Simplify the upload state and the story page data

The pause of the user and a missing ingest folder are separate checks.
One function gives the upload state to the settings and the story page.
A route that returns only a story no longer loads its chapters or asks
CWA for its book. The story page data loses the values that no page reads.

bindery/orchestrator.py

@@ -62,10 +62,6 @@ def _link_books() -> bool:
     return _linking_available() and store.get_setting(None, "link_books") is not False
 
 
-def _can_match_books() -> bool:
-    return _link_books()
-
-
 def default_locked_fields() -> list[str]:
     return [f for f in config.DEFAULT_LOCKED_FIELDS if f in METADATA_FIELDS]
 
@@ -202,7 +198,7 @@ def list_stories() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     stories = store.list_stories()
     held = store.story_settings("upload_held")
     unapproved = store.story_settings("unapproved_link")
-    show_holds = _link_books() and store.get_setting(None, "hold_new_links") and not _uploads_paused()
+    show_holds = _link_books() and store.get_setting(None, "hold_new_links") and _can_upload()
     for s in stories:
         s["busy"] = job_queue.has_active(s["id"])
         s["upload_held"] = bool(held.get(s["id"]))
@@ -229,35 +225,35 @@ def story_cover(story_id: int) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
     return cover if cover and cover["mime"] in COVER_TYPES else None
 
 
-def story_details(story_id: int) -> dict[str, Any]:
+def story_view(story_id: int) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """A story as the story page shows it, without its chapters and its library book."""
     story = _require_story(story_id)
     story.pop("metahtml", None)
     cover = story_cover(story_id)
     # The version changes with the image, so a browser can keep a cover until the site changes it.
     story["cover"] = hashlib.sha256(cover["data"]).hexdigest()[:16] if cover else None
-    book, library_error = None, None
-    if story["calibre_uuid"] and _can_match_books():
-        try:
-            book = cwa().get_book(story["calibre_uuid"], timeout=PAGE_TIMEOUT)
-        except CwaError as e:
-            library_error = str(e)
     story["recheck_days"] = store.get_setting(story_id, "recheck_days")
     story["last_full_recheck"] = store.get_setting(story_id, "last_full_recheck")
     story["upload_held"] = bool(store.get_setting(story_id, "upload_held"))
     story["needs_approval"] = _needs_approval(story_id)
+    return story
+
+
+def story_details(story_id: int) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    story = story_view(story_id)
+    book, library_error = None, None
+    if story["calibre_uuid"] and _link_books():
+        try:
+            book = cwa().get_book(story["calibre_uuid"], timeout=PAGE_TIMEOUT)
+        except CwaError as e:
+            library_error = str(e)
     return {
         "recent_chapters": _setting_recent_chapters(),
-        "uploads_paused": _uploads_paused(),
+        **_upload_state(),
-        "ingest_available": config.INGEST_DIR is not None,
-        "link_books": _link_books(),
-        "library_matching_available": _can_match_books(),
         "story": story,
         "chapters": store.list_chapters(story_id),
-        "rules": store.rules(story_id),
         "book": book,
-        "library_available": library_available(),
         "library_error": library_error,
-        "jobs": job_queue.get_status(story_id),
     }
 
 
@@ -335,7 +331,7 @@ def edit_metadata(story_id: int, values: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     queued = None
     if story["metahtml"] and (story["calibre_id"] or story["ingested_at"]):
         queued = job_queue.add(Job(mode=DownloadMode.REBUILD, story_id=story_id, title=title)).to_dict()
-    return {"story": story_details(story_id)["story"], "job": queued}
+    return {"story": story_view(story_id), "job": queued}
 
 
 # Defaults for the job list settings. Each pair is how many hours of finished jobs the Jobs
@@ -360,11 +356,9 @@ def get_settings() -> dict[str, Any]:
     ini = config.PERSONAL_INI
     return {
         "recent_chapters": _setting_recent_chapters(),
-        "link_books": _link_books(),
+        **_upload_state(),
         "linking_available": _linking_available(),
         "hold_new_links": bool(store.get_setting(None, "hold_new_links")),
-        "pause_uploads": _uploads_paused(),
-        "ingest_available": config.INGEST_DIR is not None,
         "personal_ini": ini.read_text(encoding="utf-8") if ini.exists() else "",
         **job_list_settings(),
     }
@@ -433,7 +427,7 @@ def save_settings(
         partial = config.PERSONAL_INI.with_name("personal.ini.part")
         partial.write_text(personal_ini, encoding="utf-8")
         partial.replace(config.PERSONAL_INI)
-    if released and not _uploads_paused():
+    if released and _can_upload():
         _release_held_uploads()
     return {**get_settings(), "warnings": warnings}
 
