Questions with merging Kindle and Calibre

[r_mcgee]

Ok I have a few Quandaries I'm hoping for some help answering.

First is I have a fairly large collection of ebooks. The bulk of them are in calibre but I have a sizable number that I have purchased through Amazon. I've gotten to the point where it's getting bothersome to have to go between multiple locations to view everything I have. So what I'd like to know is what can I do to get my Amazon collection of books into calibre. I found some info about downloading to computer with kindle app then adding those files to calibre, and also about removing DRM. This is sort of Ok but is kind of labor intensive, seems to be a lot of steps to get it all done. Is there a way to automate the process so that calibre will do it automatically on some set interval or on start up? I also don't necessarily need the book it's self so if I could get just the metadata loaded with some automated task that would work as well.

The other thing I would like help with is I would like to be able to look through my library from my phone and/or tablet when I'm away from my PC. On one hand I could see having my library loaded on my device so I would have access to the data when I'm away from my computer, but on the other hand if I just had just the metadata to look through and then get the book I may want only when I want it. I know there are some apps out there that may do what I want, but I haven't had a chance to try any of them out. I use the Kindle app to read with. I wouldn't be adverse to using some other reading app if it also let me see my calibre library along with my Kindle books, but if I can get something set up to look through my library and then add a relevant ebook to the Kindle folder on an as needed basis that will work as well.

--R

[theducks]

Question 2's answer:

Create a 'Catalog' to carry with you.
Use the arrow on the Conversion Icon (or right click it): Catalog

Configure the settings to match you reading device/viewer preference and options

Catalog can respect just the current selected books or VL



Question 1
Calibre can simply be used to manage DRM infested books for your registered device(s) if that is all you need.

[r_mcgee]

I didn't know about the catalog thing before so thanks. However that just seems to make a list and I was wanting something with more interaction. Able to sort, search, then do something with the file(either move it around on internal memory to put it in my reader app, or grab the file from cloud or something). My thought was something as close to the main software for familiarity sake.

So as far as adding kindle books it's a matter of using kindle pc app, downloading book, grabbing the file from storage folder, and adding that into calibre? All by hand so to speak. There isn't some way to link them so that when I buy new through Amazon, calibre will automatically update to reflect that?

[eschwartz]

Preferences ==> Adding books ==> Automatic Adding (tab)
Set calibre to automatically add books from your "My Kindle Content" folder.

Then download all your books into the Kindle for PC application.
For the future, go to http://amazon.com/manageyourkindle and make sure your default device is the Kindle for PC application. (It should be, if it is your only registered device.)


calibre will automatically add all ebooks from that folder, and as you purchase new books, they automatically get queued to download in Kindle for PC, at which point calibre then adds them too.

EDIT: Obviously, you must open K4PC to download books, and open calibre to import them.
But other than actually launching the applications, it is entirely non-interactive.

Auto-added books get deleted from the auto-add folder, so calibre won't add them twice.
This shouldn't be a problem, since the only reason to use Kindle for PC is to download books into calibre -- right?

[eschwartz]

As for seeing what books you have in calibre from your tablet/phone, what devices do you have? If they are Android devices, I suggest you get Calibre Companion, developed by a MobileRead member and sometimes developer of calibre. It is an excellent app for managing your ebooks, and very popular here, and one thing which users have discovered is that it is easy to use it as a simple catalog as well -- simply add a blank TXT format to each of your books -- see HERE, #7 -- then send the TXT to Calibre Companion.

Calibre Companion will "have" all your books, and show you their metadata and let you search through them etc. etc. but it will only take up ~1KB per book since they are all just blank TXT files.
You can add the actual EPUB/AZW3 for the books you do want, there are several ways to download your books with Calibre Companion.

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Alternatively, simply leave calibre itself turned on and set up the Content Server for remote access (Dynamic DNS + router port forwarding), and Calibre Companion can browse the live OPDS catalog and download books as desired.

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Alternatively, if your calibre library is synced to Dropbox, OneDrive, etc. then Calibre Companion can access your library from there, without having to use a running Content Server and setting up Dynamic DNS + port forwarding.
See: http://cc_faq.multipie.co.uk/index.p...ion=show&cat=2

[r_mcgee]

eschwartz thanks for the info. The auto-add should be able to to do what I want for that. just need time enough to try it out now .

I have a tablet and a phone and both are android. Ill give Calibre Companion a test and see how I like it over the next few days. I don't have the ability to leave my calibre running all the time so the content server wont work. I might give the cloud option a try too.

[eschwartz]

Happy to help.

Do check out the free demo version of CC, which is limited to 20 books (demo ) but otherwise fully functional.
See how you like it before committing to buying it.