Question: Multiple files in one zip folder

BMaloney · 01-20-2011, 11:46 PM

Hello everyone. I have just downloaded Calibre because I went through the same experience as described in this link: in no time, having an e-reader has led to an explosion in my ebook collection.

I have turned to Calibre to start organizing it.

My question is about how to deal with multiple files/books in one zip or rar folder. Do I need to unzip everything first, then import to the library and convert? Some little experiments have led me to believe so. (After importing zip folders directly, a lot was missing in the ePub version).

Thanks very much for your time!

kovidgoyal · 01-21-2011, 12:29 AM

if your zip file contains multiple books then yes you need to unzip it first.

BMaloney · 01-21-2011, 05:27 PM

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer my newbie question!

You might want to consider adding that very brief, one-line explanation to the user guide ("if your zip file contains multiple books then you need to unzip it first").

Two thumbs up for the great programming!

crashnburn · 03-14-2013, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

if your zip file contains multiple books then yes you need to unzip it first.

I have various ebooks in certain folders/ sub folders. Now, some ZIPs/ RARs contain single books and some MULTIPLE. So essentially it means I will have to extract the ones with multiples.

Now, I don't want duplication/ redundant copies on my SSD "auto extracted" by Calibre.

What's the resolution to this? I do not want to move the ARCHIVES around as I've organized in a certain folder structure.

Is there any way to make Calibre IGNORE ZIPs/RARs on the whole?

kovidgoyal · 03-14-2013, 11:09 AM

Umm if you dont want the archive files managed by calibre, dont add them to calibre. I dont see what your concern is?

Adoby · 03-14-2013, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

Is there any way to make Calibre IGNORE ZIPs/RARs on the whole?

Calibre ignores everything YOU haven't added to it. If you add the same book twice it tries to warn you, but it really is up to you to ensure that you don't add duplicates and create redundancies. If you have an archive with several books YOU have to open that archive and add the books separately.

And unfortunately you will also have to sell your soul and give up your own folder structure and let calibre organize things as it sees fit. And ONLY access the calibre library through the calibre user interface. Your old folder structure becomes completely redundant.

crashnburn · 03-24-2013, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Umm if you dont want the archive files managed by calibre, dont add them to calibre. I dont see what your concern is?

My concern is either Calibre should handle all ARCHIVES or NONE of them. Is there a way to make it do that.

Let me clarify. I have a Main Folder E-books.

Under it I've organized things in different folders etc.

Some of them have Archives with Single Books (that I CHOOSE TO extract) and a lot of them have Archives with Multiple Books (which I will HAVE TO selectively extract).

I dont want to move the ARCHIVES or their EXTRACTED books away from their PARENT FOLDERS.

When these PARENT folders are added to Calibre, it would automatically EXPLORE the ARCHIVES (M & S) and then include the Singles Archives and leave the Multiples Archives? - Is that assumption correct?
What happens when an archive contains both a .epub and ..mobi of the same book?

I want to add the E-book folder to the Calibre where I want it to pretty much IGNORE all ARCHIVES (M or S), So I can handle the ARCHIVES and EXTRACTION "manually", at the same time LETTING the ARCHIVES be where they are.

I do not want to be in a situation where I have to figure out which ARCHIVES are being HANDLED and Books being extracted by Calibre automatically and which ones, I have to HANDLE and extract manually / Also, eliminate duplication & overlap between AUTOMATIC and MANUAL extractions.

kovidgoyal · 03-24-2013, 08:46 AM

calibre will add ALL archives if you are adding recursively. IRRESPECTIVE of how many files they have. Why dont you TRY IT AND SEE with a few test files instead of asking.

Adoby · 03-24-2013, 08:53 AM

If you add the books to calibre your old folders and archives become redundant. No need to keep them, except for backup.

Calibre can treat folders with ebooks either as containing different books or the same book in different formats.

I would recommend you to experiment with calibre. Pick a few books, perhaps twenty, and try to create the perfect calibre library with them. Perfect metadata and covers. Custom columns. Save templates. And so on. It takes a while before you understand how very different calibre is from managing ebooks in folders.

01-20-2011, 11:46 PM	#1
BMaloney Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 126 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: PRS-650	Question: Multiple files in one zip folder Hello everyone. I have just downloaded Calibre because I went through the same experience as described in this link: in no time, having an e-reader has led to an explosion in my ebook collection. I have turned to Calibre to start organizing it. My question is about how to deal with multiple files/books in one zip or rar folder. Do I need to unzip everything first, then import to the library and convert? Some little experiments have led me to believe so. (After importing zip folders directly, a lot was missing in the ePub version). Thanks very much for your time!

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01-21-2011, 12:29 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,842 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	if your zip file contains multiple books then yes you need to unzip it first.

01-21-2011, 05:27 PM	#3
BMaloney Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 126 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: PRS-650	Thanks very much for taking the time to answer my newbie question! You might want to consider adding that very brief, one-line explanation to the user guide ("if your zip file contains multiple books then you need to unzip it first"). Two thumbs up for the great programming!

03-14-2013, 11:09 AM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,842 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Umm if you dont want the archive files managed by calibre, dont add them to calibre. I dont see what your concern is?

03-24-2013, 08:46 AM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,842 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre will add ALL archives if you are adding recursively. IRRESPECTIVE of how many files they have. Why dont you TRY IT AND SEE with a few test files instead of asking.

03-24-2013, 08:53 AM	#9
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	If you add the books to calibre your old folders and archives become redundant. No need to keep them, except for backup. Calibre can treat folders with ebooks either as containing different books or the same book in different formats. I would recommend you to experiment with calibre. Pick a few books, perhaps twenty, and try to create the perfect calibre library with them. Perfect metadata and covers. Custom columns. Save templates. And so on. It takes a while before you understand how very different calibre is from managing ebooks in folders.

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