Get Calibre version from the command line

AndyBlack · 07-28-2017, 02:25 PM

Hi. We have a need to know which version of Calibre is installed without actually running it. (We're using calibredb to create a new ebook from another application.) Apparently, there is a difference between versions 1, 2 and version 3 in what

calibredb add -d filename
calibredb list -f size

produces. In versions 1 and 2, the just added ID was in the next to last line. In version 3 it is the last line. We'd like to be able to know the version of Calibre being used so we can know which line to use with the calibredb list command.

Thanks.

Divingduck · 07-28-2017, 04:52 PM

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gen...cli-index.html

AndyBlack · 07-28-2017, 05:08 PM

Thanks, but with Calibre 3.5, when I use

calibre --version

on Windows, there is nothing shown. It's silent.

Divingduck · 07-28-2017, 05:14 PM

take calibredb --version

and your example is a little hint for Kovid

Edit: @Kovid,
ebook-edit, ebook-viewer, lrfviewer have the same behavior as calibre --version

BetterRed · 07-28-2017, 06:51 PM

IIRC you can use the WMIC command to get the version number of an .exe (or .dll). It's been a long time since I used WMIC, but it should be available in all versions of Windows - the so-called 'instrumentation' features wouldn't work without it.

BR

kovidgoyal · 07-29-2017, 01:19 AM

Yes, there is a reason windows is named windows. Basically, in windows programs can be either console or "window" programs. The latter are not supposed to output to stdout.

AndyBlack · 07-29-2017, 01:16 PM

Thanks.

I had not tried using

calibredb --version

That works on Windows, Linux, and Mac. So we're all set.

democrite · 11-13-2019, 07:59 PM

Hello,

is there a quicker way to get the version number from the command-line, Python, or some other way such as reading some json value? Reporting the version from "calibre --version" takes a bit of time and I'd prefer something quicker like parsing json.

kovidgoyal · 11-13-2019, 08:03 PM

calibre-debug -c "from calibre.constants import __version__; print(__version)"

that's the quickest you are going to get. version information is not stored in JSON, but in compiled bytecode.

democrite · 11-14-2019, 07:40 PM

Thank you. That is an improvement. I'm unsure how accurate is using "time" from the command-line. On macOS on my system, it measures as ~.05s. In my use, that is a measurable increase that will affect UI updates. As my need is only macOS, maybe I can detect version number –*I need only to know it's using the updated viewer –, by checking for some existing file that's new with 4.x. Would you consider adding major version to a main json preference file? I haven't yet tried to figure out what will be potentially quickest (using Go) though I will try soon.

kovidgoyal · 11-14-2019, 08:45 PM

On macOS you can get it from Info.plist in the app bundle.

democrite · 11-14-2019, 09:08 PM

ah yes.

07-28-2017, 02:25 PM	#1
AndyBlack Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: none	Get Calibre version from the command line Hi. We have a need to know which version of Calibre is installed without actually running it. (We're using calibredb to create a new ebook from another application.) Apparently, there is a difference between versions 1, 2 and version 3 in what calibredb add -d filename calibredb list -f size produces. In versions 1 and 2, the just added ID was in the next to last line. In version 3 it is the last line. We'd like to be able to know the version of Calibre being used so we can know which line to use with the calibredb list command. Thanks.

07-28-2017, 05:14 PM	#4
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,166 Karma: 1410083 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	take calibredb --version and your example is a little hint for Kovid Edit: @Kovid, ebook-edit, ebook-viewer, lrfviewer have the same behavior as calibre --version Last edited by Divingduck; 07-28-2017 at 05:33 PM.

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07-28-2017, 04:52 PM	#2
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,166 Karma: 1410083 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gen...cli-index.html

07-28-2017, 05:08 PM	#3
AndyBlack Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: none	Thanks, but with Calibre 3.5, when I use calibre --version on Windows, there is nothing shown. It's silent.

07-28-2017, 06:51 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,660 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	IIRC you can use the WMIC command to get the version number of an .exe (or .dll). It's been a long time since I used WMIC, but it should be available in all versions of Windows - the so-called 'instrumentation' features wouldn't work without it. BR

07-29-2017, 01:19 AM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Yes, there is a reason windows is named windows. Basically, in windows programs can be either console or "window" programs. The latter are not supposed to output to stdout.

07-29-2017, 01:16 PM	#7
AndyBlack Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: none	Thanks. I had not tried using calibredb --version That works on Windows, Linux, and Mac. So we're all set.

11-13-2019, 07:59 PM	#8
democrite Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 77256 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	Hello, is there a quicker way to get the version number from the command-line, Python, or some other way such as reading some json value? Reporting the version from "calibre --version" takes a bit of time and I'd prefer something quicker like parsing json.

11-13-2019, 08:03 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre-debug -c "from calibre.constants import __version__; print(__version)" that's the quickest you are going to get. version information is not stored in JSON, but in compiled bytecode.

11-14-2019, 07:40 PM	#10
democrite Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 77256 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	Thank you. That is an improvement. I'm unsure how accurate is using "time" from the command-line. On macOS on my system, it measures as ~.05s. In my use, that is a measurable increase that will affect UI updates. As my need is only macOS, maybe I can detect version number –*I need only to know it's using the updated viewer –, by checking for some existing file that's new with 4.x. Would you consider adding major version to a main json preference file? I haven't yet tried to figure out what will be potentially quickest (using Go) though I will try soon.

11-14-2019, 08:45 PM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	On macOS you can get it from Info.plist in the app bundle.

11-14-2019, 09:08 PM	#12
democrite Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 77256 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	ah yes.

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