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Adoby · 10-13-2013, 07:22 AM

Calibre also has a command line interface and using that it is possible to use the functions of calibre in a custom way. But you have to write the scripts and the supporting apps yourself, or pay someone to do it. Or give someone academic credits for doing it...

Check out: http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cli/cli-index.html

A very simplistic way to do it could be like this:

You need an app for students to use when they submit their texts. Could be a web app run from a server. When the text is submitted the student has to add his/her name as author and the name of the assignment and name/email of the TA, possibly by choosing from a list.

When the text is submitted an opf-file is also created that stores all the metadata entered in the app. Author, email to author, timestamp, original filename, assignment, comments, checksum, TA and so on. If the text already is in a ebook format, then the fields are populated from metadata embedded in the file.

The text and the opf-file are sent, by the app, to a central server using mail, ftpor httpor whatever you prefer. Could perhaps also allow submission using CD or thumbdrive.

On the central server, the text is (re)converted to a ebook format (preferably epub) and the metadata is set from the opf-file. If successful a confirmation mail is sent to the author, along with a copy of the newly converted book.

The server then use commandline tools from calibre to add the text to a central calibre library, using the opf-file to supply the metadata.

Also the text is automatically mailed to the correct TA, or stored in a folder, with the metadata set directly in the file.

The TA adds the book to a local calibre install. The TA updates the comments field as necessary and possibly also other fields, possibly even edits the book using Sigil to insert inline comments and suggestions, and sends the book back to the central server using the web app.

The central server adds the new copy of the book to the central calibre library, using the embedded metadata, and again sends copies to the author and the TA. The text of the mail is taken from the comments field. There are now at least two copies of the book in the library, the submission and a copy with comments from the TA. Possibly also several previous versions along with copies with previous comments from the TA.

Except for adding submissions from the author and commented copies, the central calibre library can be made read-only accessible using calibre server.

It is possible to list submissions for example by author, date, assignment, TA and so on.

The professor and other staff can also download submissions from the calibre server and add comments as well. When the book is submitted back, using the Web app, new copies are mailed to both the author and the TA.

10-13-2013, 07:22 AM	#3
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	Calibre also has a command line interface and using that it is possible to use the functions of calibre in a custom way. But you have to write the scripts and the supporting apps yourself, or pay someone to do it. Or give someone academic credits for doing it... Check out: http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cli/cli-index.html A very simplistic way to do it could be like this: You need an app for students to use when they submit their texts. Could be a web app run from a server. When the text is submitted the student has to add his/her name as author and the name of the assignment and name/email of the TA, possibly by choosing from a list. When the text is submitted an opf-file is also created that stores all the metadata entered in the app. Author, email to author, timestamp, original filename, assignment, comments, checksum, TA and so on. If the text already is in a ebook format, then the fields are populated from metadata embedded in the file. The text and the opf-file are sent, by the app, to a central server using mail, ftpor httpor whatever you prefer. Could perhaps also allow submission using CD or thumbdrive. On the central server, the text is (re)converted to a ebook format (preferably epub) and the metadata is set from the opf-file. If successful a confirmation mail is sent to the author, along with a copy of the newly converted book. The server then use commandline tools from calibre to add the text to a central calibre library, using the opf-file to supply the metadata. Also the text is automatically mailed to the correct TA, or stored in a folder, with the metadata set directly in the file. The TA adds the book to a local calibre install. The TA updates the comments field as necessary and possibly also other fields, possibly even edits the book using Sigil to insert inline comments and suggestions, and sends the book back to the central server using the web app. The central server adds the new copy of the book to the central calibre library, using the embedded metadata, and again sends copies to the author and the TA. The text of the mail is taken from the comments field. There are now at least two copies of the book in the library, the submission and a copy with comments from the TA. Possibly also several previous versions along with copies with previous comments from the TA. Except for adding submissions from the author and commented copies, the central calibre library can be made read-only accessible using calibre server. It is possible to list submissions for example by author, date, assignment, TA and so on. The professor and other staff can also download submissions from the calibre server and add comments as well. When the book is submitted back, using the Web app, new copies are mailed to both the author and the TA. Last edited by Adoby; 10-13-2013 at 07:34 AM.