Storing libraries on external devices

brainvision · 12-08-2012, 02:00 PM

Hi everybody..

In these last weeks my library always grown and now is giving me HD space problem, so that I must find some way to store elsewhere most of my digital collection.
So, I'm asking if is possible to store the Calibre libraries on external devices: I can easily imagine how to do that with external hard-disk (but it's only a maybe, I never tryed it and I don't know if it could work) but I wonder if it coud be possible to do such a thing on DVD, for example.. of course accepting the assumption to never edit books metadata..

Actually I really don't know which could be the better solution.. ideas, please?

Thank you very much for payng attention,
see you soon!

Adoby · 12-08-2012, 02:21 PM

Yes, it is possible.

Just connect the external hard drive and create or move your library there.

The next time, make sure that the external hard drive is connected, and the path to the library is correct, the same as when you created the library, before you start calibre.

Also it may be a good idea to make sure you have good backups of your library.

theducks · 12-08-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainvision

Hi everybody..

In these last weeks my library always grown and now is giving me HD space problem, so that I must find some way to store elsewhere most of my digital collection.
So, I'm asking if is possible to store the Calibre libraries on external devices: I can easily imagine how to do that with external hard-disk (but it's only a maybe, I never tryed it and I don't know if it could work) but I wonder if it coud be possible to do such a thing on DVD, for example.. of course accepting the assumption to never edit books metadata..

Actually I really don't know which could be the better solution.. ideas, please?

Thank you very much for payng attention,
see you soon!

I have my Library on a USB (2.5") HD (It is set up with Calibre Portable, but I find better performance using the PC's Calibre on the Libraries Data).

triggerfish · 12-10-2012, 08:41 AM

Wouldn't it be possible to have calibre ignore libs that are on external devices that are not connected and provide an option to attach or open an external library when the device attaches?

Adoby · 12-10-2012, 09:15 AM

The same functionality can be achieved by using the portable version of Calibre, then the program is installed and run from the external drive. For Windows it should be possible to launch calibre using the autorun/autoplay feature when the drive is plugged in.

Divingduck · 12-10-2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerfish

Wouldn't it be possible to have calibre ignore libs that are on external devices that are not connected and provide an option to attach or open an external library when the device attaches?

This is what you can do with the icon connect/share in Calibre. There you have the possibility to switch between libraries or connect to. I use this feature e.g. to move selected books from an USB-Stick to an existing PC based library where no sync-tool was installed.

ilovejedd · 12-10-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I have my Library on a USB (2.5") HD (It is set up with Calibre Portable, but I find better performance using the PC's Calibre on the Libraries Data).

Haven't noticed this at all. On one of the PCs I use, running Calibre from USB is actually faster than a local install. Then again, my USB external drive is a SanDisk Extreme 240GB SSD inside a USB 3.0 enclosure.

theducks · 12-10-2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Haven't noticed this at all. On one of the PCs I use, running Calibre from USB is actually faster than a local install. Then again, my USB external drive is a SanDisk Extreme 240GB SSD inside a USB 3.0 enclosure.

Oooo! SSD Bet you also have USB-3

Mine (IDE) is a salvaged from a Laptop drive upgrade, used on a USB 2 only system (I run em' till they drop

)

ilovejedd · 12-10-2012, 12:52 PM

Kinda OT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Oooo! SSD Bet you also have USB-3

If you'll look at the above post again, it does specify USB 3.0.

Still, even running from USB 2.0 PC, the calibrePortable install on the external SSD is faster than a local install on a SATA3 Seagate 250GB HDD. I run multiple virtual machines from the external drives so an SSD was a must if I didn't want my system freezing every few minutes. Improved calibre performance was just a bonus.

