Device indication

[Kumabjorn]

When I have Calibre's Library open and a device connected there is a green check mark telling me whether a certain book is on the device, lack of check mark indicate that it isn't on.

What about when I open Library but have no device connected? Is there some way Calibre can keep track of what device I have transferred a book to? Can it keep multiple devices checked? Can it generate a report for that?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

When I have Calibre's Library open and a device connected there is a green check mark telling me whether a certain book is on the device, lack of check mark indicate that it isn't on.

What about when I open Library but have no device connected? Is there some way Calibre can keep track of what device I have transferred a book to? Can it keep multiple devices checked? Can it generate a report for that?

Steps:
0) use a/many custom columns
1)Connect device and wait for wheel to stop
2) Search ondevice:true
3)Select All
4)Bulk edit metadata, set your status column value
5)Apply

(you can also use ondevice:false and Remove values)

[itimpi]

It is not standard built-in Calibre functionality. You might want to look at the Reading List plugin which can carry out that sort of task for you.

[Pinecone]

The reason is, you may be using calibre with multiple readers, so it would have to show you which books were loaded on various readers.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

The reason is, you may be using calibre with multiple readers, so it would have to show you which books were loaded on various readers.

That is exactly what I am looking for, some sort of customizable tag setting, one column for Kindle, another for Sony PRS-T1 and a third for Sony PRS-350. That way I can look for a book in the Calibre Library and instantly know which device I need to pick up.
Earlier, when I had less books, I had a fair idea on what device the book was located, but as books expand and memory shrinks, this task is approaching terminal velocity.

@theducks
Will those settings remain after the device is unplugged?

[kiwidude]

@Kumajborn - use the Reading List plugin. You can set it to either populate a custom column or to maintain a tag every time the device is "synced" using the plugin, once you set a list up of the appropriate type. The tag/custom column value will remain until you next remove the book from the device and "sync" the list again. You can setup the list syncs to take place automatically when a device is connected, so the tags/custom column values magically update without you having to do anything.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

That is exactly what I am looking for, some sort of customizable tag setting, one column for Kindle, another for Sony PRS-T1 and a third for Sony PRS-350. That way I can look for a book in the Calibre Library and instantly know which device I need to pick up.
Earlier, when I had less books, I had a fair idea on what device the book was located, but as books expand and memory shrinks, this task is approaching terminal velocity.

@theducks
Will those settings remain after the device is unplugged?

A custom column value stays, just like any other book.
What you are really doing, is selecting just those books that are on the device TODAY. and placing your 'tag'.

This is also why you need to clear previous tags that represent the books that are no longer on the device.

[Pinecone]

And then what happens if you have more than one of the same device?

I have 3x PRS-650s here. Mine, my wife's, and a spare. And two PRS-350s, one to carry on long trips as a backup and a spare.

So how is calibre supposed to know which 650 is which and which 350 is which?

[kiwidude]

Each device is uniquely identified by calibre giving it a guid and writing it to a file in the root directory of the device. The Reading List plugin uses those identifiers and you associate each list with a unique device. You can even give them a friendly name.

So it is not a problem at all.

[Kumabjorn]

So if I understand correctly, I add a custom column, give it a name like readinglist and Column Heading like Device. Make it a text columen with three values; Kindle, PRS T1 and PRS 350. Then I run the Reading List plugin for each device sequentially when they are connected to Calibe?

[kiwidude]

That depends on what you want to do. If you could have the same book on multiple devices that you are tracking using the plugin, then either use a unique Tag value for each list, or make sure your custom column is of type "Comma separated text" and use a unique text value.

Then using the plugin create a reading list for each device setting it to assign the relevant unique value and setting other options that you prefer like automatically syncing when the device is connected. Plug each device in turn, associating the list with that device and that should be job done...

[Kumabjorn]

I want to keep a book on only one device at a time, I actually want to make sure don't put it on more than one device.
As I first set it up, I need it to check what book is on what device, later on I need it to update the device in cases where I acquired the book with Calibre and then moved it to a device, but I also need the device to move a book to Calibre and update what device it is on in cases where I've acquired books with the device.

[Kumabjorn]

Update
I have now taged almost every book that are on the devices with their equivalent in the Calibre Library. For some weird reason some books did not get the device tag, that is no biggy though, when I have the time I will make the corrections.
However, from now on I wish the tag to be made automatic, whether I add book from device to library, vice versa or remove book from device (I'll never remove a book from Calibre). How is that optimized. Also, should I add a new tag "Not on any device"?

[kiwidude]

The answer to how to automatically get tags applied as books are added/removed from the device we have given above - the *only* way to do this currently is to use the Reading List plugin. Which once configured correctly will update those tags every time the device is plugged in or when you choose the "Sync Now" option in its menu.

You cannot however have a "Not on any list" type of tag that would be automatically updated - you can only add tags/custom column values for an item being present on a list.

[Kumabjorn]

Right now I'm using Default List. That is perhaps less than optimal?
I have added the tags through the Sync Now command. I got the impression I had to do that every single time. That is why I asked about automation.