Import XML Feature designed in Calibre?

[skdutta]

I have been using Alfa eBook Manager to manage my books so far. Now I want some of those books to be imported to Calibre. Alfa gives an easy way to export the meta data (and the book location) using a structured xml file.

So, I was wondering if there is an xml import format so that I can do the required xslt translation to import. OR if it is possible to generate calibre command line from this using XSLT. OR if there is even something close. Note that I want to do it as a one step process (don't want to copy files separately)

See below for the exported format, note that it outputs the file name that calibre can potentially import.

DISCLAIMER: I am new to Calibre!

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Book Book_Id="168">
  <Title>1,001 Best Slow-Cooker Recipes</Title>
  <Subtitle>The Only Slow-Cooker Cookbook You'll Ever Need</Subtitle>
  <Authors>
    <Author>Spitler, Sue</Author>
    <Author>Yoakam, R</Author>
  </Authors>
  <Genre>Food &amp; Drink: General</Genre>
  <Publisher>Agate Surrey</Publisher>
  <Series/>
  <Isbn_10>1572840986</Isbn_10>
  <Isbn_13>9781572840980</Isbn_13>
  <Date>Wednesday, October 01, 2008 12:00:00 AM</Date>
  <Pages>800</Pages>
  <Language>English</Language>
  <Paperback>Paperback</Paperback>
  <Edition>0</Edition>
  <Dimension>120x890x590</Dimension>
  <Weight>180</Weight>
  <Price>$19.95</Price>
  <Description>recipes - all thoroughly tested.</Description>
  <Toc/>
  <Front_cover>M:\Books\eBook\Sue Splitler\1572840986.jpg</Front_cover>
  <Back_cover/>
  <Location>M:\Books\eBook\Sue Splitler\1,001 Best Slow-Cooker Recipes.pdf</Location>
  <Size_nature>5784125</Size_nature>
  <Rating>4</Rating>
  <Date_Add>Monday, July 26, 2010 8:33:38 PM</Date_Add>
</Book>

[kovidgoyal]

You can use XSLT to convert that XML to OPF which is the standard XML format for ebook metadata. calibre reads metadata from OPF files.

[skdutta]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

You can use XSLT to convert that XML to OPF which is the standard XML format for ebook metadata. calibre reads metadata from OPF files.

Thanks

Quick question, does calibre export to opf format also (did not see it in the list)?, so that I can quickly see which tags are required and just create them. Another problem I have is to figure out how to specify the file name of the book and the front cover.

If this is all possible in opf format it is great, I will look into the format.

[kovidgoyal]

just add any book to calibre and edit its metadata, you will see an OPF file the books folder.

[skdutta]

So, do you think the sequence should be like this:

1. Physically copy the eBook files into the calibre file structure
2. Write a program to traverse the xml from alfa and create separate opf files in the respective directory in calibre
3. Start calibre and it should read the opf

Is there any easier way? Step 1 above may be little involved as my structure does not match calibre's. Maybe I will try to do the import and see.

I was looking for a one step importer, so that I can create the opf files (for all the books once) and it will just import everything.

[itimpi]

I think that if you create an opf file in the location the book is currently located that references that book then you will be able to use the Calibre command line utility for adding books which will add the book to the database and then copy the opf and related file(s) to the calibre library. That way you leave Calibre to manage its own internal library details.

I am sure someone will chime in if I have got any of these details wrong.

[skdutta]

What if you have multiple books in the same folder? will calibre read each opf file first and then copy the referenced book?