Metadata on Device(s)

Book Reader · 06-12-2014, 02:25 PM

Is it possible to Edit metadata on the attached device(s)?

When I switch to a Device displaying its contents list, the Edit metadata is inactive (grayed out), and will not permit any change(s) to the books info on the Device.

aleyx · 06-12-2014, 03:09 PM

Not as I know of. At least not if your device itself doesn't allow it.

Note that allowing this sort of thing would, in my (admittedly personal) view, be a Bad Thing: how would you know which metadata version would hold true? Especially after a few weeks (or even days), and you've forgotten even why you made the changes. Better to do all the work in Calibre, then update your device if necessary. This is, after all, what Calibre is for.

theducks · 06-12-2014, 04:05 PM

The device view is a simple summary.
Each device has a unique way of (not

) handling metadata.
The tick shows that the record has been matched to the Library, but as far as I know, that is as far as it goes.

Kovid,would it be possible to have a right click: jump to this book in Library view or Library Metadata edit the book, with out the view switch-jump?

kovidgoyal · 06-12-2014, 09:54 PM

It's certainly possible to have a context menu action to jump to the matching book from the device list to the library view, but it will have to wait until I am a little less busy.

theducks · 06-12-2014, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It's certainly possible to have a context menu action to jump to the matching book from the device list to the library view, but it will have to wait until I am a little less busy.

No rush. I was just tossing ideas out to see if it sank or flew.

Book Reader · 06-16-2014, 11:43 AM

Thank you all the information.

1) I perhaps described my problem poorly but of course I wanted to edit metadata using Calibre. Being pretty much ignorant of the file format, and metadata structure, I as a Calibre user would like to edit only some main properties. Title, Author, Title sort, Author sort, and possible adding (changing) a book Cover. At times error(s) are made during the initial entry of metadata (in the Calibre library), which then are noticed only after the book was Sent to the device. As far as knowing what metadata changes (versions) are true (!?)? The ones I want, and if I don't like them I would edit them to my preference until I'm content.

2) Allowing the editing the metadata is already implemented, but only of books in the Calibre library (Title list). To edit also the metadata of books in the Device list, the existing Edit metadata icon (if it would be active) would be perfect. Additional right-click context menu, while it may be preferred by some, wouldn't be necessary.

3)I think that the fact that "Each device has a unique way of (not ) handling metadata." is the answer to my question. My device is a Kindle DX (3G, 9.6") and it may store/handle metadata very differently from other devices.

In retrospect I've realized that not much would be gained by being able to edit the metadata directly in the device(s), since (to ensure that the metadata is synchronized) any change made on the device should also be reflected in the Calibre library. So the changes might as well be made in the Calibre library, then the revised book sent to the device again.

If I may ask one other question though. Being a novice to eBooks, what is the recommended procedure to edit metadata of books downloaded (purchased) from eBook sellers. If I buy an eBook from Amazon I can download it directly into my Kindle DX, (the method recommended by Amazon), without involving Calibre at all. But, as discussed above, since we can't edit the device's metadata how should I go about changing metadata for those books? Import it into Calibre, make the changes and send it back to the device? Or...? Thanks.

Regards

eschwartz · 06-17-2014, 12:31 AM

I download all books to my Kindle Touch, back them up (including the Real Page Numbers and Public Highlights and stuff) then import into calibre. I manually add the original filename to a custom column in calibre, then use that as the save template for the Kindle driver.

Then I edit metadata 'til I like it, and send the book from calibre to my Kindle. The previous steps allow the book to overwrite the old copy, rather than adding a new copy which doesn't match the sidecar files.

06-12-2014, 02:25 PM	#1
Book Reader Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: Kindle DX	Metadata on Device(s) Is it possible to Edit metadata on the attached device(s)? When I switch to a Device displaying its contents list, the Edit metadata is inactive (grayed out), and will not permit any change(s) to the books info on the Device.

06-16-2014, 11:43 AM	#6
Book Reader Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: Kindle DX	Editing the Device's metadata Thank you all the information. 1) I perhaps described my problem poorly but of course I wanted to edit metadata using Calibre. Being pretty much ignorant of the file format, and metadata structure, I as a Calibre user would like to edit only some main properties. Title, Author, Title sort, Author sort, and possible adding (changing) a book Cover. At times error(s) are made during the initial entry of metadata (in the Calibre library), which then are noticed only after the book was Sent to the device. As far as knowing what metadata changes (versions) are true (!?)? The ones I want, and if I don't like them I would edit them to my preference until I'm content. 2) Allowing the editing the metadata is already implemented, but only of books in the Calibre library (Title list). To edit also the metadata of books in the Device list, the existing Edit metadata icon (if it would be active) would be perfect. Additional right-click context menu, while it may be preferred by some, wouldn't be necessary. 3)I think that the fact that "Each device has a unique way of (not ) handling metadata." is the answer to my question. My device is a Kindle DX (3G, 9.6") and it may store/handle metadata very differently from other devices. In retrospect I've realized that not much would be gained by being able to edit the metadata directly in the device(s), since (to ensure that the metadata is synchronized) any change made on the device should also be reflected in the Calibre library. So the changes might as well be made in the Calibre library, then the revised book sent to the device again. If I may ask one other question though. Being a novice to eBooks, what is the recommended procedure to edit metadata of books downloaded (purchased) from eBook sellers. If I buy an eBook from Amazon I can download it directly into my Kindle DX, (the method recommended by Amazon), without involving Calibre at all. But, as discussed above, since we can't edit the device's metadata how should I go about changing metadata for those books? Import it into Calibre, make the changes and send it back to the device? Or...? Thanks. Regards

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06-12-2014, 03:09 PM	#2
aleyx Addict Posts: 245 Karma: 20386 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Device: Cybook Diva	Not as I know of. At least not if your device itself doesn't allow it. Note that allowing this sort of thing would, in my (admittedly personal) view, be a Bad Thing: how would you know which metadata version would hold true? Especially after a few weeks (or even days), and you've forgotten even why you made the changes. Better to do all the work in Calibre, then update your device if necessary. This is, after all, what Calibre is for.

06-12-2014, 04:05 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,809 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The device view is a simple summary. Each device has a unique way of (not ) handling metadata. The tick shows that the record has been matched to the Library, but as far as I know, that is as far as it goes. Kovid,would it be possible to have a right click: jump to this book in Library view or Library Metadata edit the book, with out the view switch-jump?

06-12-2014, 09:54 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,860 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	It's certainly possible to have a context menu action to jump to the matching book from the device list to the library view, but it will have to wait until I am a little less busy.

06-17-2014, 12:31 AM	#7
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I download all books to my Kindle Touch, back them up (including the Real Page Numbers and Public Highlights and stuff) then import into calibre. I manually add the original filename to a custom column in calibre, then use that as the save template for the Kindle driver. Then I edit metadata 'til I like it, and send the book from calibre to my Kindle. The previous steps allow the book to overwrite the old copy, rather than adding a new copy which doesn't match the sidecar files.

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