Tag/category load into iBooks

[Ian Brown]

I used all available tools to clean up the tags in Calibre. Some of my own and some free additions :). I used the"Manage authors, tags etc" function to make sure all errors had been resolved. I then imported my Calibre library in iBooks (sadly Stanza has died under ios 5). This was a completely new fresh load (deleted all books in iBooks and reloaded). However some of the tags I'd removed show up in iBooks.

[Kovid Goyal (kovid)]

Changing the component for this bug.

 assignee griker
 tag apple-driver
 status triaged

[GRiker (griker-deactivatedaccount)]

When a book is added to iTunes, the metadata inside the book is used to create the category/genre shown in both iTunes and iBooks. The first <dc:subject> tag in the metadata is used. These can be edited using Sigil.

When calibre adds a book to iTunes, it overwrites the default category/genre information gleaned from the book's metadata with whatever tag information you provide. If you have no tags defined for the book, then the original <dc:subject> tag is used from the book's metadata.

Calibre does not remove metadata tags from the book, it only overwrites them using iTunes automation.

If you want no tags shown in iTunes/iBooks, you have two options:
1) Use Sigil to edit the original book, remove the subject metadata
2) Use iTunes to remove the category/genre information before sending the book to iBooks

[GRiker (griker-deactivatedaccount)]

There's one other approach you might try. There is a newly released 'Modify ePub' plugin available for calibre. You can find more about it at http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154371

You can try using this to modify the metadata. I haven't tried it, but it should rewrite the dc:subject fields from the tag metadata. If it doesn't work, that would be a reasonable enhancement request.

[Ian Brown (ian-k-brown)]

Griker (nice handle :)),

Thanks for your answer, much appreciated. I cleaned my Calibre library using
your tool. It modified no less that 5439 of the 5519 eBooks.
    -

I have a few other questions if you have the time and inclination to answer.
You might get inundated with questions.

1 I'm having big problems with iBooks as for some reason it continues
syncing eBooks for no apparent reason. This also causes the eBook folder to
increase in size on my iPad. Up until now only restoring my iPad and
reloading the eBooks works. The problems resurfaces as soon as I add a book.
I'm on the latest versions on iTunes, Calibre and ios. Any ideas for a
solution?

2 Would it help if I add books to iTunes using Calibre? I currently just
drap and drop the Calibre folder in iTunes.

3 Do you know of a good eBook reader for the iPad? I've tried all the ones
I can find in iTunes and they are all bad. Stanza still has the best
interface but sadly is no longer supported on ios 5. Sob. I suggested to
Kovid Goyal that he develop an eBook app for the iPad. I think he'd make a
fortune if he provided something better than Stanza and of course linked to
Calibre.

4 Interested in sharing/ eBook collections? Mine has currently 5500
eBooks. Well organised using Calibre.

Kind regards,

Ian Brown

On 10/23/11 7:31 AM, "GRiker" <email address hidden> wrote:

> There's one other approach you might try. There is a newly released
> 'Modify ePub' plugin available for calibre. You can find more about it
> at http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154371
>
> You can try using this to modify the metadata. I haven't tried it, but
> it should rewrite the dc:subject fields from the tag metadata. If it
> doesn't work, that would be a reasonable enhancement request.

[Ian Brown (ian-k-brown)]

Griker,

The problem sadly isn't solved. I selected the following options:
- Remove OS artifact files
- Remove missing file entries from manifest
- Add unmanifested files to manifest
- Remove unmanifested files from ePub
- Remove legacy metadata jackets
- Update metatdata (including cover)

Did I miss anything?

Regards,

Ian

On 10/23/11 7:31 AM, "GRiker" <email address hidden> wrote:

> There's one other approach you might try. There is a newly released
> 'Modify ePub' plugin available for calibre. You can find more about it
> at http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154371
>
> You can try using this to modify the metadata. I haven't tried it, but
> it should rewrite the dc:subject fields from the tag metadata. If it
> doesn't work, that would be a reasonable enhancement request.

[GRiker (griker-deactivatedaccount)]

I'm looking at revising the driver code, so I'm reopening this ticket until I determine the best approach.

[Kovid Goyal (kovid)]

Fixed in branch lp:calibre. The fix will be in the next release. calibre is usually released every Friday.

 status fixreleased