Unable to download books with TITLE which have non-english letters. #147

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:09:36+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:36 +02:00

Originally created by @superpawko on GitHub (May 18, 2022).

Steps to reproduce

Create Book with non-english letters ("Ciałość")
Try to download Book
Downloading will crash at 100% . Folder is created "Ciałość", , and all files are downlaoded.

superpawko — Yesterday at 8:38 PM
I have found what breaks it.
what fixed it: Removing polish letters from title.
It creates later folder also with polish lettes. So i think this is what breakes it.
I'm testing now filenames.
give me few minutes.
it takes a lot of time to re-scan one book.
Also saving audioobook only by title could be problematic in the future, if you have same title but different authors, or different narrators.
it works with non-polish title, polish letters in filenames. I will lastly check if it is only re-edit of medata what fixed it. So I Will go back to polish letters inserted from hand.
Going back to polish letters in title , crashes again download manager at 100%.
I will create ticket tomorrow.
advplyr — Yesterday at 9:23 PM
Can you create a folder manually yourself with polish letters?
superpawko — Yesterday at 9:42 PM
yes, ABS also creates folder with polish letters, download everything, but while SCANING something is wrong and it crashes
So even I have files, and folder, I can not Re-Scan it. Because it will crash.

Expected behaviour

Book should be downloaded

Actual behaviour

Downloading will crash at 100% . Folder is created "Ciałość", , and all files are downlaoded.

Environment data

Audiobookshelf Version:

[ X ] Android App?
iOS App?

Android Issue

Android version:
12
Device model:
Oneplus 9 pro
Stock or customized system:
STOCK

iOS Issue

iOS Version:

iPhone model:

Originally created by @superpawko on GitHub (May 18, 2022). ### Steps to reproduce 1. Create Book with non-english letters ("Ciałość") 2. Try to download Book 3. Downloading will crash at 100% . Folder is created "Ciałość", , and all files are downlaoded. superpawko — Yesterday at 8:38 PM I have found what breaks it. what fixed it: Removing polish letters from title. It creates later folder also with polish lettes. So i think this is what breakes it. I'm testing now filenames. give me few minutes. it takes a lot of time to re-scan one book. Also saving audioobook only by title could be problematic in the future, if you have same title but different authors, or different narrators. it works with non-polish title, polish letters in filenames. I will lastly check if it is only re-edit of medata what fixed it. So I Will go back to polish letters inserted from hand. Going back to polish letters in title , crashes again download manager at 100%. I will create ticket tomorrow. advplyr — Yesterday at 9:23 PM Can you create a folder manually yourself with polish letters? superpawko — Yesterday at 9:42 PM yes, ABS also creates folder with polish letters, download everything, but while SCANING something is wrong and it crashes So even I have files, and folder, I can not Re-Scan it. Because it will crash. ### Expected behaviour - Book should be downloaded ### Actual behaviour - Downloading will crash at 100% . Folder is created "Ciałość", , and all files are downlaoded. ### Environment data Audiobookshelf Version: - [ X ] Android App? - [ ] iOS App? #### Android Issue Android version: 12 Device model: Oneplus 9 pro Stock or customized system: STOCK #### iOS Issue iOS Version: iPhone model:

adam added the bug label 2026-04-24 23:09:36 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:09:36 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:37 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 22, 2022):

I just tested this and had no problems downloading a book with that title. Tested on Android 12 with Google Pixel 6.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 22, 2022): I just tested this and had no problems downloading a book with that title. Tested on Android 12 with Google Pixel 6.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:37 +02:00

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 22, 2022):

I still can't. I checked other book with title "igła" and it was downloaded successfully. I tried book with word "Śmierć" and it faield. May I send you this audiobook? Maybe the problem is in .opf file and metadata from it ? I will check more audiobooks tomorrow.

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 22, 2022): I still can't. I checked other book with title "igła" and it was downloaded successfully. I tried book with word "Śmierć" and it faield. May I send you this audiobook? Maybe the problem is in .opf file and metadata from it ? I will check more audiobooks tomorrow.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:38 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 22, 2022):

Are they all mp3 or all m4b?