Really OT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I run em' till they drop

I kinda do, too. Alas, with my propensity for high heat, ultra-small form factor builds, the "dropping" part happens more frequently than I'd like. Most computers in the house were actually built in 2007-2009. I had one build in 2011 (Zacate E-350 nettop) which overheated and got replaced recently. I've also two builds from 2007 fail about 1~2 months ago (fried MB: practically free ECS boards from Fry's MB+CPU combos) that really need to be replaced soon (mom's and dad's and they've been complaining already) probably with either Sandy or Ivy Bridge.

ilovejedd · 12-10-2012, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainvision

I can easily imagine how to do that with external hard-disk (but it's only a maybe, I never tryed it and I don't know if it could work) but I wonder if it coud be possible to do such a thing on DVD, for example.. of course accepting the assumption to never edit books metadata..

I don't believe this part of your question was addressed. calibre GUI requires write access to the metadata.db file. With the current version of calibre GUI, you won't be able to open your library if it's stored in a read-only medium.

brainvision · 02-15-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I don't believe this part of your question was addressed. calibre GUI requires write access to the metadata.db file. With the current version of calibre GUI, you won't be able to open your library if it's stored in a read-only medium.

Really? I still didn't knew that! Thanks a lot!

phm92190 · 02-23-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I don't believe this part of your question was addressed. calibre GUI requires write access to the metadata.db file. With the current version of calibre GUI, you won't be able to open your library if it's stored in a read-only medium.

Actually, I would like to have the option to open a library read-only...

theducks · 02-23-2013, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phm92190

Actually, I would like to have the option to open a library read-only...

Calibre content Server presents Calibre to a user via a read only Browser interface. Calibre must be running on the Host.

cigarband · 04-05-2013, 11:06 AM

Hope this is the right place to ask this question.
I have about 3.3 gigs of epubs in my calibre 0.9.25 library , so i burned the library
folder to a DVD. Now calibre won't mount/recognize the library on the DVD, i guess
becouse it cant wright to it . I'm looking for a way to fix this.

itimpi · 04-05-2013, 12:47 PM

Calibre will not work with a library unless it has both read and write access to files in the library. As far as I know there is no way around this.

12-08-2012, 02:00 PM	#1
brainvision Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 603120 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Monte Los Angeles (Califoggia) Device: Android Tablet, Kindle Paperwhite	Storing libraries on external devices Hi everybody.. In these last weeks my library always grown and now is giving me HD space problem, so that I must find some way to store elsewhere most of my digital collection. So, I'm asking if is possible to store the Calibre libraries on external devices: I can easily imagine how to do that with external hard-disk (but it's only a maybe, I never tryed it and I don't know if it could work) but I wonder if it coud be possible to do such a thing on DVD, for example.. of course accepting the assumption to never edit books metadata.. Actually I really don't know which could be the better solution.. ideas, please? Thank you very much for payng attention, see you soon!

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12-08-2012, 02:21 PM	#2
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	Yes, it is possible. Just connect the external hard drive and create or move your library there. The next time, make sure that the external hard drive is connected, and the path to the library is correct, the same as when you created the library, before you start calibre. Also it may be a good idea to make sure you have good backups of your library.

12-10-2012, 08:41 AM	#4
triggerfish Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Bebook	Wouldn't it be possible to have calibre ignore libs that are on external devices that are not connected and provide an option to attach or open an external library when the device attaches?

12-10-2012, 09:15 AM	#5
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	The same functionality can be achieved by using the portable version of Calibre, then the program is installed and run from the external drive. For Windows it should be possible to launch calibre using the autorun/autoplay feature when the drive is plugged in.

04-05-2013, 11:06 AM	#14
cigarband Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: generic	Hope this is the right place to ask this question. I have about 3.3 gigs of epubs in my calibre 0.9.25 library , so i burned the library folder to a DVD. Now calibre won't mount/recognize the library on the DVD, i guess becouse it cant wright to it . I'm looking for a way to fix this.

04-05-2013, 12:47 PM	#15
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Calibre will not work with a library unless it has both read and write access to files in the library. As far as I know there is no way around this.