Make annotations using Calibre?

quamquam · 03-03-2013, 01:19 AM

I have searched the Calibre FAQs and this forum but have found no answer to my question. Is there any way to add annotation functionality to Calibre?

I know that Calibre can import annotations from, say, the Kindle. But I would love to be able to make annotations using the reader built into the Calibre library itself.

Is there any way to do this?

kovidgoyal · 03-03-2013, 01:27 AM

no .

basilv · 12-13-2013, 04:46 AM

Are there any plans to add this functionality?

There are several books I'd love to add highlights, notes, dissections, etc. to while reading in the Calibre reader.

Annotations and Highlighting would be a really great feature.

btw: I love Calibre. Thank you for all the work you've done.

eschwartz · 12-13-2013, 03:37 PM

I believe it is on Kovid's long-term to-do list (he'll correct me if I'm wrong).

In other words, yes but maybe not for years, depending on what else he has on his mind.

theducks · 12-13-2013, 04:07 PM

How can you do Annotations (based upon highlighting or otherwise) when the are no Standards for interoperability

Think Amazon vs Apple vs Adobe vs Kobo

No way do these folk want you using someone elses device

eschwartz · 12-13-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

How can you do Annotations (based upon highlighting or otherwise) when the are no Standards for interoperability

Think Amazon vs Apple vs Adobe vs Kobo

No way do these folk want you using someone elses device

using calibre's standards and calibre as your reader

theducks · 12-13-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

using calibre's standards and calibre as your reader

Calibre does not run on my Kindle
Calibre does not run on my TAB2
Calibre does not run on mY Astak
Calibre does not run on my Phone

Calibre is a Library Manager 1st
Calibre is a conversion tool 2nd

Calibre is Not a primary reading device (I can' t hold up a 22" monitor for more than a few minutes and the Keyboard always ends up under the Cat making page turns impossible)

(That is Sebastian who used to fit in my slipper)

eschwartz · 12-13-2013, 06:09 PM

Obviously there won't be compatibility with your devices, the same way they can't handle custom columns, series, calibre bookmarks, comments (sometimes), and many other things calibre can do. What's your point?

basilv · 12-15-2013, 12:24 PM

Calibre IS my primary reader. Plus, I wouldn't dream of writing up detailed dissections while on a handheld/mobile.

I like to relax in my easychair, with my lappy, and read and take notes in Calibre.

Adding highlights and annotes to the Calibre reader would be top on MY personal list of prios. No idea what Kovid's prios are, but I hope my plea makes an impression on him. Heck, for all we know this could be a very quick and easy add-on. I'd even be happy with the reader stuffing a tertiary annotes_bookxyz.txt file. Doesn't have to be embedded in the book itself... Anyway, I hope it does happen someday.

jackie_w · 12-15-2013, 03:06 PM

@basilv,

Despite what may or may not come in the future you could always add a .TXT format file for each book you want to make notes on. By opening both formats at the same time (epub in the Viewer, TXT in your TXT editor) add your cogitations into it as you read. I'm pretty sure you can copy/paste from Viewer to TXT editor.

basilv · 12-19-2013, 12:03 AM

Yes, there are certainly dozens of possible solutions, but the way I'd want it to FUNCTION, is that I could add a certain colour highlighting to a section of text, and then add annotes at that text position. This way, I can re-visit the book, and when coming upon that highlight, I could easily call up the linked annotation. This set-up would lend itself easily to further study as well, as you could step through highlights/annotes quickly and easily...

Anyhow, there's little use defending the pros of annotations, since most eReaders have already seen the light and incorporated them. It would just be nice (for me anyways) if Calibre did too.

eschwartz · 12-19-2013, 12:12 AM

Seen the light and incorporated them, maybe, but we still don't have an interoperable way of handling them.

If/when calibre gets annotations, I imagine there will be plugins developed that can import and export them to many if not all devices. And THAT'S what I'm waiting for.

lukeintas · 02-17-2014, 11:43 PM

I'd like to see annotation capability added as well, especially with the Release 1.24 announcement of touchscreen support for Windows tablets.

