Calibre Companion - metadata only query

Josieb1 · 11-10-2015, 10:29 AM

Hi

A year ago Chaley and eschwartz helped me by creating a python script for me which I then used to create an empty txt file in Calibre. This was so I could send Calibre metadata only to my Kindle Fire. I want the metadata on my fire but not 3500 ebooks.

I recently moved my Calibre library to dropbox and also my pc was 'serviced' during which calibre was removed and had to restore it from a back up, and now the python script no longer works, and I have no idea why. I've tried for days to work it out but I keep getting errors on the command prompt.

What i'm basicly asking is since the original script was created a year ago has anything changed in Calibre Companion that would alllow me just to send metadata or is it the books or nothing?

Thanks

chaley · 11-10-2015, 11:09 AM

@Josieb1: If you are running calibre 2.23 or later (an update since last April) then you no longer need the script. Calibre can create the "empty" text files for you. If you are not then I highly recommend that you upgrade.

The process:

In calibre, search for books with no txt format. The search is
Code:
```
not formats:txt
```
Select all the books the search found by pushing Ctrl A or whatever your OS normally uses for select all.
Click the down-arrow on the Add Books toolbar icon. Choose "Add an empty file to selected book records". Choose "Add empty txt". Press OK. Calibre will work for a bit.
Do the above three steps whenever you add books, or at least whenever you want to send books to CC.
In CC, ensure that you have selected TXT files as the only desired format. Go to CC's Settings / Formats and folders and ensure that only "txt" is checked. CC is probably already set up this way.

From here on when you send a book to CC it will send an (almost) empty text file and all the metadata. When you connect as a wireless device, the metadata will be updated. I say "almost" because calibre puts the title and the author into the file.

Josieb1 · 11-10-2015, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

@Josieb1: If you are running calibre 2.23 or later (an update since last April) then you no longer need the script. Calibre can create the "empty" text files for you. If you are not then I highly recommend that you upgrade.

The process:

In calibre, search for books with no txt format. The search is
Code:
```
not formats:txt
```
Select all the books the search found by pushing Ctrl A or whatever your OS normally uses for select all.
Click the down-arrow on the Add Books toolbar icon. Choose "Add an empty file to selected book records". Choose "Add empty txt". Press OK. Calibre will work for a bit.
Do the above three steps whenever you add books, or at least whenever you want to send books to CC.
In CC, ensure that you have selected TXT files as the only desired format. Go to CC's Settings / Formats and folders and ensure that only "txt" is checked. CC is probably already set up this way.

From here on when you send a book to CC it will send an (almost) empty text file and all the metadata. When you connect as a wireless device, the metadata will be updated. I say "almost" because calibre puts the title and the author into the file.

Thank you so much, i'm running 2.43 and it worked perfectly.

I can do that everytime I load a book now.

Shows how out of touch I am

eschwartz · 11-10-2015, 03:25 PM

Also, I forget where the thread was (and since you don't need it I won't bother to search for it) but I remember you originally had some difficulty editing the script to know where your calibre library is.
Not surprising, since I don't automatically expect people to be comfortable modifying python scripts.

But it underlines the fact that the script hardcoded the location of your calibre library -- which means moving the library breaks the script.

Sometime before the calibre update (I think) but after I gave you the script, I updated it to find the library using calibre's configuration -- no need to edit anything.
Now it is a moot point, since calibre includes the aforementioned option

but of course if someone was stuck on WinXP the script is still useful. (Wherever it is.)

Josieb1 · 11-10-2015, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Also, I forget where the thread was (and since you don't need it I won't bother to search for it) but I remember you originally had some difficulty editing the script to know where your calibre library is.
Not surprising, since I don't automatically expect people to be comfortable modifying python scripts.

But it underlines the fact that the script hardcoded the location of your calibre library -- which means moving the library breaks the script.

Sometime before the calibre update (I think) but after I gave you the script, I updated it to find the library using calibre's configuration -- no need to edit anything.
Now it is a moot point, since calibre includes the aforementioned option

but of course if someone was stuck on WinXP the script is still useful. (Wherever it is.)

Thank you eschwartz

I do have the thread bookmarked and the scripts you gave me from post 35 on that thread saved to my PC, posting here was a last resort.

I've been playing around since the weekend trying to edit the script with my new Calibre Library location, which is still on my C drive just in my Dropbox folder, but it wouldn't work. I kept getting errors when running the script.

PeterT · 11-10-2015, 07:20 PM

I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of storing a calibre library in a Dropbox folder; I'd be very scared of replications from the cloud to the PC corrupting the library.

