Accessing Multiple Libraries

[nitsuj123]

Sorry if this has been asked but I'm assuming Content Server only accesses whatever library you have on Desktop, correct? I have my collections broken into separate libraries and I'm wondering if I should just merge them all for search purposes?

[chaley]

A content server instance accesses and serves one library.

If you start the content server from the GUI then the library is the one open or subsequently changed-to in the GUI. If you start the content server from the command line then the library is the one named in --with-library or in the default preferences if --with-library is not specified. You can serve multiple libraries by starting multiple instances of the content server. Use a different port for each server (--port).

Instead of multiple libraries you might consider using restrictions to create virtual libraries. You can specify a restriction when you start the content server, permitting you to emulate any subset of "separate" libraries in one server instance.

[nitsuj123]

Hi, thx for the quick reply. Don't mean to be offensive but I only understand English and some of what you wrote is foreign to me .

I know how to use the command line but I would't know what to write. Ideally, I would like to access all the books on my PC from tablet rather than have them stored locally. Would a batch file ran on startup get multiple instances of the content server running solve this? If so, how would I go about writing one?

The other option I use is remote file manager (ES File Explorer)....but the file organization is ugly and it's a pain to find what I'm looking for.

Thanks for your time!

[ApK]

Originally Posted by nitsuj123

Don't mean to be offensive but I only understand English and some of what you wrote is foreign to me .

Consider using only one library instead of several.

Seriously, if you're a non-technical user, before you jump into creating a custom technical solution, it would make sense to do a little bit of needs analysis and see if what you are asking for is really what you want.

You may discover that you can manage things differently, and more simply, another way.

Why do you maintain stuff in multiple libraries?

[nitsuj123]

My database is rather large and searching for what I want (on PC) took longer than I could tolerate. So I broke it down into separate libraries to reduce the search speed. I would also prefer to access my libraries without loading calibre on desktop if that's possible. This is why I asked if merging my libraries back into one would be better.

[nitsuj123]

Would also be nice if you could just view what's on your PC with an option to download rather than having to download to view.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by nitsuj123

I know how to use the command line but I would't know what to write. Ideally, I would like to access all the books on my PC from tablet rather than have them stored locally. Would a batch file ran on startup get multiple instances of the content server running solve this? If so, how would I go about writing one?

This thread may provide you with the details you need to accomplish your goal.

Originally Posted by nitsuj123

My database is rather large and searching for what I want (on PC) took longer than I could tolerate.

You can increase search speed two ways. One is to use specific searches, examples authors:"=Isaac Asimov" or tags:"=Action" this limits the search to a specific field. Or you can go to Preferences - Searching - Columns that non-prefixed searches are limited to and remove comments from the list. I have mine limited to title, authors, tags, series, and publisher. This way if I search on anything the search engine doesn't have to search through all of the comments of every book and only searches the fields I designated.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by nitsuj123

My database is rather large and searching for what I want (on PC) took longer than I could tolerate. So I broke it down into separate libraries to reduce the search speed.

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

[G]o to Preferences - Searching - Columns that non-prefixed searches are limited to and remove comments from the list. I have mine limited to title, authors, tags, series, and publisher. This way if I search on anything the search engine doesn't have to search through all of the comments of every book and only searches the fields I designated.

This exactly what I was thinking about. If you separated your library for search speed, I would highly recommend adjusting the search columns like DoctorOff is suggesting and merging everything back to one library. I did the same thing awhile ago, and it changed my my large network library search times from "way too long" to "instantaneous."

Managing one library is far easier for most purposes than working with several, and gives you a lot of flexibility.

And for me, I want Calibre to make my life easier, not provide me with Yet Another Tech Hobby. :-)