I don't think this has to do with the characters in the book title or filenames.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 22, 2022): Are they all mp3 or all m4b? I don't think this has to do with the characters in the book title or filenames.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:39 +02:00

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 23, 2022):

Only .mp3

# Example 01
I tried changing title to :
Ciałość - Works: No
Ciałosc - Works: Yes
Ciałośc - Works: No
Cialosc - Works: Yes

Works: NO - > Crash after 10-15 seconds when all files are downloaded already at 100%

# Example 02
Świat bez końca Część 01 : does not work
Swiat bez konca Czesc 01 : After changing title and pressing save, download was possible
Świat bez końca Część 1 : does not work (here I tested if only reloading title can help)

I deleted all metadata and left only title and author : does not work.

by [Ken Follett]

# Example 03
Igrzyska Śmierci : works.

by [Suzanne Collins]

What I can do to help is:
Send you a archive of few books which works and not, with .opf files, so you only need to create new library and scan folder.

What maybe you could do:
Save somekind of log file into a download folder for example:
Cialosc-{Timestamp}.log
Maybe it is something with encoding of ID3tag?

Questions:

What happens in the end of downloading a book, after file are downloaded , what ABS is checking?
How removing few polish letters from title helps me download a book.

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 23, 2022): Only .mp3 **# Example 01** I tried changing title to : Cia**ł**o**ść** - Works: No Cia**ł**osc - Works: Yes Cia**ł**o**ś**c - Works: No Cialosc - Works: Yes Works: NO - > Crash after 10-15 seconds when all files are downloaded already at 100% **# Example 02** Świat bez końca Część 01 : does not work Swiat bez konca Czesc 01 : After changing title and pressing save, download was possible Świat bez końca Część 1 : does not work (here I tested if only reloading title can help) ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/11931157/169807324-1c94afd0-845f-4422-823b-c91750b2d018.png) I deleted all metadata and left only title and author : does not work. by [Ken Follett] **# Example 03** Igrzyska Śmierci : works. by [Suzanne Collins] **What I can do to help is:** Send you a archive of few books which works and not, with .opf files, so you only need to create new library and scan folder. **What maybe you could do:** Save somekind of log file into a download folder for example: Cialosc-{Timestamp}.log Maybe it is something with encoding of ID3tag? Questions: 1. What happens in the end of downloading a book, after file are downloaded , what ABS is checking? 2. How removing few polish letters from title helps me download a book.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:40 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022):

The files are initially downloaded into the /downloads folder or similar on your device then transferred to the folder you selected them to be in.
Make sure there are no other folders with a similar name on your mobile device when you download, maybe there is already a folder with that name and it is causing a problem.

If there are some audiobooks that can use the polish characters and others that cannot then I don't think it is the polish characters.

What you should check is where the audio files end up. Are they in the final destination? Or are they in your /downloads directory?

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022): The files are initially downloaded into the /downloads folder or similar on your device then transferred to the folder you selected them to be in. Make sure there are no other folders with a similar name on your mobile device when you download, maybe there is already a folder with that name and it is causing a problem. If there are some audiobooks that can use the polish characters and others that cannot then I don't think it is the polish characters. What you should check is where the audio files end up. Are they in the final destination? Or are they in your /downloads directory?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:40 +02:00

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022):

I tried to downlaod 3 audiobooks with the same name. All files are put in the same folder and overwrite each other. So this is anoter issue for you to solve.

I save audiobook to 0/Audiobooks/Abs/
They are in final destination.
I checked everything I could already.
All files are downloaded. 24 mp3 with names like 01.mp3 , 02.mp3, and cover.jpg.

So I have all the files needed in place and when I do scan, to find it ( after a crash), it will crash again. It will keep crashing until folder is removed.

I will Create new DB and not use opf files. I will let you know what I Will find.

EDIT:
So I have Created fresh new DB.

DB: 5 books
I have tested with metadata from opf files and from id3 tags.
Ciałość works every single time but Świat bez końca Część 01 does not for both libraries.

I have sent you url with mini version of this DB. with only 1 mp3 file.
ALL Files are downloaded but it crashes app and book does not appear in the library.

What suprise me is that I can't download the same book on my Big Library... (Ciałość)

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022): I tried to downlaod 3 audiobooks with the same name. All files are put in the same folder and overwrite each other. So this is anoter issue for you to solve. I save audiobook to 0/Audiobooks/Abs/ They are in final destination. I checked everything I could already. All files are downloaded. 24 mp3 with names like 01.mp3 , 02.mp3, and cover.jpg. So I have all the files needed in place and when I do scan, to find it ( after a crash), it will crash again. It will keep crashing until folder is removed. I will Create new DB and not use opf files. I will let you know what I Will find. EDIT: So I have Created fresh new DB. DB: 5 books I have tested with metadata from opf files and from id3 tags. Ciałość works every single time but **Świat bez końca Część 01** does not for both libraries. I have sent you url with mini version of this DB. with only 1 mp3 file. ALL Files are downloaded but it crashes app and book does not appear in the library. What suprise me is that I can't download the same book on my Big Library... (**Ciałość**)

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:40 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022):

Worked fine for me.

