Updating the original eBook to convert again

SoftwareManiac · 01-31-2011, 10:16 AM

I'm new at this so i apologize in advance, but I wanted to make sure. Once I load an eBook (using .epub format, for example) into calibre, I can easily convert it (to .mobi, for example) and view it with the Kindle Previewer or the built-in calibre viewer.

My question is: once I update the original eBook, I'm not sure if calibre knows what to do? I have dragged the new copy over, but all it does is build more versions with folder suffixes (2), (3), ... and so on. I guess since calibre keeps its own database of settings and all it knows the location of the original eBook?

Since many of us use calibre for eBook self-publishing conversion, I would assume this would be a common practice. I haven't seen any description in the guides or videos describing this.

itimpi · 01-31-2011, 11:07 AM

Note that Calibre does NOT know the location of the original eBook. When you add a book, Calibre makes a copy into it's own folder structure leaving the original unchanged.

If you want to update a format in the Calibre library then probably the easiest way is to open the Edit Metadata dialog for the book in question, and having done that drag the new book to the formats area of that dialog. If the format does not exist, then it is added as an additional format. If it does exist then the new one replaces the old one.

It sounds as if what you have been doing is creating additional book entries in the Calibre library. It is perfectly permissible in Calibre to have multiple entries for the same book if that is what you want. However then each entry has it's own copy of the underlying ebook files. I do not think that is what you are trying to achieve?

SoftwareManiac · 01-31-2011, 03:13 PM

Hi!

Thanks for the prompt response.

I am publishing an eBook from InDesign as eNovel.epub and I want to convert it to Kindle format, eNovel.mobi. I have art that is all set and along with the metadata shouldn't change.

The only thing that will be updated will be updates to eNovel.epub that I'll want to reconvert. As I experiment with the formatting that works in InDesign (where I create the master document), I can see having many updates. My goal is to leave the ePub ZIPPed files completely untouched.

I was just trying to understand how the workflow would work without having to create a new book each time in calibre.

Thanks for any further advice!
Ken

Manichean · 01-31-2011, 05:59 PM

If you don't want to use the method via edit metadata as itimpi posted above, you could set up a script that does the conversion. Most OSes support creating shorcuts that, if you dropped a file onto the shortcut, run the script on the file. That would, depending on the script, however not necessarily create a book entry inside Calibre, though it should be sufficient if all you're after is the conversion.

SoftwareManiac · 01-31-2011, 06:25 PM

Thanks.
Can I ask then what the folder location is where calibre keeps the input ebook file or is that proprietary (or embedded in some other database structure)?

Ken

Manichean · 02-01-2011, 03:08 AM

Sure, look inside the path you selected for your Calibre library. Though I'd seriously advise against messing around in there, you could break things badly by directly working inside that folder. Use the GUI or CLI tools for that.

01-31-2011, 10:16 AM	#1
SoftwareManiac Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle	Updating the original eBook to convert again I'm new at this so i apologize in advance, but I wanted to make sure. Once I load an eBook (using .epub format, for example) into calibre, I can easily convert it (to .mobi, for example) and view it with the Kindle Previewer or the built-in calibre viewer. My question is: once I update the original eBook, I'm not sure if calibre knows what to do? I have dragged the new copy over, but all it does is build more versions with folder suffixes (2), (3), ... and so on. I guess since calibre keeps its own database of settings and all it knows the location of the original eBook? Since many of us use calibre for eBook self-publishing conversion, I would assume this would be a common practice. I haven't seen any description in the guides or videos describing this.

01-31-2011, 11:07 AM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Note that Calibre does NOT know the location of the original eBook. When you add a book, Calibre makes a copy into it's own folder structure leaving the original unchanged. If you want to update a format in the Calibre library then probably the easiest way is to open the Edit Metadata dialog for the book in question, and having done that drag the new book to the formats area of that dialog. If the format does not exist, then it is added as an additional format. If it does exist then the new one replaces the old one. It sounds as if what you have been doing is creating additional book entries in the Calibre library. It is perfectly permissible in Calibre to have multiple entries for the same book if that is what you want. However then each entry has it's own copy of the underlying ebook files. I do not think that is what you are trying to achieve? Last edited by itimpi; 01-31-2011 at 11:10 AM.

01-31-2011, 03:13 PM	#3
SoftwareManiac Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle	Response Hi! Thanks for the prompt response. I am publishing an eBook from InDesign as eNovel.epub and I want to convert it to Kindle format, eNovel.mobi. I have art that is all set and along with the metadata shouldn't change. The only thing that will be updated will be updates to eNovel.epub that I'll want to reconvert. As I experiment with the formatting that works in InDesign (where I create the master document), I can see having many updates. My goal is to leave the ePub ZIPPed files completely untouched. I was just trying to understand how the workflow would work without having to create a new book each time in calibre. Thanks for any further advice! Ken

01-31-2011, 06:25 PM	#5
SoftwareManiac Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle	Location of input eBooks Thanks. Can I ask then what the folder location is where calibre keeps the input ebook file or is that proprietary (or embedded in some other database structure)? Ken

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01-31-2011, 05:59 PM	#4
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	If you don't want to use the method via edit metadata as itimpi posted above, you could set up a script that does the conversion. Most OSes support creating shorcuts that, if you dropped a file onto the shortcut, run the script on the file. That would, depending on the script, however not necessarily create a book entry inside Calibre, though it should be sufficient if all you're after is the conversion.

02-01-2011, 03:08 AM	#6
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	Sure, look inside the path you selected for your Calibre library. Though I'd seriously advise against messing around in there, you could break things badly by directly working inside that folder. Use the GUI or CLI tools for that.