Hello everyone. I have just started organizing my ebooks with Calibre and I am wondering: how important is it to have the original files in order?
Through Calibre, everything is ordered very nicely in the library and you can change the metadata or the list order as you please. But that is only on the surface. Underneath, the various files are saved in many different folders on the computer's hard drive. It is tempting to ignore the disorder that is just beneath. It's really too easy.
But, if I may use a metaphor, it's a lot like a library deciding that it only needs to organize its index cards - the books can be left in heaps on the floor - because we're lucky enough to have a little helper (let's call him a homunculus
) who fetches us books 24/7.
Once upon a time, I would have changed the file name of each book (putting surname first comma first name period book tile period publisher...
...) and I would have made neat little archival folders (possibly ordered chronologically or something like that) so that the original files would be easy to find and/or open. But I am really tempted to just not bother with any of it. If I need something, I can just search for it. Maybe it's not about what's "above" or "beneath." Tags or folders, it's all just metadata anyway.
Am I missing something? Does it make any difference if Calibre is importing from 1000 different folders or one central one? Does Calibre really allow me to be that lazy?
Thanks for hearing me out.