Modified date column

annoporci · 06-03-2020, 11:40 PM

Quick question: After a clean install of MacOS Catalina and installing calibre with default setting (I did not migrate old settings), the "modified date" column has become unreliable: the dates of many books is updated even if I have not edited them. I've never experienced that before. Any idea what could be causing this behavior?

Thanks.

BetterRed · 06-04-2020, 12:03 AM

Did you change any column values.

IIRC if you correct something, e.g. a Tag in the Tag Browser or Manage Tags from 'Getysburg' to 'Gettysburg' the modified date for all books with the erroneous tag (Getysburg) will be set to the current date/timestamp.

BR

Brett Merkey · 06-04-2020, 10:19 AM

Quote:

the dates of many books is updated even if I have not edited them

This behavior you have just noticed is not new. Calibre does not think "modified" means what you think it means. Inconceivable but true. Touch a book in even the gentlest way and it is "modified."

theducks · 06-04-2020, 02:05 PM

Modified means all / any:
Change ANY metadata (tag case or spelling is most common, but any field will if it is also used other places)

Change a cover

Edit the book with Calibre (OTOH external edits: eg Sigil may not trigger if not done with OpenWith: AKA 'beneath the skirts': dangerous if you touch the file or folder name)

Library Maintenance (The pack phase)

JimmXinu · 06-04-2020, 08:19 PM

This also includes setting/changing the author URL--that will cause Modified to update on all books by that author.

kovidgoyal · 06-04-2020, 09:51 PM

The modified column tracks basically when any metadata associated with a book is changed. Even adding or removing a new column without any value set for a book will change its modified date.

06-03-2020, 11:40 PM	#1
annoporci Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2019, Firmware 5.12.4	Modified date column Quick question: After a clean install of MacOS Catalina and installing calibre with default setting (I did not migrate old settings), the "modified date" column has become unreliable: the dates of many books is updated even if I have not edited them. I've never experienced that before. Any idea what could be causing this behavior? Thanks.

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06-04-2020, 12:03 AM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,532 Karma: 26944418 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Did you change any column values. IIRC if you correct something, e.g. a Tag in the Tag Browser or Manage Tags from 'Getysburg' to 'Gettysburg' the modified date for all books with the erroneous tag (Getysburg) will be set to the current date/timestamp. BR

06-04-2020, 02:05 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,754 Karma: 54401244 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Modified means all / any: Change ANY metadata (tag case or spelling is most common, but any field will if it is also used other places) Change a cover Edit the book with Calibre (OTOH external edits: eg Sigil may not trigger if not done with OpenWith: AKA 'beneath the skirts': dangerous if you touch the file or folder name) Library Maintenance (The pack phase)

06-04-2020, 08:19 PM	#5
JimmXinu Plugin Developer Posts: 6,305 Karma: 3966249 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite(10th)	This also includes setting/changing the author URL--that will cause Modified to update on all books by that author.

06-04-2020, 09:51 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,826 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The modified column tracks basically when any metadata associated with a book is changed. Even adding or removing a new column without any value set for a book will change its modified date.