm not sure this is a function for the Kobo Utilities plugin. The described function is something that could be useful for any device. I'm fairly sure that it could be written work with any device without much extra effort.

And while I said I am not interested in doing this, for a while I have had in my mind to do something to check reading status between calibre and the device. I've been thinking about this more since getting the Aura ONE and populating it (and yes, I'm one of those strange people who like to keep a lot of books on their devices). If I do that, extending it to compare some other attribute would be "a breeze".

Note: "a breeze" is used here as a programmers term to describe a small feature we think will be easy to add, but will probably end up taking more time than the rest of the project.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Note: "a breeze" is used here as a programmers term to describe a small feature we think will be easy to add, but will probably end up taking more time than the rest of the project.

Thoughts from a programmer trying to add "automatic update metadata on connection depending on the device" to the plugin