Question about calibre, news downloads, and kobo

Lavender · 03-25-2025, 11:43 AM

I have a couple news downloads scheduled in calibre, and have noticed that new news items are being automatically synced to my clara bw when I connect it. I like this, but want to know how the function is controlled. Is there a setting somewhere that tells calibre to automatically sync news items to the devices on sync? Can't find it anywhere.

I have kobo utilities installed as well. Is this dependent on the plugin, or something native to calibre? Also, will the kobo keep all the news files until I remove them?

DNSB · 03-25-2025, 01:46 PM

Native to calibre. AFAIK, you will have to manually remove the news items. I think the automatic send is baked into the Fetch News plugin which has no configuration options.

PeterT · 03-25-2025, 02:08 PM

I know there is an option not to send news. As soon as I get home I'll check for it.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

Lavender · 03-25-2025, 02:27 PM

I like the function of news being auto-synced, but was hoping there might be a way to remove the old news files from the device if newer files are being added. If not, I might create a feature request. Maybe one with the option to remove old files based on file age, or read state.

PeterT · 03-25-2025, 06:31 PM

OK. Automatic sending of News is controlled by Preferences | Interface | Behavior | Automatically send downloaded news to e-book reader.

PeterT · 03-25-2025, 06:59 PM

Try using the SmartEject plugin https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=192950

I configured the default options to

Only check for Deleted Books (not in Library)
The search for Deleted Books (not in library) to be
Code:
```
inlibrary:False and intags:News
```
instead of the default
Code:
```
inlibrary:False
```

Lavender · 03-26-2025, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

OK. Automatic sending of News is controlled by Preferences | Interface | Behavior | Automatically send downloaded news to e-book reader.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Try using the SmartEject plugin https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=192950

I configured the default options to

Only check for Deleted Books (not in Library)
The search for Deleted Books (not in library) to be
Code:
```
inlibrary:False and intags:News
```
instead of the default
Code:
```
inlibrary:False
```

Thank you for the info. I'm going to give this a shot. Wondering if the deleted books (not in library) option described in tool tip hover as "check for books on device that are not in the current library" will copy back the newly converted .kepub files on my kobo. I would rather save space on my PC, and only keep my original .epub files. Going to ask about it in the SmartEject plugin's thread if I don't see it asked yet. Probably a more relevant issue now that kobo support is increased after v8.00.

Lavender · Yesterday, 04:36 PM

After testing the smart eject plugin I have gotten it to work for finding duplicate books on device, but not for finding books which are on device only and have been deleted from the calibre library. I tried the "inlibrary: False and intags:News" setting for the deleted books section as described by @PeterT.

My news items are being removed from the calibre library on a rotating schedule automatically since I have each news item set to only keep the latest 7 downloads. Many more news downloads than that are currently on my kobo, and should be getting seen by smart eject (I think). Not sure what to try next.

If anyone has tips, or ideas I would be very thankful.

Quoth · Yesterday, 06:15 PM

Select Device instead of Library and it shows items on the device and if they are not in the library.

Lavender · Yesterday, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Select Device instead of Library and it shows items on the device and if they are not in the library.

I know how to see the items which are in library or not. I'm trying to find a way to automate the removal of files from device which are no longer in the calibre library at device sync. I was told the smart eject plugin can search for these automatically, but I haven't gotten it to work yet.

I could manually select all the files which are no longer in the library, and delete them from the device as you describe. I'd rather have this all automatic though.

Lavender · Yesterday, 06:52 PM

So I tested the smart eject plugin with default settings, and it works to find files deleted from the library which are still on device. It stops working when I change the setting to "inlibrary:False and intags:News" it seems. I'm guessing the search syntax is incorrect for calibre? Going to try looking up calibre documentation for search syntax, but if anyone has knowledge on this I'm open for suggestions.

Lavender · Yesterday, 07:05 PM

Okay, so after trial and error I found that the correct search syntax is the following.

Quote:

inlibrary:False and tags:"News"

If you get the syntax wrong it just doesn't find anything, and ejects without showing the files. Hope this helps someone in the future.

PeterT · Yesterday, 08:30 PM

Of course I just realized.. when the book is dropped from calibre, the metadata in it gets dropped too! so things like tags won't work!

How dumb can I be!

