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Old 02-04-2025, 05:56 PM   #1
JahMike
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How do I get my changed metadata to stick into the epub file

Hello

New on this forum, I have been struggling for quite some time with my inability to have my edited metadata in calibre desktop stick to my epub files.

The moment the books need are added back to my calibre library, my edited metadata are gone, and back are the original ones.

I have tried to convert from epub to epub with my edited metadata, making sure that I had set both adjustments in ID: save_original_format and save_original_format_when_polishing to 'False', to no avail

Can anyone help me out please?

Michel
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Old 02-04-2025, 07:48 PM   #2
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I may not be understanding your problem correctly.
I'm guessing that you modify the metadata in the "Edit Metadata" window.
If so, I believe that the changes are saved to a separate file with the suffix ".opf"
The revised metadata is only written to the epub file when you send it to a device or use the "Save to Disk" command and only to the file that is added to the device or saved, not to the epub as it exists in the Calibre library.
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Old 02-04-2025, 07:51 PM   #3
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You can also use either the Modify Epub plugin or the Polish Books feature to embed the altered metadata in the file. No need for Save to disk/Send to Device.
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Old 02-04-2025, 09:26 PM   #4
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Once you edit your metadata in the Edit Metadata screen, open the book in the Editor. That will write the changes into the epub.

You just need to ensure you have "Update metadata embedded in the book" enabled as shown in the image which is from the Editor>Edit>Preferences
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Old 02-05-2025, 11:12 AM   #5
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Sirtel gave you the answer you need, but I was wondering...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JahMike View Post
The moment the books need are added back to my calibre library
...why are you removing and re-adding ebooks in Calibre? It seems inefficient. Why not just leave them there?
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Old 02-05-2025, 04:30 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fogice View Post
Sirtel gave you the answer you need, but I was wondering...

...why are you removing and re-adding ebooks in Calibre? It seems inefficient. Why not just leave them there?
If you are indeed re-adding books, you may have the adding process set to read metadata from the file name not the internals of the file. See Preferences-->Adding Books. Look at all three tabs to see what might happen.

Another question: are you editing the opf file directly? With the Calibre editor (ebook editor, not the metadata editor) or another editor? Outside of Calibre? If any of that is yes, the potential for a mess-up is huge, and we would need to know exactly what you're doing in order to advise.

Last edited by retiredbiker; 02-05-2025 at 04:32 PM.
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Old 02-06-2025, 07:39 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirtel View Post
You can also use either the Modify Epub plugin or the Polish Books feature to embed the altered metadata in the file. No need for Save to disk/Send to Device.
Hi Sirtel,
I've just installed the Modify Epub plugin and selected the save updated metadata option. I will check it over the weekend and hopefully report with a smile.
Thanks for the tip!
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Old 02-06-2025, 07:41 PM   #8
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Hi Fogice
I was trying this as a strategy to get updated metadata epub to be installed on top of previous ones, based on a (2020) tip found on another forum, but doesn't seem to work.
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Old 02-06-2025, 07:43 PM   #9
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Hi Karellen,
Thanks for the tip, not sure I understood the recommendation, but let me do down the other suggested routes and see if they solve my problem.
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Old 02-06-2025, 07:57 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredbiker View Post
If you are indeed re-adding books, you may have the adding process set to read metadata from the file name not the internals of the file. See Preferences-->Adding Books. Look at all three tabs to see what might happen.

Another question: are you editing the opf file directly? With the Calibre editor (ebook editor, not the metadata editor) or another editor? Outside of Calibre? If any of that is yes, the potential for a mess-up is huge, and we would need to know exactly what you're doing in order to advise.
Hi RetiredNiker
Thanks for your recommendation on re-adding books with the correct settings, I'll check them out.

To your question: 1) I don't edit opf files 2) Calibre editor only 3)
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Old 02-06-2025, 08:23 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JahMike View Post

To your question: 1) I don't edit opf files 2) Calibre editor only 3)
Does that mean the Book Editor, viz

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or

the Metadata Editor

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If it's the latter then I'll move the thread to the Library Management sub-forum, this one is for Book Editor issues.

BR
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Old 02-06-2025, 08:25 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JahMike View Post
Hi RetiredNiker
Thanks for your recommendation on re-adding books with the correct settings, I'll check them out.

To your question: 1) I don't edit opf files 2) Calibre editor only 3)
When Calibre sends it uses (on the fly) the Library metadata.
If you have edited it in the book:
You can force THAT back into the Library.

Open the MDE on the book: Select the format: Use the icon on the lower left (Set Metadata for the book from the selected format)
This is the reverse of Embed. It will update the Library data (Now it makes sense, why you added again. It reads that on add.) This way is faster.

BTW This is also available in Bulk mode of the MDE. (again, except cover). There is a tick just above the cover section
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Old Yesterday, 02:22 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JahMike View Post
New on this forum, I have been struggling for quite some time with my inability to have my edited metadata in calibre desktop stick to my epub files.

The moment the books need are added back to my calibre library, my edited metadata are gone, and back are the original ones.
Since I'm unsure what you are doing, here is what I know.

You need to update the metadata in calibre itself. Updating the metadata in the book outside of calibre then replacing the existing book in calibre with the updated book will fail. The metadata has to be updated in calibre because the metadata in calibre will automatically update the metadata in a book whenever one of the below actions happens.

Metadata is updated within the book file itself during the following calibre functions.
  • Send a Book to a device (metadata updated in sent book)
  • Save a book to disk (metadata updated in saved book)
  • Send via Email (metadata updated in emailed book)
  • Convert a book (metadata updated in the converted library copy of book)
  • Embed metadata (metadata updated in library copy of book)
  • Polish a book (metadata updated in designated format of library copy of book)
  • Modify Epub (metadata updated in designated format of library copy of book)
Metadata is not updated inside the library copy of the book by simply updating the metadata in calibre.

It looks like theducks told you how to update the metadata in calibre from your book.
Quote:
Originally Posted by theducks View Post
Open the MDE on the book: Select the format: Use the icon on the lower left (Set Metadata for the book from the selected format)
This is the reverse of Embed. It will update the Library data (Now it makes sense, why you added again. It reads that on add.) This way is faster.
I hope this helps.

Last edited by DoctorOhh; Yesterday at 02:28 AM.
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Old Yesterday, 11:18 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JahMike View Post
not sure I understood the recommendation
Maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to do?

I understood that you edit the book details in the Edit Metadata screen.
I also have the impression from your wording that the epub is already in your library.
What you want is for your edits to flow into your epub? Is that right.
Well, my advice is to just click on the Edit Book icon so it opens the ebook in the editor, then close it. Your metadata changes have now been saved in the ebook.
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Old Today, 12:42 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Karellen View Post
. . . click on the Edit Book icon so it opens the ebook in the editor, then close it. Your metadata changes have now been saved in the ebook.
Pressing 'P' (Polish Books) and checking Update metadata in the book files is faster and because it is explicit it is safer. And it can be used on multiple books.

Doing it with the Book Editor relies on a somewhat obscure preference being checked and it can't be applied to multiple books.

BR
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