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ilovejedd · 10-28-2018, 09:11 AM

1. Do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries?
Both.

2. How do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries?

Multiple libraries - Do you use them to manage different types of libraries? I.e Books, Comics, Manuals, Journals etc...or for different reasons - To review etc...
I use separate libraries for commercial books and fanfiction. Actually, I even use separate Calibre Portable installs because I use different tweaks for the two (author sort is the biggie).

When I'm planning on making significant changes to the library metadata and/or structure, I'll work on a separate full copy that would either replace my current library or get scrapped.

Because of the way Calibre handles conversion, I also have a duplicate library where I keep my tweaked ePubs. Basically, I want to keep the originals but use tweaked ePubs for conversion but Calibre doesn't allow that so separate libraries was the way to go.

Virtual libraries - How do you use virtual libraries? Why? List some examples.
I use virtual libraries to isolate recently downloaded books that require metadata processing and cleanup. I have a VL for books with tag _new_ and the rest (cover check, etc), I just handle via saved searches. On my fanfiction library, I also use VLs to separate by fandoms/crossover.

3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using multiple libraries or virtual libraries?

Do the multiple libraries run faster if there are less books in each library compared to having all the books in the one virtual library?
Not that I've noticed (5K fanfic library, 1K normal books).
How easy is it to change from multiple libraries to one library with virtual libraries and vice versa?
Author sort is an issue for me (comma on commercial books, copy on fanfics) so this one's a no go.
My library is only fairly small (1500) compared to what I have heard some other Calibre users have (10,000 +). As people are reading more ebooks, it is easier to collect a large quantity of books and keep them, however this means trying to find certain books and managing them can be even harder. For the people with really big libraries, do you prefer to use multiple libraries or a virtual library to manage your books?
I don't have a humongous collection but I prefer to use multiple libraries, anyway.

Multiple libraries

Strengths

You prefer to display certain columns for each of your libraries

Weaknesses

You cannot search through multiple separate libraries simultaneously in calibre.
This is something I never do so not really a con for me.
You can only view view/upload one library to Calibre Companion (CC)
I don't use CC. I use either the content server or calibre-php and switching libraries is as simple as going to a different webpage.

Virtual libraries

Strengths

Preferred way of splitting up your library when you want to search through your entire collection
As mentioned, not something I do so not really a pro for me. Indeed, I would just need to create more VLs to facilitate filtering.
It will restrict the list of books shown in a book list but it will also restrict the entries shown in the tag browser
True, but it doesn't restrict entries for "Manage Tags" afaik.
You can view your entire library in Calibre Companion (CC) using virtual libraries.
As mentioned, I don't use CC.

10-28-2018, 09:11 AM	#3
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,116 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	1. Do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries? Both. 2. How do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries? Multiple libraries - Do you use them to manage different types of libraries? I.e Books, Comics, Manuals, Journals etc...or for different reasons - To review etc... I use separate libraries for commercial books and fanfiction. Actually, I even use separate Calibre Portable installs because I use different tweaks for the two (author sort is the biggie). When I'm planning on making significant changes to the library metadata and/or structure, I'll work on a separate full copy that would either replace my current library or get scrapped. Because of the way Calibre handles conversion, I also have a duplicate library where I keep my tweaked ePubs. Basically, I want to keep the originals but use tweaked ePubs for conversion but Calibre doesn't allow that so separate libraries was the way to go. Virtual libraries - How do you use virtual libraries? Why? List some examples. I use virtual libraries to isolate recently downloaded books that require metadata processing and cleanup. I have a VL for books with tag _new_ and the rest (cover check, etc), I just handle via saved searches. On my fanfiction library, I also use VLs to separate by fandoms/crossover. 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using multiple libraries or virtual libraries? Do the multiple libraries run faster if there are less books in each library compared to having all the books in the one virtual library? Not that I've noticed (5K fanfic library, 1K normal books). How easy is it to change from multiple libraries to one library with virtual libraries and vice versa? Author sort is an issue for me (comma on commercial books, copy on fanfics) so this one's a no go. My library is only fairly small (1500) compared to what I have heard some other Calibre users have (10,000 +). As people are reading more ebooks, it is easier to collect a large quantity of books and keep them, however this means trying to find certain books and managing them can be even harder. For the people with really big libraries, do you prefer to use multiple libraries or a virtual library to manage your books? I don't have a humongous collection but I prefer to use multiple libraries, anyway. Multiple libraries Strengths You prefer to display certain columns for each of your libraries Weaknesses You cannot search through multiple separate libraries simultaneously in calibre. This is something I never do so not really a con for me. You can only view view/upload one library to Calibre Companion (CC) I don't use CC. I use either the content server or calibre-php and switching libraries is as simple as going to a different webpage. Virtual libraries Strengths Preferred way of splitting up your library when you want to search through your entire collection As mentioned, not something I do so not really a pro for me. Indeed, I would just need to create more VLs to facilitate filtering. It will restrict the list of books shown in a book list but it will also restrict the entries shown in the tag browser True, but it doesn't restrict entries for "Manage Tags" afaik. You can view your entire library in Calibre Companion (CC) using virtual libraries. As mentioned, I don't use CC.