Calibre SW - Can it...?

re838uk · 10-07-2009, 03:51 PM

Is it possible to do the following things with Calibre:

Send a converted file to the reader automatically if it is connected up or as you send a file to the reader it converts it automatically?

Retain only the copied version. The folder used for conversions contain both a copy of the original file and the new formatted version. Is the copy of the original file necessary?.

Bypass the adding to the library?. I'm mainly interested in the conversion feature and don't intend to use it to manage books/comics/manga - got far too much stuff to sort out.

Thanks.

gwynevans · 10-07-2009, 04:31 PM

> Send a converted file to the reader automatically if it is connected up
Don't think so

> as you send a file to the reader it converts it automatically?
Not sure - have a feeling this might be possible, but never tried it.

> Retain only the copied version. ... Is the copy of the original file necessary?
Not automatically, but it's possible manually.

> Bypass the adding to the library?
To bypass, just use the command-line utility ('ebook-convert', I think) to do the conversions, which is then independent of the library.

user_none · 10-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by re838uk

Send a converted file to the reader automatically if it is connected up or as you send a file to the reader it converts it automatically?

Auto convert is suppored. When you send a book to a device that is not in a format the device supports it will be converted to a supported format. Also, you can change what format the auto conversion uses. In the Preferences go to plugins, Device Interface Plugins, Select your device and press customize. The first enabled format in the list is used for auto convert if the book you're sending isn't in any of the enabled formats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by re838uk

Retain only the copied version. The folder used for conversions contain both a copy of the original file and the new formatted version. Is the copy of the original file necessary?.

The library keeps the original and all conversions. A number of conversion formats are lossy (TXT, PDB...) so it's a good idea to keep the original (especially if it is a higher quality format (EPUB) around for future conversions. For instance I have a Cybook now that uses MOBI but I have purchased books as EPUB (liberated) and if I when I get a new reader (the Cybook won't last forever) I will want to be able to convert to what the new reader supports keeping the best quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by re838uk

Bypass the adding to the library?. I'm mainly interested in the conversion feature and don't intend to use it to manage books/comics/manga - got far too much stuff to sort out.

The GUI has full management and conversion. However, all conversion functionality is accessible via the command line application ebook-convert.

re838uk · 10-08-2009, 05:17 AM

Hi,
thanks both for the replies.

I'm not a big fan of command line interfaces - slow and difficult to use for me personally. I'll see if i can get the ebook-convert thing working.

About the retaining the original and conversions I can understand keeping the original whether it is pdf, jpg, bmp, gif, html, etc, but if I have it already in one location it seems unnecessary to copy it again which for me puts a strain on my system as I'm often moving stuff about as it is.

itimpi · 10-08-2009, 11:18 AM

If you use the Calibre command line interface you do not need to first copy the files into Calibre - you specify the source and target files as part of the convert command. This gives you complete control over file names and locations.

I personally prefer using the GUI, but once I have added a file into Calibre I remove the original so there is no duplication there either.

10-07-2009, 03:51 PM	#1
re838uk Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505 (Red)	Calibre SW - Can it...? Is it possible to do the following things with Calibre: Send a converted file to the reader automatically if it is connected up or as you send a file to the reader it converts it automatically? Retain only the copied version. The folder used for conversions contain both a copy of the original file and the new formatted version. Is the copy of the original file necessary?. Bypass the adding to the library?. I'm mainly interested in the conversion feature and don't intend to use it to manage books/comics/manga - got far too much stuff to sort out. Thanks.

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10-07-2009, 04:31 PM	#2
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	> Send a converted file to the reader automatically if it is connected up Don't think so > as you send a file to the reader it converts it automatically? Not sure - have a feeling this might be possible, but never tried it. > Retain only the copied version. ... Is the copy of the original file necessary? Not automatically, but it's possible manually. > Bypass the adding to the library? To bypass, just use the command-line utility ('ebook-convert', I think) to do the conversions, which is then independent of the library.

10-08-2009, 05:17 AM	#4
re838uk Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505 (Red)	Hi, thanks both for the replies. I'm not a big fan of command line interfaces - slow and difficult to use for me personally. I'll see if i can get the ebook-convert thing working. About the retaining the original and conversions I can understand keeping the original whether it is pdf, jpg, bmp, gif, html, etc, but if I have it already in one location it seems unnecessary to copy it again which for me puts a strain on my system as I'm often moving stuff about as it is.

10-08-2009, 11:18 AM	#5
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	If you use the Calibre command line interface you do not need to first copy the files into Calibre - you specify the source and target files as part of the convert command. This gives you complete control over file names and locations. I personally prefer using the GUI, but once I have added a file into Calibre I remove the original so there is no duplication there either.

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