Auto Import fails when aut conversion is selected

Bug #1061631 reported by perler
6
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
calibre
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

1. start calibre (virgin if you must)
2. enable automimport, set it to a folder of you choice
3. restart calibre, autoimport works
4. go to preferences|add books and enable some conversions (here epub, mobi)
5. restart calibre, autoimport stops working

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192343

Revision history for this message
Kovid Goyal (kovid) wrote : Re: calibre bug 1061631

I cannot reproduce. Steps I tried.

1) Choose folder (autoconvert enabled which is the default)
2) Restart calibre
3) add epub file
4) file was added
5) file was autoconverted to current output format

 status invalid

Changed in calibre:
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
perler (perler) wrote :

which doesn't really help. here is the same problem on a completely different PC with a different version of calibre:

http://screencast.com/t/UPx09Ub2BNC

I did some more experiments with the current version. it goes like this:L

1) enable auto import
2) enable auto conversion to EPUB
3) add .mobi file
4) works

1) enable auto import
2) enable auto conversion to EPUB
3) add .epub file
4) doesn't work

1) enable auto import
2) enable auto conversion to MOBI
3) add .epub file
4) works

1) enable auto import
2) enable auto conversion to MOBI
3) add .mobi file
4) doesn't work

you see the pattern? if you add a file with the same extension as it is checked in the auto conversion options, the import failes

if you check EPUB and MOBI, import of .epub AND .mobi files fails.

 is there a way to debug this?

Revision history for this message
Kovid Goyal (kovid) wrote :

Read the line above the the list of formats in the preferences dialog.

Revision history for this message
perler (perler) wrote :

ok, no offense, but that's a classic example what's wrong with calibre's UI. too many options in too many places and in this case at a particular confusing place, together with the wrong defaults.

Here is my thought process:

calibre is a library and a converter. a lot of people have multiple reading devices. when shelving ones ebooks, you want to be able to read them afterwards on multiple devices. no matter what format the input file, you want to have them automatically available in /all/ output formats. anything wrong with these thoughts so far?

ok, now I head over to the preferences panel.

first text box is easy enough, specify the import folder. that's enough for most of the users. make the second line (ignore duplicates) a default (it's the obvious choice, who likes duplicates?) and put it into a modal "import options" window together with the "formats to be ignored" list (most people don't care if they have a format to many, again, the obvious choice).

the third line is the most confusing one:

"automatically convert added files to the /current/ output format."

which one is it? how can I change it? why just one format?

the auto conversion should be on a separate tab, as you didn't put auto import on the first page of the "add book" preferences, why putting this one together with auto import? the tought is this: all users want to add books, some users want to auto import and some more want to have auto conversions. in the auto conversions tab you should have a list of formats you can select as your desired formats.

as most users have only the devices and don't know jack about "formats"

a) put a tool tip with the devices, that support each format over the formats or
b) better, have a list of devices/ebook readers there (hard to maintain, I understand) together with a modal "options page" where a user can select which format he prefers for his particular device or
c) put at least a link to something like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats on it.

Revision history for this message
Kovid Goyal (kovid) wrote :

:) You're complaining about the large number of options in calibre while
using an optional feature?! That was hilarious, thank you.

Revision history for this message
perler (perler) wrote :

No, I tried to be constructive. You are welcome.

Revision history for this message
perler (perler) wrote :

But enlighten me: What is the "current" output format?

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