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Every Single Problem with iBooks for Mac

Hello,

It is disappointing that as Apple users we are used to doing things a certain way for years, and Apple's way forward results in less functionality and flexibility.

Here is a list of all the problems I have been facing with iBooks for Mac:

1. Transfer of Books to iPad or iPhone from iBooks is non-existant. If I create or download a DRM-free epub and or PDF and add it to iBooks for Mac (i.e. it wasn't downloaded from the iBooks Store), there is no direct way to transfer them to your iOS device through iBooks. Even books downloaded from the iBooks Store, since iBooks itself doesn't allow the transfer of files to the iOS device.

2. iBooks doesn't allow us to Edit metadata. Many PDFs come without metadata. And to organize them into the library as was previously possible in iTunes, we could add Author, Genre, Year, etc... Also even for books we actually download from the iBooks Store maybe we want to change the Genre or Category the book is in or simplify the Author's name.

3. iBooks essentially duplicates any PDF or ePub we drag to it into it's own library. Acting like iTunes "Copy files to iTunes Media Library when adding to library". If I have hundreds of PDF's that are hundreds of Megabytes in size, I don't want them duplicated again, especially when it's duplicated on my default Macintosh HD whom many people have as SSDs nowadays.

4. iBooks doesn't allow us to create or choose multiple libraries and have them in any destination we want (like it is possible with iTunes, iPhoto, Aperture, etc). By Option-Clicking on iBooks we should have that option.

5. The ability to delete Collections in iBooks for Mac.

All the above problems are surprising, as what essentially Apple has done is a book reader, and not a book library management tool. With books becoming more and more digital and more and more people using them, so does the amount of books in one's collection grow. It is virtually impossible to manage any book collection with such a lack of features.

Should anyone have solutions to the aformentioned problems or ideas on how to overcome them, please feel free to post them here.

Should anyone have other problems they encountered in this initial version of iBooks, please feel free to post them here, as this would be a good place to sythesize all that's bothering a lot of people with this new phase into Apple's ecosystem of iBooks.

Thank you,

Nick

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 3:24 AM

Best reply

Andy Epprecht

Level 1

76 points

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 4:01 AM

@bookarts

exactly the same for me. This is the worst ever released application from Apple IMHO.

All my well kept and organised books and pdf's are now in disorder. Lost their categorie settings, their author setting and on top of all can't be edited in iBooks anymore and any further. No chance to edit wrong typings and to fill missing information (eg. authors, categories, ...).

I used to organise my papers (mostly PDF's) in iTunes like a document manager, the way I needed them on my various iOS devices and used them for work. I had groupings for my books like computing - networks, computing - guides, computing - iOS, computing - scripting, etc. .... now all is gone and lost. How am I supposed to organise over 1300 papers without any editing possibility (only sections can be assigned, no categories can be, neither can any information be edited/changed/corrected?

And on top of that all: HOW DO I BACKUP / RESTORE MY BOOKS from now on?

The books and PDF's are moved from the iTunes Library, where they were accessible and editable and where I could backup my whole media library on external NAS and storage. How will I get back my books/PDFs in the future if I setup my Mac Pro again from scratch or in case of a disaster (eg. failing disk)? Am I forced to use TimeMachine here?

There is no way to define by myselfs the place where the iBooks are stored on my system. No, they are all moved to some well hidden place into the users-library filling up my (until iBooks/Mavericks) system only SSD hard drive with hidden books. Is this the new strategy of Apple to try to make me under-age?

No editing, very limited organizing, no possibilty to define it's own storage-location, no backup/restore (no export/archive like in most other application like calender, addressbook, mail, etc. ....) what the **** is that?

I like most of Mavericks new additions but this here with iBooks is a mess and complete drawback for a user that liked to read his books on his iOS devices and was well organized.

And to be honest, I seriously consider to migrate back to OS X Mountain Lion just because of this ridiculous implementation of iBooks!

View in context

145 replies

Oct 26, 2013 7:41 AM in response to Nicolas Online

Hello,

Just wanted to update people from this other thread I'm following on the matter and user Kevin Edgecomb who came in with a good temporary solution to all the above problems by completely forgoing iBooks and reverting to the old way of managing books in iTunes without having to downgrade back to Mountain Lion.

