Saving to Disk From Calibre

mitch13 · 11-13-2013, 06:13 AM

In Saving to Disk" and then re-loading some books back into a Calibre library I have only just noticed that I lose any data I had in the "Series" field.

I have had a search through Librayr Management but cannot find any messages on this subject.

Can anyone help me on this ie How can I include the Series?

Also, in Saving to Disk" is it possible to include data from a column I have created eg 'Read" in the metadata being saved to disk?

mitch13

Adoby · 11-13-2013, 06:27 AM

Not all ebook formats have support for the series information.

Epub has.

One common way to handle this is to configure a "plugboard" to change the name of the book to also contain the series information. It is possible to use the same trick for other fields as well.

Another possibility is to change the save to disk template to save books to subdirectories based on the series name.

There is a sticky thread with information about plugboards and save templates.

Another "trick" is to also save an opf-file along with the ebook file. It can contain all the metadata you wish. And when adding the book to calibre that metadata can be used.

Do some experimenting with a few books and test it out.

http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gui.html#save-to-disk

Quote:

... Metadata is stored in an OPF file. Saved books can be re-imported to the library without any loss of information by using the Add books action.

eschwartz · 11-13-2013, 03:17 PM

There are a few different options for re-adding books.

Any save to disk should save all formats of the book, together with the full metadata in metadata.opf. This includes series as well as custom columns.

When you re-import, make sure to use the second "Add Books" option (see attachment) to ensure your metadata is read from the metadata.opf and not the actual book file.

Any custom columns will be completed as well, assuming the column exists in your currently opened library.

mitch13 · 11-14-2013, 08:01 PM

Thanks eschwartz and Adoby for your prompt suggestions.

In relation to the "Add Books" there is a problem with the second option in that it will only pick up one book at a time. The third option picks up all books and details but does not pick up the Series.
As I usually have a number of books to add at a time it would take forever.

Pleased to say that it does indeed pick up the custom column.

Not sure I have the experience to try adding plugboards - with my luck I would probably foul up something!

Just cannot understand why the "Add Books" Option 2 will not pick up the series as it does everything else I need.

Thanks
mitch13

eschwartz · 11-14-2013, 08:04 PM

The second option WILL pick up all your books.

It is designed to treat each folder as a separate book record; for this reason, it does a recursive search, which is to say, you select the folder that contains all your book folders, not the individual book folders.

Note how the option specifies, "including sub-directories".

mitch13 · 11-14-2013, 11:39 PM

Hi,
I save my books to disk from Calibre by "Saving to Disk in a Single Directory" Then I end up with a number of books in one folder on disk ie individual books. When I load them back to a Calibre library using the second option it takes the first book only (along with everything I want in metadata).

Is my saving causing the problem? Should use just "Save to Disk?

mitch13

mitch13 · 11-14-2013, 11:49 PM

Just "Save to Disk" seems to solve the problem.

Many thanks for your help

eschwartz · 11-14-2013, 11:54 PM

Saving in a single directory means calibre cannot use the second add books option with any type of accuracy. It will simply ignore all the other files there as being randomly meaningless files, since it KNOWS they are not more formats for the same book.

And only the second option will use the metadata file.

Regular Save to Disk is also helpful in that it sorts your books according to author_name\Book_title.

11-13-2013, 06:13 AM	#1
mitch13 Groupie Posts: 198 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Queensland, Australia Device: Appraising the market	Saving to Disk From Calibre In Saving to Disk" and then re-loading some books back into a Calibre library I have only just noticed that I lose any data I had in the "Series" field. I have had a search through Librayr Management but cannot find any messages on this subject. Can anyone help me on this ie How can I include the Series? Also, in Saving to Disk" is it possible to include data from a column I have created eg 'Read" in the metadata being saved to disk? mitch13

11-13-2013, 03:17 PM	#3
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	There are a few different options for re-adding books. Any save to disk should save all formats of the book, together with the full metadata in metadata.opf. This includes series as well as custom columns. When you re-import, make sure to use the second "Add Books" option (see attachment) to ensure your metadata is read from the metadata.opf and not the actual book file. Any custom columns will be completed as well, assuming the column exists in your currently opened library. Attached Thumbnails

11-14-2013, 08:01 PM	#4
mitch13 Groupie Posts: 198 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Queensland, Australia Device: Appraising the market	Saving to Disk ex Calibre Thanks eschwartz and Adoby for your prompt suggestions. In relation to the "Add Books" there is a problem with the second option in that it will only pick up one book at a time. The third option picks up all books and details but does not pick up the Series. As I usually have a number of books to add at a time it would take forever. Pleased to say that it does indeed pick up the custom column. Not sure I have the experience to try adding plugboards - with my luck I would probably foul up something! Just cannot understand why the "Add Books" Option 2 will not pick up the series as it does everything else I need. Thanks mitch13

11-14-2013, 11:39 PM	#6
mitch13 Groupie Posts: 198 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Queensland, Australia Device: Appraising the market	Saving to Disk in Calibre Hi, I save my books to disk from Calibre by "Saving to Disk in a Single Directory" Then I end up with a number of books in one folder on disk ie individual books. When I load them back to a Calibre library using the second option it takes the first book only (along with everything I want in metadata). Is my saving causing the problem? Should use just "Save to Disk? mitch13

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11-14-2013, 08:04 PM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The second option WILL pick up all your books. It is designed to treat each folder as a separate book record; for this reason, it does a recursive search, which is to say, you select the folder that contains all your book folders, not the individual book folders. Note how the option specifies, "including sub-directories".

11-14-2013, 11:49 PM	#7
mitch13 Groupie Posts: 198 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Queensland, Australia Device: Appraising the market	Just "Save to Disk" seems to solve the problem. Many thanks for your help

11-14-2013, 11:54 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Saving in a single directory means calibre cannot use the second add books option with any type of accuracy. It will simply ignore all the other files there as being randomly meaningless files, since it KNOWS they are not more formats for the same book. And only the second option will use the metadata file. Regular Save to Disk is also helpful in that it sorts your books according to author_name\Book_title.

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