AnemicOak · 11-10-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of storing a calibre library in a Dropbox folder; I'd be very scared of replications from the cloud to the PC corrupting the library.

I understand your caution. I can say for myself that it's a risk I'm willing to take as it makes my library ten times more useful to me and the way I use it. Been using it since 2010 without a problem. It is of course not the only copy of my books though.

Josieb1 · 11-11-2015, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of storing a calibre library in a Dropbox folder; I'd be very scared of replications from the cloud to the PC corrupting the library.

It's more missing items I occasionally get but I have three pcs that feed from one calibre library so yes I do need to be careful. It is backed up of course but so far (it's been like this since August) it's working okay. It's the most sensible solution for me.

PeterT · 11-11-2015, 01:14 AM

My approach is to use a tool called Always Sync. I do a one way sync. from my calibre library (stored in C:\Users\Peter\Documents\Peter's Library) to my local Dropbox (c:\users\Peter\DropBox\CalibreLibrary) and then let DropBox do what it wants.

Because the replication is one way only from my calibre library, if any errors were to happen with DropBox they would not be replicated back to my live library.

DoctorOhh · 11-12-2015, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

My approach is to use a tool called Always Sync. I do a one way sync. from my calibre library (stored in C:\Users\Peter\Documents\Peter's Library) to my local Dropbox (c:\users\Peter\DropBox\CalibreLibrary) and then let DropBox do what it wants.

Because the replication is one way only from my calibre library, if any errors were to happen with DropBox they would not be replicated back to my live library.

Your method is much safer and I would advise your method to everyone. That said, I've had my library in Dropbox for 6 years with few hiccups.

11-10-2015, 10:29 AM	#1
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	Calibre Companion - metadata only query Hi A year ago Chaley and eschwartz helped me by creating a python script for me which I then used to create an empty txt file in Calibre. This was so I could send Calibre metadata only to my Kindle Fire. I want the metadata on my fire but not 3500 ebooks. I recently moved my Calibre library to dropbox and also my pc was 'serviced' during which calibre was removed and had to restore it from a back up, and now the python script no longer works, and I have no idea why. I've tried for days to work it out but I keep getting errors on the command prompt. What i'm basicly asking is since the original script was created a year ago has anything changed in Calibre Companion that would alllow me just to send metadata or is it the books or nothing? Thanks Last edited by Josieb1; 11-10-2015 at 10:59 AM.

11-10-2015, 11:09 AM	#2
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,440 Karma: 8012886 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	@Josieb1: If you are running calibre 2.23 or later (an update since last April) then you no longer need the script. Calibre can create the "empty" text files for you. If you are not then I highly recommend that you upgrade. The process: In calibre, search for books with no txt format. The search is Code: not formats:txt Select all the books the search found by pushing Ctrl A or whatever your OS normally uses for select all. Click the down-arrow on the Add Books toolbar icon. Choose "Add an empty file to selected book records". Choose "Add empty txt". Press OK. Calibre will work for a bit. Do the above three steps whenever you add books, or at least whenever you want to send books to CC. In CC, ensure that you have selected TXT files as the only desired format. Go to CC's Settings / Formats and folders and ensure that only "txt" is checked. CC is probably already set up this way. From here on when you send a book to CC it will send an (almost) empty text file and all the metadata. When you connect as a wireless device, the metadata will be updated. I say "almost" because calibre puts the title and the author into the file.

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11-10-2015, 03:25 PM	#4
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)	Also, I forget where the thread was (and since you don't need it I won't bother to search for it) but I remember you originally had some difficulty editing the script to know where your calibre library is. Not surprising, since I don't automatically expect people to be comfortable modifying python scripts. But it underlines the fact that the script hardcoded the location of your calibre library -- which means moving the library breaks the script. Sometime before the calibre update (I think) but after I gave you the script, I updated it to find the library using calibre's configuration -- no need to edit anything. Now it is a moot point, since calibre includes the aforementioned option but of course if someone was stuck on WinXP the script is still useful. (Wherever it is.)

11-10-2015, 07:20 PM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,483 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of storing a calibre library in a Dropbox folder; I'd be very scared of replications from the cloud to the PC corrupting the library.

11-11-2015, 01:14 AM	#9
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,483 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	My approach is to use a tool called Always Sync. I do a one way sync. from my calibre library (stored in C:\Users\Peter\Documents\Peter's Library) to my local Dropbox (c:\users\Peter\DropBox\CalibreLibrary) and then let DropBox do what it wants. Because the replication is one way only from my calibre library, if any errors were to happen with DropBox they would not be replicated back to my live library.

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