Here it is:

Kevin Edgecomb

Re: Not impressed! No edit info, no library management!

Oct 26, 2013 12:17 AM (in response to babbdawg)

I'm glad it worked, for those of you who tried it.

Here's the step by step of exactly what I did.

1.) Stopped the bookstoreagent process.

2.) Moved its file to elsewhere (Documents) so it wouldn't start up again on reboot.

3.) Copied the new buried iBooks book storage folder to my Desktop

4.) Opened up iTunes, and added all those books back in from that Desktop copy of the directory

5.) In iTunes, used the Library Manager to copy all those books back into the iTunes directory for storage.

6.) Went back and deleted my Desktop copy of the iBooks storage, and iBooks for Mac, and the books in the new iBooks storage folder.

7.) Crossed my fingers.

8.) Opened up iTunes, saw all my stuff there, synced to my iPad, and was, yea, verily happified.

It worked for me, anyway. You would certainly have to close iTunes and restart it after stopping the bookstoreagent process for Books to return, but you'll also have to add books into iTunes for the Books tab to reappear. Just use File: Add to Library for that. After the tab is back, you can just drag and drop files onto it to add books.

I did have one weird thing happen. A pdf showed up in Music! Strange. But nothing awful happened.

I figure if someday iBooks is all fixed up and works well, they'll have a download of it available, and I'll reinstall it at that point. But I was miffed that there was no warning that the inadequate iBooks would take over all book management from iTunes if you simply opened it. Not cool at all. Irritating, in fact.

Anyway, I'm happy to have helped figure something out that's been helpful to others. Happy weekend!

Oct 26, 2013 9:18 AM in response to Nicolas Online

Surprising how little feedback from Apple given the problems with this very buggy and inadequate program. I copied the URL, for this thread, and sent it to them via the feedback link in iBook. Perhaps if they get a lot of feedback like that, this problem will be addressed in a timely manner. One can only hope.

Oct 26, 2013 9:23 AM in response to Michael Kahn

Apple almost never responds in these forums - these is for user to user support only. They also almost never respond directly to anything posted via the feedback pages.

Essentially, there response, if or when it comes, will be in the form of an update or new release.

Oct 26, 2013 12:38 PM in response to Courtney Trusty

First, I'd like to see Calibre provide a mechanism to maintain the libraries and feed iBooks, both on the Mac and the iPad. I know Calibre is not Apple supported but it could turn into a true one-stop shop for eBooks and iBooks could be relegated to being just a reader and a way to order books from Apple.

But there is another way to transfer new titles to iBooks on the iPad. It's a kludge but it works and is not toooooo slow. Select the book file in the finder (mine are often from Project Gutenberg in epub format) and select SHARE chosing email. Mail it to yourself; receive the email on the iPad; download the eBook to the email; select the embedded email and tell it to open the document in iBooks.

Violà, the epub is on the iPad for subsequent reading.

ssgp

Level 1

71 points

Oct 27, 2013 1:05 AM in response to Nicolas Online

The only thing iBooks has going for it is that it's fast.

epubs are basically containers for HTML files with some formatting markup.

iBooks trashes your epubs after extracting its contents into ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.BKAgentService/Data/Documents/iBooks/Books, so there's no way of getting back your epubs (so far).

Bad move. Very bad.

Gilloo

Level 1

0 points

Oct 27, 2013 3:57 AM in response to Nicolas Online

This trick is not working for everybody...(and not for me )

😠

Oct 27, 2013 5:31 AM in response to Nicolas Online

I am very disappointed with Apple because with the changes they made I am not able to import books easily into my iPad and I have a large number of books maintained and saved on my iMac especially in a foreign language.

It appears that Apple wants its customers to buy books only from its store as these only can be imported in various Apple devices.

As I use my iPad extensively for reading if Apple doesn't correct this problem I will be forced to change brand.

Oct 27, 2013 6:21 AM in response to Gilloo

Fortunately, I had not upgraded(?) my MacBook Air so was able to retrieve and load all of my books, many of which are PDF format, on the Air. I disconnected it from iCloud so that it couldn't be contaminated with additions or deletions that I don't intend.