@@ -601,7 +595,7 @@ def approve_upload(story_id: int, book_uuid: str | None) -> dict[str, Any] | Non
     if (book_uuid or None) != story["calibre_uuid"]:
         raise ValueError("The library link of this story changed. Reload the page, and check the link again.")
     store.set_setting(story_id, "unapproved_link", None)
-    if not _uploads_paused() and store.get_setting(story_id, "upload_held") and story["metahtml"]:
+    if _can_upload() and store.get_setting(story_id, "upload_held") and story["metahtml"]:
         return job_queue.add(Job(mode=DownloadMode.REBUILD, story_id=story_id, title=story["title"])).to_dict()
     return None
 
@@ -787,7 +781,7 @@ def _link(story: dict[str, Any], book_id: int, book_uuid: str) -> None:
 
 def _linked_book(story: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
     """The library book for a story. Links the story if CWA has a book with its URL."""
-    if not _can_match_books():
+    if not _link_books():
         if story["calibre_id"] is not None:
             return {"id": story["calibre_id"], "uuid": story["calibre_uuid"], "title": story["title"]}
         return None
@@ -834,8 +828,22 @@ NOT_FOUND = "Cannot find this story in CWA. Link to library book, or send as new
 # with the next upload or an approval. "upload_held" marks a built book that did not go to CWA.
 
 
-def _uploads_paused() -> bool:
+def _paused() -> bool:
-    return config.INGEST_DIR is None or bool(store.get_setting(None, "pause_uploads"))
+    """Whether the user paused the uploads."""
+    return bool(store.get_setting(None, "pause_uploads"))
+
+
+def _can_upload() -> bool:
+    return config.INGEST_DIR is not None and not _paused()
+
+
+def _upload_state() -> dict[str, bool]:
+    """What the pages show about uploads. Without an ingest folder, the uploads count as paused."""
+    return {
+        "link_books": _link_books(),
+        "pause_uploads": not _can_upload(),
+        "ingest_available": config.INGEST_DIR is not None,
+    }
 
 
 def _link_changed(story_id: int) -> None:
@@ -859,9 +867,9 @@ def _release_held_uploads() -> None:
 
 
 def _hold_reason(story: dict[str, Any], book: dict[str, Any] | None) -> str | None:
-    if _uploads_paused():
+    if config.INGEST_DIR is None:
-        if config.INGEST_DIR is None:
+        return "Not sent. INGEST_DIR is not set."
-            return "Not sent. INGEST_DIR is not set."
+    if _paused():
         return "Not sent. Turn off pause to send."
     if not _needs_approval(story["id"]):
         return None

bindery/static/js/story.js

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export function storyPage(main, { storyId }, config) {
   };
 
   const approveAsNew = async () => {
-    const action = details.uploads_paused
+    const action = details.pause_uploads
       ? 'Unlink the library book, and approve this story as a new book? Uploads remain paused. '
       : 'Unlink the library book, and send this story to CWA as a new book? ';
     const message = action +
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ export function storyPage(main, { storyId }, config) {
     const unlinked = !linking && story.calibre_id == null;
     // A previously uploaded book needs a known target before approval.
     const approval = linking && story.needs_approval && (story.calibre_id != null || !story.ingested_at);
-    const paused = details.uploads_paused && (story.upload_held || approval);
+    const paused = details.pause_uploads && (story.upload_held || approval);
     if (!paused && !approval && !unlinked) return null;
     let target = 'Approve this story as a new CWA book.';
     if (book) {
@@ -223,11 +223,11 @@ export function storyPage(main, { storyId }, config) {
         h(
           'div',
           { class: 'controls' },
-          button(story.upload_held && !details.uploads_paused ? 'Approve and send' : 'Approve', () => approve(story.calibre_uuid), {
+          button(story.upload_held && !details.pause_uploads ? 'Approve and send' : 'Approve', () => approve(story.calibre_uuid), {
             class: 'primary',
           }),
           story.calibre_uuid && button(
-            details.uploads_paused ? 'Approve as a new book instead' : 'Send as a new book instead', approveAsNew,
+            details.pause_uploads ? 'Approve as a new book instead' : 'Send as a new book instead', approveAsNew,
           ),
         ),
       ],

bindery/web.py

@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ def story_settings(story_id: int) -> Any:
         data.get("auto_update"),
         None if days is None else _int(days, "recheck_days"),
     )
-    return orchestrator.story_details(story_id)["story"]
+    return orchestrator.story_view(story_id)
 