I'm producing ePubs for work training material, where Windows tablets are now being issued (although many, including myself, are still using personally owned iPads). Unfortunately to date I haven't found a single Windows ePub reader with good ePub support, touch interface support, and annotation capabilities.

cybmole · 02-18-2014, 01:40 AM

would a plug-in for, say, evernotes be a practical solution

BetterRed · 02-18-2014, 02:25 AM

piovac has devised a solution for PDF's on OS/X that does not change the PDF, see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=230740

It uses a program called SKIM, the annotations are kept in sidecar files

BR

03-03-2013, 01:19 AM	#1
quamquam Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Nexus 7	Make annotations using Calibre? I have searched the Calibre FAQs and this forum but have found no answer to my question. Is there any way to add annotation functionality to Calibre? I know that Calibre can import annotations from, say, the Kindle. But I would love to be able to make annotations using the reader built into the Calibre library itself. Is there any way to do this?

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03-03-2013, 01:27 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,826 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	no .

12-13-2013, 04:46 AM	#3
basilv Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: PC, Android, Kobo	Are there any plans to add this functionality? There are several books I'd love to add highlights, notes, dissections, etc. to while reading in the Calibre reader. Annotations and Highlighting would be a really great feature. btw: I love Calibre. Thank you for all the work you've done.

12-13-2013, 03:37 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I believe it is on Kovid's long-term to-do list (he'll correct me if I'm wrong). In other words, yes but maybe not for years, depending on what else he has on his mind.

12-13-2013, 04:07 PM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,763 Karma: 54401244 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	How can you do Annotations (based upon highlighting or otherwise) when the are no Standards for interoperability Think Amazon vs Apple vs Adobe vs Kobo No way do these folk want you using someone elses device

12-13-2013, 06:09 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Obviously there won't be compatibility with your devices, the same way they can't handle custom columns, series, calibre bookmarks, comments (sometimes), and many other things calibre can do. What's your point?

12-15-2013, 12:24 PM	#9
basilv Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: PC, Android, Kobo	Calibre IS my primary reader. Plus, I wouldn't dream of writing up detailed dissections while on a handheld/mobile. I like to relax in my easychair, with my lappy, and read and take notes in Calibre. Adding highlights and annotes to the Calibre reader would be top on MY personal list of prios. No idea what Kovid's prios are, but I hope my plea makes an impression on him. Heck, for all we know this could be a very quick and easy add-on. I'd even be happy with the reader stuffing a tertiary annotes_bookxyz.txt file. Doesn't have to be embedded in the book itself... Anyway, I hope it does happen someday.

12-15-2013, 03:06 PM	#10
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,198 Karma: 16228558 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo: KA1, ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E. PocketBook: TouchHD3	@basilv, Despite what may or may not come in the future you could always add a .TXT format file for each book you want to make notes on. By opening both formats at the same time (epub in the Viewer, TXT in your TXT editor) add your cogitations into it as you read. I'm pretty sure you can copy/paste from Viewer to TXT editor.

12-19-2013, 12:03 AM	#11
basilv Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: PC, Android, Kobo	Yes, there are certainly dozens of possible solutions, but the way I'd want it to FUNCTION, is that I could add a certain colour highlighting to a section of text, and then add annotes at that text position. This way, I can re-visit the book, and when coming upon that highlight, I could easily call up the linked annotation. This set-up would lend itself easily to further study as well, as you could step through highlights/annotes quickly and easily... Anyhow, there's little use defending the pros of annotations, since most eReaders have already seen the light and incorporated them. It would just be nice (for me anyways) if Calibre did too.

12-19-2013, 12:12 AM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Seen the light and incorporated them, maybe, but we still don't have an interoperable way of handling them. If/when calibre gets annotations, I imagine there will be plugins developed that can import and export them to many if not all devices. And THAT'S what I'm waiting for.

02-17-2014, 11:43 PM	#13
lukeintas Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Hobart, Australia Device: iBooks	I'd like to see annotation capability added as well, especially with the Release 1.24 announcement of touchscreen support for Windows tablets. I'm producing ePubs for work training material, where Windows tablets are now being issued (although many, including myself, are still using personally owned iPads). Unfortunately to date I haven't found a single Windows ePub reader with good ePub support, touch interface support, and annotation capabilities.

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02-18-2014, 01:40 AM	#14
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	would a plug-in for, say, evernotes be a practical solution

02-18-2014, 02:25 AM	#15
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,532 Karma: 26944418 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	piovac has devised a solution for PDF's on OS/X that does not change the PDF, see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=230740 It uses a program called SKIM, the annotations are kept in sidecar files BR