Files in root vs. folders: is there an option to do this?

[maxbookworm]

For readers that support folders, is there a way to copy book files into their root directory rather than having them in folders? In other words, I'd like all of my calibre book files to be copied directly into the root directory of my reader, and not filed into folders based on authors' names. Is there an option or toggle that would allow me to do this?

Thanks!

[chaley]

Set the save path found in Preferences -> Add/Save -> Sending to device to not contain any '/' characters. Be sure that what you put there will result in unique names for the books. Something like {title} - {authors} should work.

If calibre thinks that your device requires that books go in a subdirectory, then it will put them there, using the save template to generate any further levels.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by maxbookworm

For readers that support folders, is there a way to copy book files into their root directory rather than having them in folders? In other words, I'd like all of my calibre book files to be copied directly into the root directory of my reader, and not filed into folders based on authors' names. Is there an option or toggle that would allow me to do this?

Thanks!

Be aware this is mostly a terrible practice.

FAT (the typical file system used under 4G) has a limited number of entries (128 IIRC )in the "root" folder.
You can have GOBS of space and no room to save files

Folders at the next layer do not have those small limits.

[maxbookworm]

Originally Posted by theducks

Be aware this is mostly a terrible practice.

FAT (the typical file system used under 4G) has a limited number of entries (128 IIRC )in the "root" folder.
You can have GOBS of space and no room to save files

Folders at the next layer do not have those small limits.

Interesting... I didn't realize that. Guess I will learn to live with folders!

[argumon]

I am looking for the opposite. On my Android phone, calibre syncs all books into folders in the root directory. I would like to have calibres directory structure not in the root folder, but some user defined on (eg. /eBooks) instead.
Any way to set this up?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by argumon

I am looking for the opposite. On my Android phone, calibre syncs all books into folders in the root directory. I would like to have calibres directory structure not in the root folder, but some user defined on (eg. /eBooks) instead.
Any way to set this up?

If you use main memory only, go to the android device plugin (preferences -> plugins -> device plugins -> Android) and put the name of the directory you want to use in the list. Erase all the others if you want. Then be sure that the directory exists.

If you use both main memory and an SD card, then consider changing the save template to something like eBooks/{author_sort}/{title} - {authors}, or whatever you want it to be. Calibre will create the directories as needed. The save template is used for both main memory and cards, so you might want to remove everything from the 'list of directories to use...'.

[argumon]

Originally Posted by chaley

If you use both main memory and an SD card, then consider changing the save template to something like eBooks/{author_sort}/{title} - {authors}, or whatever you want it to be. Calibre will create the directories as needed. The save template is used for both main memory and cards, so you might want to remove everything from the 'list of directories to use...'.

Works great, many thanks