Reading a Metadata.db file

maddz · 06-22-2018, 12:41 AM

I'm trying to read a metadata file, but Calibre won't open it as metadata.

It imports it as a book and when you try and open the book in the viewer I get the following error:

calibre, version 3.26.0
ERROR: Could not open e-book: Failed to read book, /Users/Shared/Maddy's Calibre/eBooks/Unknown/metadata (4963)/metadata - Unknown.db click "Show Details" for more information

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages/calibre/utils/ipc/simple_worker.py", line 284, in main
File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/oeb/iterator/book.py", line 55, in extract_book
File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plumber.py", line 752, in __init__
ValueError: No plugin to handle input format: db

Can someone talk me through accessing the file? It's a list of books from the Baen Free Library which I want to check against some of my old ebook files from Baen.

Terisa de morgan · 06-22-2018, 12:51 AM

I suspect it's a database, so you cannot open directly through calibre.

BetterRed · 06-22-2018, 04:37 AM

@maddz - try DB Browser for SQLite

If it doesn't work ask Baen what you should use to read it.

BR

theducks · 06-22-2018, 04:40 AM

metadata.db is the (current) Library
It is not a book

If someone gave you a copy of their metadata.db as an empty library (a catalog). You might be able to put it in a completely EMPTY folder (on its own path) and use switch/create: use existing to view it. There will be no covers

jhowell · 06-22-2018, 04:40 AM

Perhaps this is a reference to the "metadata.db" file that forms the basis of calibre library?

(ninja's)

maddz · 06-22-2018, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@maddz - try DB Browser for SQLite

If it doesn't work ask Baen what you should use to read it.

BR

That worked. Thanks. (It wasn't Baen that sent me the file - it was someone on Bar's Bar when I asked the question about books that used to be in the Free Library but have subsequently been withdrawn.

A fair amount seem to be from the various CD ROMS anyway.

DoctorOhh · 06-22-2018, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

That worked. Thanks. (It wasn't Baen that sent me the file - it was someone on Bar's Bar when I asked the question about books that used to be in the Free Library but have subsequently been withdrawn.

A fair amount seem to be from the various CD ROMS anyway.

Glad you got it sorted.

For others that might drop in following theducks suggestion in post 4 would have shown you the same data from within calibre.

06-22-2018, 12:41 AM	#1
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,271 Karma: 28630044 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Reading a Metadata.db file I'm trying to read a metadata file, but Calibre won't open it as metadata. It imports it as a book and when you try and open the book in the viewer I get the following error: calibre, version 3.26.0 ERROR: Could not open e-book: Failed to read book, /Users/Shared/Maddy's Calibre/eBooks/Unknown/metadata (4963)/metadata - Unknown.db click "Show Details" for more information Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages/calibre/utils/ipc/simple_worker.py", line 284, in main File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/oeb/iterator/book.py", line 55, in extract_book File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plumber.py", line 752, in __init__ ValueError: No plugin to handle input format: db Can someone talk me through accessing the file? It's a list of books from the Baen Free Library which I want to check against some of my old ebook files from Baen.

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06-22-2018, 12:51 AM	#2
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,227 Karma: 11768331 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	I suspect it's a database, so you cannot open directly through calibre.

06-22-2018, 04:37 AM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,550 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@maddz - try DB Browser for SQLite If it doesn't work ask Baen what you should use to read it. BR

06-22-2018, 04:40 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,779 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	metadata.db is the (current) Library It is not a book If someone gave you a copy of their metadata.db as an empty library (a catalog). You might be able to put it in a completely EMPTY folder (on its own path) and use switch/create: use existing to view it. There will be no covers

06-22-2018, 04:40 AM	#5
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,496 Karma: 84420419 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Device: Kindles	Perhaps this is a reference to the "metadata.db" file that forms the basis of calibre library? (ninja's)