 
 @app.put("/api/stories/<int:story_id>/metadata")
@@ -382,13 +382,13 @@ def edit_metadata(story_id: int) -> Any:
 @app.post("/api/stories/<int:story_id>/link")
 def link(story_id: int) -> Any:
     orchestrator.link_story(story_id, _json().get("uuid") or None)
-    return orchestrator.story_details(story_id)["story"]
+    return orchestrator.story_view(story_id)
 
 
 @app.post("/api/stories/<int:story_id>/approve")
 def approve_upload(story_id: int) -> Any:
     job = orchestrator.approve_upload(story_id, _json().get("uuid") or None)
-    return {"story": orchestrator.story_details(story_id)["story"], "job": job}
+    return {"story": orchestrator.story_view(story_id), "job": job}
 
 
 @app.post("/api/stories/<int:story_id>/chapters")

tests/js/flows.test.mjs

@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ test('with CWA off, the pages show nothing about CWA', async () => {
   assert.ok(section(main, 'Library link'));
   const off = { ...config, cwa_enabled: false, library_available: false };
   // Values that show a notice with CWA on.
-  Object.assign(details, { uploads_paused: true, ingest_available: false, link_books: false });
+  Object.assign(details, { pause_uploads: true, ingest_available: false, link_books: false });
   details.story.upload_held = true;
   await mountStory(off);
   assert.ok(section(main, 'Metadata'));

tests/js/upload-hold.test.mjs

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const details = (story, extra = {}) => ({
     calibre_id: null, calibre_uuid: null, ingested_at: null, upload_held: false, needs_approval: false, ...story },
   chapters: [],
   recent_chapters: 0,
-  uploads_paused: false,
+  pause_uploads: false,
   book: null,
   ...extra,
 });
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ for (const uuid of [null, 'book-7']) {
   test(`approval while paused saves the decision without promising an upload: ${uuid}`, async (t) => {
     const data = details(
       { calibre_id: uuid ? 7 : null, calibre_uuid: uuid, upload_held: true, needs_approval: true },
-      { link_books: true, uploads_paused: true },
+      { link_books: true, pause_uploads: true },
     );
     const { backend, notice } = await renderStory(t, data);
     assert.ok(find(notice, 'button', 'Approve'));
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ for (const uuid of [null, 'book-7']) {
 test('approval as a new book while paused keeps the pause in the confirmation', async (t) => {
   const data = details(
     { calibre_id: 7, calibre_uuid: 'book-7', upload_held: true, needs_approval: true },
-    { link_books: true, uploads_paused: true },
+    { link_books: true, pause_uploads: true },
   );
   const { backend, notice } = await renderStory(t, data);
   const confirm = t.mock.method(window, 'confirm', () => true);
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ test('a new story asks for approval to go to CWA as a new book', async (t) => {
 test('a paused upload points to the settings', async (t) => {
   const { notice } = await renderStory(
     t,
-    details({ calibre_id: 7, calibre_uuid: 'book-7', ingested_at: '2026-01-01', upload_held: true }, { book, uploads_paused: true }),
+    details({ calibre_id: 7, calibre_uuid: 'book-7', ingested_at: '2026-01-01', upload_held: true }, { book, pause_uploads: true }),
   );
   assert.match(notice.textContent, /Uploads to CWA are paused/);
   assert.equal(find(notice, 'a', 'Settings').attributes.href, '#/settings');
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ for (const savedId of [null, 7]) {
         const { notice } = await renderStory(t, details(
           { calibre_id: savedId, calibre_uuid: savedId ? 'book-7' : null,
             upload_held: true, needs_approval: needsApproval },
-          { link_books: false, uploads_paused: paused },
+          { link_books: false, pause_uploads: paused },
         ));
         if (savedId !== null && !paused) {
           assert.equal(notice, undefined);
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ test('a story that went to CWA without a link shows no approval until Bindery fi
 
