Confused about Metadata!

Arrghus · 07-25-2011, 08:25 PM

I was trying to work out how to add a custom metadata field to an eBook. This led me to searching on the internet for help, and stumbling across Sigil. I booted up this application and looked at the metadata of various books and was surprised to find that there are many more fields than what is shown in Calibre.

I want to be able to display and edit the original published date of my books, as well as the publication date of a particular edition (which is what is usually shown under 'Published').

How can I get these extra fields (such as 'Usage Rights' among others) that can be edited in Sigil to show up in Calibre? I'd MUCH rather do my editing directly within the program itsel! (Sigil is a little scary to the novice.)

Many thanks,
Thomas

EDIT:

I think I'm beginning to realise that Calibre isn't actually altering the metadata of my files at all - Calibre makes changes to the database but not the files themselves, right?

Another question: If I edit the metadata of a book in Calibre, can I revert back to the metadata stored in the file itself?

mbovenka · 07-26-2011, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrghus

EDIT:

I think I'm beginning to realise that Calibre isn't actually altering the metadata of my files at all - Calibre makes changes to the database but not the files themselves, right?

Another question: If I edit the metadata of a book in Calibre, can I revert back to the metadata stored in the file itself?

Yes and no. The metadata in Calibre is in de metadata.db file (and the .opf files in the library), not in the books themselves. However, it gets copied to the books at some moments, such as when converting from one file format to another and when sending the file to a device (for some formats and not others, I think).

You can revert to the metadata in the book itself by using the Edit Metadata dialog (the Read Cover from File and Read Metadata from File buttons).

MariekeG · 07-26-2011, 05:04 AM

I checked and changed all the writerdata of my (7.000!) books. First in Calibre and then in iTunes. I found out that this didn't result in anything. Someone advised me to look at Sigil and yes, that works. Only problem is that I have to open all my books one by one. Or am I wrong? Is there a possibility to change the megadata in Sigil in the same way as for instance in Calibre?

itimpi · 07-26-2011, 05:47 AM

If you change the metadata in Calibre and then (re)send the books to iTunes you should find that all the metadata changes show up (except perhaps for PDF which is a problem case).

Arrghus · 07-26-2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Yes and no. The metadata in Calibre is in de metadata.db file (and the .opf files in the library), not in the books themselves. However, it gets copied to the books at some moments, such as when converting from one file format to another and when sending the file to a device (for some formats and not others, I think).

You can revert to the metadata in the book itself by using the Edit Metadata dialog (the Read Cover from File and Read Metadata from File buttons).

Many thanks for your reply!

I am right in thinking then that when I send eBooks to my Sony Reader, for instance, the metadata of the books themselves are changed, but Calibre still keeps the original file intact (instead still storing metadata in its database file)?

I mainly work with EPUBs, by the way.

MariekeG · 07-26-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itimpi

If you change the metadata in Calibre and then (re)send the books to iTunes you should find that all the metadata changes show up (except perhaps for PDF which is a problem case).

I thought I did this and the metadata did change to the old data. But I'll try again.

itimpi · 07-26-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariekeG

I thought I did this and the metadata did change to the old data. But I'll try again.

You might need to first delete them from the iTunes; sync to get them removed from the iBooks on the iPad; load iBooks to check they are gone; and then repeat the sending process to get the update to 'take' in iBooks.

mbovenka · 07-26-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrghus

Many thanks for your reply!

I am right in thinking then that when I send eBooks to my Sony Reader, for instance, the metadata of the books themselves are changed, but Calibre still keeps the original file intact (instead still storing metadata in its database file)?

I mainly work with EPUBs, by the way.

Yes. For EPUBs, the Calibre metadata gets inserted in the file sent to the device. The library original is not updated in that case. If that is what you want, you must do an EPUB-to-EPUB conversion within Calibre.

Dopedangel · 07-28-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Yes. For EPUBs, the Calibre metadata gets inserted in the file sent to the device. The library original is not updated in that case. If that is what you want, you must do an EPUB-to-EPUB conversion within Calibre.

With the modify epub plugin I think epub to epub conversion is no longer required and its way faster. Its still in beta but as far
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=134249

07-25-2011, 08:25 PM	#1
Arrghus Zealot Posts: 143 Karma: 5002 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Llandudno, Wales Device: Kindle PW2; Nexus 5X	Confused about Metadata! I was trying to work out how to add a custom metadata field to an eBook. This led me to searching on the internet for help, and stumbling across Sigil. I booted up this application and looked at the metadata of various books and was surprised to find that there are many more fields than what is shown in Calibre. I want to be able to display and edit the original published date of my books, as well as the publication date of a particular edition (which is what is usually shown under 'Published'). How can I get these extra fields (such as 'Usage Rights' among others) that can be edited in Sigil to show up in Calibre? I'd MUCH rather do my editing directly within the program itsel! (Sigil is a little scary to the novice.) Many thanks, Thomas EDIT: I think I'm beginning to realise that Calibre isn't actually altering the metadata of my files at all - Calibre makes changes to the database but not the files themselves, right? Another question: If I edit the metadata of a book in Calibre, can I revert back to the metadata stored in the file itself? Last edited by Arrghus; 07-25-2011 at 09:44 PM.

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07-26-2011, 05:04 AM	#3
MariekeG Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Apple Ipad 2	I checked and changed all the writerdata of my (7.000!) books. First in Calibre and then in iTunes. I found out that this didn't result in anything. Someone advised me to look at Sigil and yes, that works. Only problem is that I have to open all my books one by one. Or am I wrong? Is there a possibility to change the megadata in Sigil in the same way as for instance in Calibre?

07-26-2011, 05:47 AM	#4
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	If you change the metadata in Calibre and then (re)send the books to iTunes you should find that all the metadata changes show up (except perhaps for PDF which is a problem case).

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