Batch convert files while retaining the name
I want to use the following command to convert ebooks from epub format to mobi format:
calibre-convert books/*.epub books/*.mobi
but i want to retain the same file name for all the files.
So book1.epub will create book1.mobi 
book2.epub will create book2.mobi after conversion.
is this doable in the command line? or do i have to write a bash script?
linux command-line bash calibre
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I want to use the following command to convert ebooks from epub format to mobi format:
calibre-convert books/*.epub books/*.mobi
but i want to retain the same file name for all the files.
So book1.epub will create book1.mobi 
book2.epub will create book2.mobi after conversion.
is this doable in the command line? or do i have to write a bash script?
linux command-line bash calibre
New contributor
Tlink is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I want to use the following command to convert ebooks from epub format to mobi format:
calibre-convert books/*.epub books/*.mobi
but i want to retain the same file name for all the files.
So book1.epub will create book1.mobi 
book2.epub will create book2.mobi after conversion.
is this doable in the command line? or do i have to write a bash script?
linux command-line bash calibre
New contributor
Tlink is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I want to use the following command to convert ebooks from epub format to mobi format:
calibre-convert books/*.epub books/*.mobi
but i want to retain the same file name for all the files.
So book1.epub will create book1.mobi 
book2.epub will create book2.mobi after conversion.
is this doable in the command line? or do i have to write a bash script?
linux command-line bash calibre
linux command-line bash calibre
New contributor
Tlink is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Tlink is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
New contributor
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asked 9 hours ago


Tlink
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154
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Tlink is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Tlink is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
                                1 Answer
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( cd books && for file in *.epub; do calibre-convert "$file" "${file%epub}mobi"; done )
The main trick here is ${file%epub} which means "$file with epub at the end removed". This way ${file%epub}mobi translates the extension.
A subshell ((…)) is used so
- the current working directory of the main shell stays intact
- and the filevariable in the main shell doesn't change.
Any directory that matches *.epub in books/ will be passed to calibre-convert as well. It's up to the tool what it will do with the directory. You probably have no such directory there; but if you do, be warned.
Note: I don't know calibre-convert at all; the syntax in my command is simply derived from your command.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
 – Tlink
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Does the sub-shell just avoid having the- cdbe permanent?
 – Xen2050
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
 – Tlink
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with- findor with- **(after- shopt -s globstarin Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).
 – Kamil Maciorowski
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
 – George M
 5 hours ago
 
 
 
|
show 4 more comments
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                                1 Answer
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( cd books && for file in *.epub; do calibre-convert "$file" "${file%epub}mobi"; done )
The main trick here is ${file%epub} which means "$file with epub at the end removed". This way ${file%epub}mobi translates the extension.
A subshell ((…)) is used so
- the current working directory of the main shell stays intact
- and the filevariable in the main shell doesn't change.
Any directory that matches *.epub in books/ will be passed to calibre-convert as well. It's up to the tool what it will do with the directory. You probably have no such directory there; but if you do, be warned.
Note: I don't know calibre-convert at all; the syntax in my command is simply derived from your command.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
 – Tlink
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Does the sub-shell just avoid having the- cdbe permanent?
 – Xen2050
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
 – Tlink
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with- findor with- **(after- shopt -s globstarin Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).
 – Kamil Maciorowski
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
 – George M
 5 hours ago
 
 
 
|
show 4 more comments
( cd books && for file in *.epub; do calibre-convert "$file" "${file%epub}mobi"; done )
The main trick here is ${file%epub} which means "$file with epub at the end removed". This way ${file%epub}mobi translates the extension.
A subshell ((…)) is used so
- the current working directory of the main shell stays intact
- and the filevariable in the main shell doesn't change.
Any directory that matches *.epub in books/ will be passed to calibre-convert as well. It's up to the tool what it will do with the directory. You probably have no such directory there; but if you do, be warned.
Note: I don't know calibre-convert at all; the syntax in my command is simply derived from your command.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
 – Tlink
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Does the sub-shell just avoid having the- cdbe permanent?
 – Xen2050
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
 – Tlink
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with- findor with- **(after- shopt -s globstarin Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).
 – Kamil Maciorowski
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
 – George M
 5 hours ago
 
 
 
|
show 4 more comments
( cd books && for file in *.epub; do calibre-convert "$file" "${file%epub}mobi"; done )
The main trick here is ${file%epub} which means "$file with epub at the end removed". This way ${file%epub}mobi translates the extension.
A subshell ((…)) is used so
- the current working directory of the main shell stays intact
- and the filevariable in the main shell doesn't change.
Any directory that matches *.epub in books/ will be passed to calibre-convert as well. It's up to the tool what it will do with the directory. You probably have no such directory there; but if you do, be warned.
Note: I don't know calibre-convert at all; the syntax in my command is simply derived from your command.
( cd books && for file in *.epub; do calibre-convert "$file" "${file%epub}mobi"; done )
The main trick here is ${file%epub} which means "$file with epub at the end removed". This way ${file%epub}mobi translates the extension.
A subshell ((…)) is used so
- the current working directory of the main shell stays intact
- and the filevariable in the main shell doesn't change.
Any directory that matches *.epub in books/ will be passed to calibre-convert as well. It's up to the tool what it will do with the directory. You probably have no such directory there; but if you do, be warned.
Note: I don't know calibre-convert at all; the syntax in my command is simply derived from your command.
edited 7 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Kamil Maciorowski
23.9k155175
23.9k155175
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
 – Tlink
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Does the sub-shell just avoid having the- cdbe permanent?
 – Xen2050
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
 – Tlink
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with- findor with- **(after- shopt -s globstarin Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).
 – Kamil Maciorowski
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
 – George M
 5 hours ago
 
 
 
|
show 4 more comments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
 – Tlink
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Does the sub-shell just avoid having the- cdbe permanent?
 – Xen2050
 8 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
 – Tlink
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with- findor with- **(after- shopt -s globstarin Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).
 – Kamil Maciorowski
 7 hours ago
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 @Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
 – George M
 5 hours ago
 
 
 
Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
– Tlink
8 hours ago
Thanks for the answer, I wish I could up vote it, but I don't have enough reputations .
– Tlink
8 hours ago
Does the sub-shell just avoid having the
cd be permanent?– Xen2050
8 hours ago
Does the sub-shell just avoid having the
cd be permanent?– Xen2050
8 hours ago
Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
– Tlink
7 hours ago
Do I have to add anything to make the command work recursively on sub folders? find ~/book -name '*.epub' -exec ...........?
– Tlink
7 hours ago
1
1
@Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with
find or with ** (after shopt -s globstar in Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).– Kamil Maciorowski
7 hours ago
@Tlink It's possible to do this recursively with
find or with ** (after shopt -s globstar in Bash). Formal note though: the example in your question is not recursive and my answer keeps things this way. Substantially changing the question after any answer is published (and upvoted, and even accepted by you) is not a good practice here. In my opinion a separate question will be good, where you explicitly ask for a recursive solution (maybe link to this question to provide context, but even then the new question should be standalone).– Kamil Maciorowski
7 hours ago
1
1
@Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
– George M
5 hours ago
@Tlink you should be accepting the answer anyway, instead of merely upvoting it
– George M
5 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
Tlink is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tlink is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tlink is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tlink is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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