 test('missing INGEST_DIR points to the environment rather than the disabled pause switch', async (t) => {
   const { notice } = await renderStory(t, details(
-    { upload_held: true }, { uploads_paused: true, ingest_available: false },
+    { upload_held: true }, { pause_uploads: true, ingest_available: false },
   ));
   assert.equal(notice.textContent, 'Set INGEST_DIR and restart Bindery to enable uploads.');
   assert.equal(nodes(notice).filter((el) => el.tagName === 'button').length, 0);
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ test('missing INGEST_DIR points to the environment rather than the disabled paus
 test('missing library sources leave uploads enabled with the duplicate warning', async (t) => {
   const { notice } = await renderStory(t, details(
     { ingested_at: '2026-01-01', upload_held: true, needs_approval: true },
-    { link_books: false, library_matching_available: false },
+    { link_books: false },
   ));
   assert.match(notice.textContent, /If CWA imports them, updates will create duplicate books/);
   assert.equal(nodes(notice).filter((el) => el.tagName === 'button').length, 0);
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ test('missing library sources leave uploads enabled with the duplicate warning',
 test('a new book asks for approval when library linking is enabled', async (t) => {
   const { notice } = await renderStory(t, details(
     { upload_held: true, needs_approval: true },
-    { link_books: true, library_matching_available: true },
+    { link_books: true },
   ));
   assert.match(notice.textContent, /^Approve this story as a new CWA book\./);
   assert.ok(find(notice, 'button', 'Approve and send'));
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ test('a new book asks for approval when library linking is enabled', async (t) =
 
 test('approval before a build still shows the pause and never offers to send', async (t) => {
   const { notice } = await renderStory(t, details(
-    { needs_approval: true }, { uploads_paused: true },
+    { needs_approval: true }, { pause_uploads: true },
   ));
   assert.match(notice.textContent, /Uploads to CWA are paused\. Resume them in Settings\./);
   assert.ok(find(notice, 'button', 'Approve'));

tests/test_api_flows.py

@@ -187,3 +187,15 @@ def test_chapter_requests_without_ids_name_what_to_select(client, story):
     for body in ({}, {"chapter_ids": None}):
         response = client.post(f"/api/stories/{sid}/chapters/delete", json=body, headers=H)
         assert (response.status_code, response.json["error"]) == (400, "Select the chapters to delete")
+
+
+def test_a_story_change_does_not_ask_cwa_for_the_book(client, story, monkeypatch):
+    sid, _ = story
+    o.store.update_story(sid, calibre_id=7, calibre_uuid="book-7")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config, "CWA_URL", "https://cwa.example")
+    cwa = Mock()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(o, "cwa", lambda: cwa)
+    response = client.put(f"/api/stories/{sid}/settings", json={"recheck_days": 4}, headers=H)
+    assert response.json["recheck_days"] == 4
+    assert "chapters" not in response.json
+    cwa.get_book.assert_not_called()

tests/test_optional_cwa.py

@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def test_build_without_ingest_succeeds_and_keeps_the_book_local(monkeypatch, tmp
     assert list(config.TMP_DIR.glob(f"story-{story_id}-*.epub"))
     assert not list((tmp_path / "ingest").iterdir())
     details = orchestrator.story_details(story_id)
-    assert details["uploads_paused"] is True
+    assert details["pause_uploads"] is True
     assert details["story"]["upload_held"] is True
     assert details["library_error"] is None
 
@@ -454,12 +454,11 @@ def test_missing_library_connection_is_not_an_approval_hold(client, monkeypatch)
     assert details["story"]["upload_held"] is False
     assert details["story"]["needs_approval"] is False
     assert details["link_books"] is False
-    assert details["library_matching_available"] is False
     assert details["ingest_available"] is True
     monkeypatch.setattr(config, "INGEST_DIR", None)
     assert client.get(f"/api/stories/{story_id}").json["ingest_available"] is False
     monkeypatch.setattr(config, "CWA_URL", "https://cwa.invalid")
-    assert client.get(f"/api/stories/{story_id}").json["library_matching_available"] is True
+    assert client.get(f"/api/stories/{story_id}").json["link_books"] is True
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("missing_ingest", [False, True])