[jecilop]

Just a suggestion depending on your files...

I tried various ways to manage these and settled on one that has worked VERY well.
I keep all of my actual audiobook files in folders or as a single file. All of these are kept in a main directory. They are easy to find or 'search' when needed. Because of the variation of file types and number of files, this has been better than trying to keep the actual audiobooks within Calibre's structure. But for library record management....

Before moving my audiofiles/folder to a main in directory, I simply right click on them and create shortcuts (lnk files).
I then drag these to my Calibre library in order to add a bunch at once.

Now, how they import and any further management depends on the file or folder names to which you created a shortcut and how your stuff is set to import into Calibre.


I clean mine up through various operations in Calibre as needed.
I also can then do a metadata and cover download using Calibre.

In my case, I use a tag "AUDIOBOOK" in a custom tags column for library management (not genre/content tags).

I no longer keep the actual "lnk" file in the library. That is easy to delete individually or in bulk.

If I want more tags for audiobook management, I just add them to the same custom tags field (examples, in some cases I like to label the type of audio files ..Aud-mp4... or where I purchased it ..AudiblePURCH.. ). These tags are great if you have actual files on you computer or just want to record where they are located (CD's, cassettes, Audible, etc..)

Now, if I have a new book, I can add as described above OR just as a tag to an entry I already have for the actual book.

Tags for library management like this are far less cumbersome that many columns. Also, they can trigger custom colors or icons which makes library management even easier with visual cues.