Is theer any automated way to handle updated books?

halloleo · 08-23-2020, 03:03 AM

In the category of technical writing I have plenty of library items which I want toupdate regularly (for example software manuals like the calibre documentation).

When an update comes out, I create a new book with the new content files and delete the old book entry. Then on all OPDS client devices I have to delete the old book and add the new one.- Pretty tedious!

Can I automated any part of this process? Say when adding content files via the command line can I tell calibre to replace the the content files in an existing book entry and update the relevant metadata?

Also is there a way to automatically push/notify OPDS client readers of updated books? If not, it seems to me this is a big gab in the OPDS system...

kovidgoyal · 08-23-2020, 03:16 AM

Why are you creating new entries? Just update the files in the old entry, by right clicking the add books button and choosing add files to selected book records. And them update the date field. And as for notification, OPDS has no such feature.

BetterRed · 08-23-2020, 06:41 AM

I don't like dialogue boxes, so I do it via copy & paste.

Copy the new file to the clipboard in a file manager (Ctrl+C). Select the book in the book list, then use the Add Books->Add files to selected book record form clipboard, to which I've assigned Alt+Shift+V.

You can paste multiple files (e.g. a format file and a cover image), and you get a dismissible Are You Sure popup - perversely I don't mind those as they stop me making mistakes.

BR

halloleo · 08-24-2020, 02:11 AM

Thanks for the details. Updating entries in calibre is teh way to go for sure.

@BetterRed: Inetsring workflow with the clipboard.

Big shame that updating the clients is not in any way automatable...

08-23-2020, 03:03 AM	#1
halloleo Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 12649 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: iPad	Is theer any automated way to handle updated books? In the category of technical writing I have plenty of library items which I want toupdate regularly (for example software manuals like the calibre documentation). When an update comes out, I create a new book with the new content files and delete the old book entry. Then on all OPDS client devices I have to delete the old book and add the new one.- Pretty tedious! Can I automated any part of this process? Say when adding content files via the command line can I tell calibre to replace the the content files in an existing book entry and update the relevant metadata? Also is there a way to automatically push/notify OPDS client readers of updated books? If not, it seems to me this is a big gab in the OPDS system... Last edited by halloleo; 08-24-2020 at 02:12 AM. Reason: typos

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08-23-2020, 03:16 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,860 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Why are you creating new entries? Just update the files in the old entry, by right clicking the add books button and choosing add files to selected book records. And them update the date field. And as for notification, OPDS has no such feature.

08-23-2020, 06:41 AM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,581 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	I don't like dialogue boxes, so I do it via copy & paste. Copy the new file to the clipboard in a file manager (Ctrl+C). Select the book in the book list, then use the Add Books->Add files to selected book record form clipboard, to which I've assigned Alt+Shift+V. You can paste multiple files (e.g. a format file and a cover image), and you get a dismissible Are You Sure popup - perversely I don't mind those as they stop me making mistakes. BR

08-24-2020, 02:11 AM	#4
halloleo Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 12649 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: iPad	Thanks for the details. Updating entries in calibre is teh way to go for sure. @BetterRed: Inetsring workflow with the clipboard. Big shame that updating the clients is not in any way automatable...