I think you'll just need to stick to I library:false

Lavender · Yesterday, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Of course I just realized.. when the book is dropped from calibre, the metadata in it gets dropped too! so things like tags won't work!

How dumb can I be!

I think you'll just need to stick to I library:false

Actually the tags search did work for me. I just had to switch from

Quote:

inlibrary:False and intags:News

to

Quote:

inlibrary:False and tags:"News"

Maybe the tag search works because I have a plugboard setting to pass the tags to kepub files sent to the kobo? Not sure.

PeterT · Yesterday, 09:30 PM

Oh good to hear

I've no idea how I came up with intags syntax; it seems to have been a figment of my imagination.

03-25-2025, 11:43 AM	#1
Lavender Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 514138 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kobo Clara BW	Question about calibre, news downloads, and kobo I have a couple news downloads scheduled in calibre, and have noticed that new news items are being automatically synced to my clara bw when I connect it. I like this, but want to know how the function is controlled. Is there a setting somewhere that tells calibre to automatically sync news items to the devices on sync? Can't find it anywhere. I have kobo utilities installed as well. Is this dependent on the plugin, or something native to calibre? Also, will the kobo keep all the news files until I remove them?

03-25-2025, 06:59 PM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,403 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Try using the SmartEject plugin https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=192950 I configured the default options to Only check for Deleted Books (not in Library) The search for Deleted Books (not in library) to be Code: inlibrary:False and intags:News instead of the default Code: inlibrary:False

Yesterday, 08:30 PM	#13
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,403 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Of course I just realized.. when the book is dropped from calibre, the metadata in it gets dropped too! so things like tags won't work! How dumb can I be! I think you'll just need to stick to I library:false Last edited by PeterT; Yesterday at 08:46 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Calibre news downloads, How to send them to kobo?	Lavender	Kobo Reader	2	03-21-2025 06:59 AM
News downloads and scheduled downloads mysteriously disappeared.	mkgtu	Calibre	6	05-08-2023 10:39 AM
News downloads very slow in Calibre	tankish1	Calibre	0	08-28-2012 05:16 PM
question about news downloads	edzard	Recipes	2	10-11-2011 07:23 AM
Calibre question regarding automated news downloads	Mark Rehorst	Amazon Kindle	0	05-14-2011 02:27 PM

03-25-2025, 01:46 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,599 Karma: 168929308 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Native to calibre. AFAIK, you will have to manually remove the news items. I think the automatic send is baked into the Fetch News plugin which has no configuration options.

03-25-2025, 02:08 PM	#3
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,403 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I know there is an option not to send news. As soon as I get home I'll check for it. Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

03-25-2025, 02:27 PM	#4
Lavender Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 514138 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kobo Clara BW	I like the function of news being auto-synced, but was hoping there might be a way to remove the old news files from the device if newer files are being added. If not, I might create a feature request. Maybe one with the option to remove old files based on file age, or read state.

03-25-2025, 06:31 PM	#5
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,403 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	OK. Automatic sending of News is controlled by Preferences \| Interface \| Behavior \| Automatically send downloaded news to e-book reader.

Yesterday, 04:36 PM	#8
Lavender Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 514138 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kobo Clara BW	After testing the smart eject plugin I have gotten it to work for finding duplicate books on device, but not for finding books which are on device only and have been deleted from the calibre library. I tried the "inlibrary: False and intags:News" setting for the deleted books section as described by @PeterT. My news items are being removed from the calibre library on a rotating schedule automatically since I have each news item set to only keep the latest 7 downloads. Many more news downloads than that are currently on my kobo, and should be getting seen by smart eject (I think). Not sure what to try next. If anyone has tips, or ideas I would be very thankful.

Yesterday, 06:15 PM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,850 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Select Device instead of Library and it shows items on the device and if they are not in the library.

Yesterday, 06:52 PM	#11
Lavender Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 514138 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kobo Clara BW	So I tested the smart eject plugin with default settings, and it works to find files deleted from the library which are still on device. It stops working when I change the setting to "inlibrary:False and intags:News" it seems. I'm guessing the search syntax is incorrect for calibre? Going to try looking up calibre documentation for search syntax, but if anyone has knowledge on this I'm open for suggestions.

Yesterday, 09:30 PM	#15
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,403 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Oh good to hear I've no idea how I came up with intags syntax; it seems to have been a figment of my imagination.

Advert

Advert