[GUI Plugin] Kobo Utilities

[orchidreader]

I think I narrowed down the issue I'm encountering with my Kobo Libra Colour. It seems that the metadata.calibre file being stored in the reader is not getting updated. I found out when I sideloaded a few books and looked for those books in the metadata.calibre file, I'm not able to find those books. So I deleted the metadata file, reconnected my Kobo but when it generated the file, it created the same file where the new books are missing. Anyone encountered this issue before?

[DNSB]

Do you get any message about database corruption? In KU, what does Check database under the Database items report?

Also are you using Nickel or an alternative reader (KOReader, Plato)?

[compurandom]

Originally Posted by orchidreader

I think I narrowed down the issue I'm encountering with my Kobo Libra Colour. It seems that the metadata.calibre file being stored in the reader is not getting updated.

The metadata file gets updated when calibre notices that the books were imported.

It sounds to me like the books are not getting imported, and the most likely reason for that (as the other poster hinted) is that your database has gotten corrupted.

There's a long standing bug in the kobo firmware that causes the firmware to hold the database open when USB is plugged in. Various firmware updates have made this less and less likely, but it still happens. Some people claim exiting the reader back to the home screen prevents it, but the only sure way to prevent it is to reboot before plugging in the USB and allowing calibre to update the database.

Unfortunately, the best way to fix this issue once it has happened is to delete the database and let the firmware do a soft factory reset and then rebuild the database. You should use calibre to back up all your side loaded book reading positions first if you can.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by compurandom

The metadata file gets updated when calibre notices that the books were imported.

It sounds to me like the books are not getting imported, and the most likely reason for that (as the other poster hinted) is that your database has gotten corrupted.

There's a long standing bug in the kobo firmware that causes the firmware to hold the database open when USB is plugged in. Various firmware updates have made this less and less likely, but it still happens. Some people claim exiting the reader back to the home screen prevents it, but the only sure way to prevent it is to reboot before plugging in the USB and allowing calibre to update the database.

Unfortunately, the best way to fix this issue once it has happened is to delete the database and let the firmware do a soft factory reset and then rebuild the database. You should use calibre to back up all your side loaded book reading positions first if you can.

That bug has long been fixed and the Libra Colour is using a firmware newer then the one with the bug.

[ownedbycats]

I've seen reports about the bug reoccurring, though far less frequent than before.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I've seen reports about the bug reoccurring, though far less frequent than before.

I've also seen several reports from users with firmware 4.41.23145 who have seen database corruption. Unfortunately, I can't duplicate that corruption on my KLC without unplugging the USB cable in the middle of a write so not sure as to what is happening. One user did post a directory listing of the .kobo directory on their Clara Colour and it showed BookReader.sqlite-wal and BookReader.sqlite-shm files which as symptoms of the BookReader.sqlite database file not being closed properly before the USB connect.

[ownedbycats]

Yeah, I think it's limited to 4.41 - i don't recall any corruption reports for 4.38.23171, and I haven't been able to reproduce it after a lot of testing. I wonder if there's a common factor between the people who have reported it or if it's just gremlins.

[compurandom]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That bug has long been fixed and the Libra Colour is using a firmware newer then the one with the bug.

BZZZ! Wrong!

I _have_ a Libra Colour and I corrupted the database within the first month of using it.

I haven't intentionally tested it though, and I haven't had a corruption on the recently released firmware. (But I did have problems with the previous one.) But then, I haven't not rebooted before connecting usb with the recent firmware either.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by compurandom

BZZZ! Wrong!

I _have_ a Libra Colour and I corrupted the database within the first month of using it.

I haven't intentionally tested it though, and I haven't had a corruption on the recently released firmware. (But I did have problems with the previous one.) But then, I haven't not rebooted before connecting usb with the recent firmware either.

When you connected your Kobo did you go tot he home screen bore plugging it in to the USB port? It could be that while in the middle of reading a book that the database remains open until you exit the book.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When you connected your Kobo did you go tot he home screen bore plugging it in to the USB port? It could be that while in the middle of reading a book that the database remains open until you exit the book.

The bloody point is that that extra step shouldn't be necessary if the bug is actually fixed.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

The bloody point is that that extra step shouldn't be necessary if the bug is actually fixed.

The thing is, I don't know how the color firmware works as far as the bug goes. I know it's OK for the latest 4.38 firmware so I would expect it to not be an issue for the color firmware.

The other thing is maybe it's only an issue sometimes if you connect wile in a KePub book.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The other thing is maybe it's only an issue sometimes if you connect wile in a KePub book.

But only sometimes. I've got the software for Clara colour. I connect a lot of times with an open kepub book. And it has never happened to me. I'm lucky, I guess.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

But only sometimes. I've got the software for Clara colour. I connect a lot of times with an open kepub book. And it has never happened to me. I'm lucky, I guess.

Or maybe it really isn't an issue.

[DNSB]

Jon, it seems to be lot more miss than hit compared to the firmware version that had me rebooting my Sage before a USB connect but I've seen enough reports to say with a high degree of confidence that it happens on occasion.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Jon, it seems to be lot more miss than hit compared to the firmware version that had me rebooting my Sage before a USB connect but I've seen enough reports to say with a high degree of confidence that it happens on occasion.

Do you know if it happens on 4.38.23171?