Have Calibre open twice on two different libraries?

[ecognito]

Hi,

Is it possible to have two instances of the Calibre application/window open at the same time, looking at two different libraries?

Thanks.

E.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ecognito

Hi,

Is it possible to have two instances of the Calibre application/window open at the same time, looking at two different libraries?

Thanks.

E.

@ecognito - No, not via the library management application. However you can have multiple libraries open via calibre server (which is read only) alongside one instance of the library management application.

BR

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ecognito

Hi,

Is it possible to have two instances of the Calibre application/window open at the same time, looking at two different libraries?

Thanks.

E.

Not really
You could use the CLI to launch the content server on one

Instead of your question.

What are you trying to ACCOMPLISH. Many of us have been around for a while and might know a trick or 3


Edit

Nija'd by BR

[kacir]

Originally Posted by ecognito

Is it possible to have two instances of the Calibre application/window open at the same time, looking at two different libraries?

No.
This question has been asked before. Several times I believe.

It depends what you are trying to do.
- You can install another Calibre instance into a virtual machine,
- you can have all the books in the same library and use virtual libraries based on tags or whatever metadata

[ecognito]

Thanks for the replies. Using "calibre-server --with-library" will probably fulfil my needs.

This question has been asked before. Several times I believe.

I only found it once, from several years ago without an answer, so thought it worth the new thread. No matter.

What are you trying to ACCOMPLISH. Many of us have been around for a while and might know a trick or 3

I use several different libraries to organise my books. (One is more or less my working library, which mirrors what's on my ebook reader. Another is for books to read, another for books that have been read. Several others for other functions.)

When I get a new book, I'm pretty meticulous about ensuring the meta-data is good for it. For series I also usually prefix the book title with an identifier and number. Often while doing these tasks I want to look up what meta data I used on other books in the series or otherwise check if anything is missing.

Nine times out of ten, that's when I which I could open a second window to access the other library at the same time, instead of having to switch back and forth.

(Aside: I know it is possible to use one library with tags to simulate virtual libraries, but I find that awkward for my brain. I am also aware of the series name and number meta data entries, which I use - but I like it in the title was well. That's just how I roll.)

Thanks for the feedback.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by kacir

No.
This question has been asked before. Several times I believe.

Would starting the GUI twice with different '--with-library' options not work? I'm not at my own machine right now, so I can't test it.

[ecognito]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Would starting the GUI twice with different '--with-library' options not work? I'm not at my own machine right now, so I can't test it.

Nope. Tried that. Suspect it just detects the already running instance and sends focus to that.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by ecognito

(Aside: I know it is possible to use one library with tags to simulate virtual libraries, but I find that awkward for my brain. I am also aware of the series name and number meta data entries, which I use - but I like it in the title was well. That's just how I roll.)

You know that you do not have to pollute your book titles in the library with series / series numbers AND you can still export book with filenames that have series - series number - title - author in the filename?
You can use metadata plugboards and file template for "save to disk" option for that.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kacir

You know that you do not have to pollute your book titles in the library with series / series numbers AND you can still export book with filenames that have series - series number - title - author in the filename?
You can use metadata plugboards and file template for "save to disk" option for that.

I would second the suggestion of using a Plugboard to accomplish this. It works beautifully.

[fidvo]

Originally Posted by ecognito

(Aside: I know it is possible to use one library with tags to simulate virtual libraries, but I find that awkward for my brain. I am also aware of the series name and number meta data entries, which I use - but I like it in the title was well. That's just how I roll.)

If you manage your library in a non-standard way, don't be surprised when Calibre doesn't support your methods. If you can deal with whatever problems pop up, great. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending a lot of time designing workarounds that would be easy if you were willing to adjust your thinking slightly.

For example, you mentioned 3 libraries. Your "To Read" library, your "Working" library, and your "Finished Reading" library (or whatever names you've given them).

If I understand you correctly, books begin in your To Read library. Then when you put them on your ebook, you move them to your Working library. Once you've finished reading them, you move them to your "Finished Reading" library. If you've just moved a file to your Working library, now you have to switch to this new library to see it, which makes all the books in your To Read library unavailable until you switch back. If you want to view books from multiple libraries, you have to start the Content Server, and then you only get read-only access.

Now compare these steps to what you would have to do if you use virtual libraries to track your books.

