Option to not use ORIGINAL_EPUB if it exists.

[JSWolf]

I would like an option to not use ORIGINAL_EPUB if it exists. or example, doing a polish will create the ORIGINAL_EPUB and that's what I want. But if I do another polish, ORIGINAL_EPUB will be used and I'll lose what I've already done.

I don't want ORIGINAL_EPUB used unless I restore it. I think this would work very well. Thanks.

[fogice]

I just turned off all generation of ORIGINAL_EPUB, and deleted all ORIGINAL_EPUB from my library. If I ever need to go back to the original copy, I'll redownload it from whence it came. Typically, the original is sitting in my Downloads folder when I do my initial edits, so it's easy to reimport.

There's a minimal risk that the item in question will no longer be available, but I'll take that risk.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fogice

I just turned off all generation of ORIGINAL_EPUB, and deleted all ORIGINAL_EPUB from my library. If I ever need to go back to the original copy, I'll redownload it from whence it came. Typically, the original is sitting in my Downloads folder when I do my initial edits, so it's easy to reimport.

There's a minimal risk that the item in question will no longer be available, but I'll take that risk.

I like having ORIGINAL_EPUB. I like it as a backup but not as the source.

[chaley]

Why not copy the epub into the book's data folder? That way you have a backup and don't need to use original_epub.

The quickest way I can think of to copy a format into the data folder is:

1. Use 'O' to open the book folder.
2. Open Edit Metadata / Manage data files.
3. Drag the epub from the file explorer window to the Manage data files dialog, which copies the format.

FWIW: I'm not interested in adding the option. @kovid might be but you would probably need to make an enhancement request on https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by chaley

Why not copy the epub into the book's data folder? That way you have a backup and don't need to use original_epub.

The quickest way I can think of to copy a format into the data folder is:

1. Use 'O' to open the book folder.
2. Open Edit Metadata / Manage data files.
3. Drag the epub from the file explorer window to the Manage data files dialog, which copies the format.

FWIW: I'm not interested in adding the option. @kovid might be but you would probably need to make an enhancement request on https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre.

I only want ORIGINAL_EPUB while I'm editing the ePub in case I make some major mistake and it gets saved. I do delete ORIGINAL_EPUB after I am done with my editing.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I only want ORIGINAL_EPUB while I'm editing the ePub in case I make some major mistake and it gets saved. I do delete ORIGINAL_EPUB after I am done with my editing.

That doesn't negate my suggestion. Make the backup, do your editing, and when you are satisfied delete the backup using the same Manage data files dialog.

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by chaley

Why not copy the epub into the book's data folder? That way you have a backup and don't need to use original_epub.

That is exactly what I do.
Though before the data folder came along, I just did a quick copy/paste so I ended up with "MyBook - Copy.epub"
Then I would occasionally run the Check Library function to pick up any "-Copy" I have forgotten to delete.

I tried the "Original-EPUB" option at the very beginning of my epub journey, but honestly found it a bit confusing at the time, not really knowing what was being edited and restored and copied, so chose not to use it.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

Why not copy the epub into the book's data folder? That way you have a backup and don't need to use original_epub.

The quickest way I can think of to copy a format into the data folder is:

1. Use 'O' to open the book folder.
2. Open Edit Metadata / Manage data files.
3. Drag the epub from the file explorer window to the Manage data files dialog, which copies the format.

FWIW: I'm not interested in adding the option. @kovid might be but you would probably need to make an enhancement request on https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre.

After adding a book and satisfying myself that the authors and title columns are as I want them I do this:

• open the data folder - if it doesn't exist calibre creates it;
• create a 'download' subdirectory;
• move the downloaded format file with its source file name into the data\downloads folder using ctrl/x, ctrl+v.

I occasionally copy a format files from the 'book' folder to the 'data' folder, usually into a subfolder with timestamp prepended to the file name.

I disabled the creation of ORIGINAL-XXXX files soon after I installed calibre. I take any precautionary measures I deem necessary before converting, polishing etc.

BR

[theducks]

Originally Posted by fogice

I just turned off all generation of ORIGINAL_EPUB, and deleted all ORIGINAL_EPUB from my library. If I ever need to go back to the original copy, I'll redownload it from whence it came. Typically, the original is sitting in my Downloads folder when I do my initial edits, so it's easy to reimport.

There's a minimal risk that the item in question will no longer be available, but I'll take that risk.

I keep a backup of the Library on another PC (a freefilesync mirror), I just snag the book from that and replace the one I foo'd

[kovidgoyal]

This has been requested before and as I said before, the purpose of ORIGINAL_EPUB is to allow you to recover from EPUB to EPUB conversions/polishing/etc. It's not a general backup mechanism and if you dont like its use you can turn it off. I am not interested in trying ot convert it into some kind of backup mechanism.

[dneal12]

It might be nice to create a "create snapshot" and "restore snapshot" that would copy formats into the data folder so you could recover to a savepoint. Personally I would love to be able to save a "pre-calibre" original that I could restore to but then keep the same book record with opf file. The biggest advantage or the ORIGINAL_XXXX format is that you can "Restore pre conversion originals, if available" quickly and easily.