I put your sample audiobooks you sent me into a new library
Using the default server settings I pressed scan and the 4 audiobooks were added
I opened the library on my phone (Pixel 6 Android 12) and downloaded each audiobook

You had already removed all the special characters, and I don't have scanner prefer OPF setting set so there were no special characters at all in my downloads. That shouldn't make a different though as I already tested that.

At first you said Ciałość wasn't working, then you said it worked for some audiobooks, and now you are saying Świat bez końca Część 01 is not working.
You need to try to simplify things and take it 1 step at a time. There is so much going on with your tests that I can't see any pattern in the issues you are having.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022): Worked fine for me. 1. I put your sample audiobooks you sent me into a new library 2. Using the default server settings I pressed scan and the 4 audiobooks were added 3. I opened the library on my phone (Pixel 6 Android 12) and downloaded each audiobook You had already removed all the special characters, and I don't have scanner prefer OPF setting set so there were no special characters at all in my downloads. That shouldn't make a different though as I already tested that. ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/67830747/170040364-2e4b743a-ae59-4f31-8544-874de4c3db28.png) At first you said Ciałość wasn't working, then you said it worked for some audiobooks, and now you are saying Świat bez końca Część 01 is not working. You need to try to simplify things and take it 1 step at a time. There is so much going on with your tests that I can't see any pattern in the issues you are having.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:41 +02:00

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022):

I did not removed polish characters. You used Folder Names, which does not have polish letters (and have CalibreID) so Indeed it will work because it does not have polish letters. Metadata in ID3 tags are from goodreads, and .opf is from lubimyczytac.

Could You please use .opf or prefer audio metadata. Thank you!

I tested letter by letter Ciałość and in BIG library it crashes in few instances. In fresh DB with only 5 books it works.

Ciałość - Works: No , In fresh DB with only 5 book it works. But removing polish letters in big library helps.
Ciałosc - Works: Yes
Ciałośc - Works: No
Cialosc - Works: Yes

"Świat bez końca Część 01" Does not work in both DB.
Świat bez końca Czesc 01 - Works: No
Świat bez konca Czesc 01 - Works: No
Swiat bez konca Czesc 01 - Works: Yes, without polish letters

I tested it in so many ways I'm in 95% sure that it is something with encoding and how you check if this title is in ABS base.

If I have 3 audiobooks with the same title , and I download all of them, How ABS know which version do I have?

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022): **I did not removed polish characters**. You used **Folder Names**, which does not have polish letters (and have CalibreID) so Indeed it will work because **it does not have polish letters**. Metadata in **ID3** tags are from **goodreads**, and .**opf** is from **lubimyczytac**. Could You please use .opf or prefer audio metadata. Thank you! I tested letter by letter Ciałość and in BIG library it crashes in few instances. In fresh DB with only 5 books it works. Ciałość - Works: No , In fresh DB with only 5 book it works. But removing polish letters in big library helps. Ciałosc - Works: Yes Ciałośc - Works: No Cialosc - Works: Yes **"Świat bez końca Część 01" Does not work in both DB.** Świat bez końca Czesc 01 - Works: No Świat bez konca Czesc 01 - Works: No Swiat bez konca Czesc 01 - Works: **Yes**, without polish letters I tested it in so many ways I'm in 95% sure that it is something with encoding and how you check if this title is in ABS base. If I have 3 audiobooks with the same title , and I download all of them, How ABS know which version do I have?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:41 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022):

When base64 encoding the string "Świat bez końca Część 01" it was adding a "/" in the middle. I spotted it when watching the logcat during the crash.

Will be fixed in the next update, nice catch.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022): When base64 encoding the string "Świat bez końca Część 01" it was adding a "/" in the middle. I spotted it when watching the logcat during the crash. ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/67830747/170056511-8ace02c9-c4c5-484f-a70b-2a79692d5cc6.png) Will be fixed in the next update, nice catch.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:41 +02:00

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022):

SUPER! Thank you! I will keep testing after new release.

@superpawko commented on GitHub (May 24, 2022): SUPER! Thank you! I will keep testing after new release.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:09:42 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jun 5, 2022):

Fixed in v0.9.47-beta

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Jun 5, 2022): Fixed in [v0.9.47-beta](https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/releases/tag/v0.9.47-beta)

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#147