A book begins in your To Read virtual library. Then when you put it on your ebook, you change the value of a field to Working. (Easier than moving a book to a new library) You can then move to your Working library by clicking on a tab. (Easier than switching to a new library) For all intents and purposes, you are now in your Working library, and your To Read and Finished Reading books might as well not even exist as far as Calibre is concerned, as long as you have the Working tab active. Finally, when you finish reading a book, you change the value of a field to Finished Reading. (Easier than moving the book to a third library) And if you want to compare books from all three libraries, you click on the "All Books" tab. (Easier than starting the content server)

I see a lot of benefits to doing it this way and zero drawbacks. Granted, there may be issues in the details (e.g. different custom fields for different libraries, or you're already using virtual libraries for other purposes in each library) but it seems like it would be a lot less effort to train yourself so that it's a lot less "awkward for your brain," than to spend all the trouble jumping through hoops to deal with the less efficient workflow.

As for the title field, I suggest you create a column built from other columns to store your series + title. Do your editing in the individual series and title fields but feel free to sort or filter on the combined field to look up books.

That said, if your system works for you and you're willing to put up with the hassle, then go ahead and stick with it. I just think you could save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you're willing to adjust your thinking a little.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by fidvo

If you manage your library in a non-standard way, don't be surprised when Calibre doesn't support your methods. If you can deal with whatever problems pop up, great. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending a lot of time designing workarounds that would be easy if you were willing to adjust your thinking slightly.

For example, you mentioned 3 libraries. Your "To Read" library, your "Working" library, and your "Finished Reading" library (or whatever names you've given them).

If I understand you correctly, books begin in your To Read library. Then when you put them on your ebook, you move them to your Working library. Once you've finished reading them, you move them to your "Finished Reading" library. If you've just moved a file to your Working library, now you have to switch to this new library to see it, which makes all the books in your To Read library unavailable until you switch back. If you want to view books from multiple libraries, you have to start the Content Server, and then you only get read-only access.

Now compare these steps to what you would have to do if you use virtual libraries to track your books.

A book begins in your To Read virtual library. Then when you put it on your ebook, you change the value of a field to Working. (Easier than moving a book to a new library) You can then move to your Working library by clicking on a tab. (Easier than switching to a new library) For all intents and purposes, you are now in your Working library, and your To Read and Finished Reading books might as well not even exist as far as Calibre is concerned, as long as you have the Working tab active. Finally, when you finish reading a book, you change the value of a field to Finished Reading. (Easier than moving the book to a third library) And if you want to compare books from all three libraries, you click on the "All Books" tab. (Easier than starting the content server)

I see a lot of benefits to doing it this way and zero drawbacks. Granted, there may be issues in the details (e.g. different custom fields for different libraries, or you're already using virtual libraries for other purposes in each library) but it seems like it would be a lot less effort to train yourself so that it's a lot less "awkward for your brain," than to spend all the trouble jumping through hoops to deal with the less efficient workflow.

As for the title field, I suggest you create a column built from other columns to store your series + title. Do your editing in the individual series and title fields but feel free to sort or filter on the combined field to look up books.

That said, if your system works for you and you're willing to put up with the hassle, then go ahead and stick with it. I just think you could save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you're willing to adjust your thinking a little.

Another advantage of using virtual libraries is that by default there's an "All Books" option (tab), this makes is easy to find for example all books by a particular author irrespective of which virtual libraries they're in. Much easier than searching across multiple libraries.

I would suggest using a custom column that has a fixed set of values - eg "To Read", "Working", and "Finished Reading - to determine which VL a book should be in. This ensures that a book can only be in one VL.

BR

[ecognito]

If you manage your library in a non-standard way, don't be surprised when Calibre doesn't support your methods.

Well, one user's "non-standard way" is another developer's "novel use-case". Regardless of the semantics, the follow-up discussions have encouraged me to explore the virtual library functionality of Calibre again and see if it might be workable. Might not eliminate all of the libraries I'm using, but consolidate the main ones I interact with.

I would suggest using a custom column that has a fixed set of values - eg "To Read", "Working", and "Finished Reading - to determine which VL a book should be in. This ensures that a book can only be in one VL.

That sounds like a good way of doing it. Thanks.

You know that you do not have to pollute your book titles in the library with series / series numbers AND you can still export book with filenames that have series - series number - title - author in the filename?

Yes, I was aware of that. Think I still prefer the series incorporated in the base meta-data. A non-standard way I'll probably stick with. Horses for courses.

Thanks all.

[HarryT]

The disadvantage of incorporating the series name in the title is that you can't then sensibly sort by title.

[ecognito]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The disadvantage of incorporating the series name in the title is that you can't then sensibly sort by title.

The advantage is when you sort by title, it is automatically in series order, which for me, works. Not a big deal. One size does not fit all. Thanks.

[HarryT]

You can of course sort by series anyway by sorting on the "Series" column .