Using calibre as one-stop knowlege management

[yottabytes0000]

Hi everyone,

I rely on Calibre as my comprehensive resource management system, given its diverse range of features. I use it not only for organizing books but also for storing various related documents, files, images, and more. Calibre's extensive capabilities enable me to efficiently manage my knowledge base.

I have a suggestion that could enhance Calibre even further. I propose the addition of a feature called "Virtual File/Book." Essentially, a virtual book would be linked to an HTTP URL, and when I access the entry, it would open in a web browser.

This would allow me to seamlessly store traditional books, documents, and associated web links in close proximity within Calibre.

What are your thoughts on incorporating this feature?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by yottabytes0000

What are your thoughts on incorporating this feature?

On Windows it's already doable:

• create a shortcut for the https address, it will be a .URL file rather than a .LNK file.
• use your preferred method of adding a new book, using the .URL file you just created as the format file,
  
• 
  
• when you view the book, it will open the URL in your browser
  
• 

The attached zip contains the .URL file I created for this page.

@Kovid - it opens in my default browser (firefox) I'd prefer it used my openers_by_scheme tweak, which is Edge.

BR

[BetterRed]

@yottabytes0000 - all of my libraries have a long text custom column called #links/Links; so, in practice I probably would create an empty book (i.e. no format files) and put the URL into it - the long text editor has a create link tool which makes it easy.

But the .URL method I just 'invented' doesn't require anything extra, which appeals to my minimalist streak.

BR

[yottabytes0000]

@BetterRed, Thank you very much for your URL method. That works really well and it is quite explicit. This is very much appreciated!!!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by yottabytes0000

@BetterRed, Thank you very much for your URL method. That works really well and it is quite explicit. This is very much appreciated!!!

I like it too, here's an icon for the .URL files:



World wide web icons created by spaceman.design - Flaticon

Put it here:

C:\Users\<user id>\AppData\Roaming\calibre\resources\images\mimetypes

Originally Posted by yottabytes0000

. . .
This would allow me to seamlessly store traditional books, documents, and associated web links in close proximity within Calibre.

If any of those are digital files, you might want to consider storing them in a book data folder, see Adding extra data files to a book

BR

[Quoth]

Aren't all computer files digital?

[BetterRed]

But not all files are stored on a computer. Example: player piano rolls, sadly they don't make paper tape readers wide enough to read them

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

But not all files are stored on a computer. Example: player piano rolls, sadly they don't make paper tape readers wide enough to read them

But those aren't computer files.


I can tell you how to make a simple piano roll reader. You sure no-one sells a midi interface to retrofit to a player piano?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I can tell you how to make a simple piano roll reader. You sure no-one sells a midi interface to retrofit to a player piano?

the VirtualRoll...bringing musical instruments back to life

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by chaley

the VirtualRoll...bringing musical instruments back to life

It seemed a logical thing to exist already

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Aren't all computer files digital?

No, not all (physical) computer files are necessarily digital. There are also analog files, which represent data as physical quantities such as voltage, pressure, magnetic, optical patterns, etc. For example, an analog audio file stores the sound waves as continuous wave-forms, while a digital audio file stores the sound waves as a series of discrete samples.

[Quoth]

an analog audio file stores the sound waves as continuous wave-forms

But that's only a computer file if it's a computer file on say cassette, in which case the analog data represents digital data.

All computer files are digital information, even if stored in analogue fashion like old cassette tapes on home computers.

If it's not computer readable as digital content, then it's not a computer file even if it's digital in nature,

An ancient EEG or weather station recording may not be a computer file.

Analogue dialup modems transfer digital computer files using analogue signals.


All computer files are digital even if the recording on medium is analogue.

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by Quoth

All computer files are digital information, even if stored in analogue fashion like old cassette tapes on home computers.

Not entirely correct: analogue data needs to be converted to become digital information which a computer might understand.

In the old days, people used cassettes tapes to store (file away) computer information in some analogue format (wave-forms). You could play them unconverted on your cassette-deck (remember the awful noise?). So you had to use some special input connector which some circuitry to convert those analogue signals back into something your computer did understand (make it digital again).

Later (Sony for one) special digital audio (storage) tapes (DAT) were developed which stored analogue signals really digitally in 16 bits magnetic on the tapes.

[Quoth]

All magnetically stored computer files need a special interface / converter. Usually in the drive.

[DrChiper]

Nowadays, yes. The device controllers are little computers in their own respect. But I guess, we are now very far departed from the OP's request