I have read and saved all of the suggestions, however am afraid to move forward on my desktop iMac because some of the suggestions are really hard to understand, especially when some of the links and files can't be found on my computer, it is uncertain whether everything will go up in smoke or like when I tried to clear some tagging done before Maverick all of the tagged files were deleted as well as the option of using that flag color. The red dot disappeared along with all of the tagged files. Poof.

Have no trust that, that won't happen with all of my books. Next step is to try and change sync authorization of iPad from iMac to MacBook and hope that I don't loose everything in that process.

It is becoming more and more like a "mind/property" controlling issue with Apple than presenting useful intuitive programs any more. We need more flexibility and access not a rigid set of programs that doesn't allow a user to make their own decisions.

Oct 27, 2013 6:26 AM in response to ssgp

I discovered that books that I had backed up on an external drive which was unfortunately connected at the time of install but not active that iBooks even converted the Books on the backup. It is as though if they can't controll the pricing they will control the format in a monopoly. It is very much like the Adobe digital reader and format which can't be sorted, added to or categorized either.

At least with real books I have the information at hand and it stays the same each time I open the book and can move them from room to room without the title or author changing.

Excel actually is still the best way to sort, list and control information, it may have been better to never upgrade and just keep everything in the basic Excel spreadsheets.

Oct 27, 2013 8:00 PM in response to Nicolas Online

thank you

I hope this get enough views and replies to let them know they have made iBook almost unusable.

Wozzeck

Level 1

20 points

Oct 27, 2013 11:23 PM in response to Nicolas Online

iBooks is frighteningly horrible, an absolutely wretched program, the software analog of the hockey puck mouse.

That's being polite---in reality, it is a complete abortion of a program, sucking not just in and of itself, but also removing substantial functionality from iTunes.

Kill it with fire.

Here are the instructions I followed to both nuke iBooks from orbit and restore iTunes to previous epub and pdf handling capabilities:

1.) Kill the bookstoreagent service using the Activity Monitor.

2.) Delete the file for that service: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CommerceKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/bo okstoreagent

3.) Use AppCleaner to get rid of iBooks.

4.) Restart iTunes and you will find the Books tag return under library.

5.) Import your books again with all the metadata intact.

On my machine, I found that I not only had to restart iTunes, but also had to log out of my account and then log back in.

The good news is that once I did so, iBooks was dead and gone and iTunes was working properly again.

I'd like to find whoever did the Quality Control for iBooks and kick them repeatedly in the genitals.

Oct 28, 2013 3:06 PM in response to Nicolas Online

Thanks for putting this list together. iBooks is really, really bad.

My entire library of over 1,500 books (epubs and PDFs) are now missing from my iBooks library. The files still exist, although iBooks changed all the filenames to an unreadable mess.

To make matters worse, I can't even add new books to my library. Nothing works.

Total crap. And it was about the only reason I upgraded o Mavericks, other than to get a tabbed Finder.

Oct 28, 2013 7:04 PM in response to Franco Borgo

Apple doesn't monitor these forums.

Apple listens if enough people complain. If you hate the current implementation of iBooks, send Apple feedback here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ibooks.html

Oct 29, 2013 7:38 AM in response to Nicolas Online

I just wanted to keep everyone posted that I got a message from an apple employee saying they wanted specific logs. I explained that I had to kill the service and delete the app, because the most fundamental management features like editing metadata and creating a library with pointing to the object instead of copying to exists.

At the end it said he was a part of the iwork team. hmmm

RCB099

Level 1

6 points

Oct 29, 2013 8:55 PM in response to Nicolas Online

Thank you, you are correct. NOWHERE in the iBooks help does it mention this...

In order to sync your own books, non-purchased books, or PDF's from your computer to a device such as an iPad or iPhone into the iBooks application on your device - you STILL must do it in iTunes.

Plug in your device, in the iTunes screen select your device (iPad, etc.), click on the BOOKS tab, then find and click the box next to the item then click on SYNC.

Your own books, non-purchased books, PDF's, etc., DO NOT sync via iCould.

(restated your answer to help those who are searching for this problem)

There must be a lot of frustrated people out there.

Hands down one of the very worst updates I've ever seen from Apple - horrible.

Steve must be rolling in his grave. (Ironically just watched "Jobs" last night...this iBooks app goes against all he stood for, except ways of making $$ from the iStore.)

Every Single Problem with iBooks for Mac