Sync with Marvin and Calibre Broken

[noirverse]

I have the latest iOS (10), marvin 3 and calibre download but calibre refuses to work with marvin. I have followed all the instructions on syncing but every time I try to use the iOS reader plugin, it uninstalls itself and won't allow me to make a proper sync on my iphone. Here is what it says when I attempt it:

calibre, version 2.71.0
ERROR: Install Plugin Failed: A problem occurred while installing this plugin. This plugin will now be uninstalled. Please post the error message in details below into the forum thread for this plugin and restart Calibre.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\plugin_updater.py", line 715, in _install_clicked
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 421, in add_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 588, in initialize_plugin
InvalidPlugin: Initialization of plugin Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 582, in initialize_plugin
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 916, in initialize
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 1245, in _get_connected_device_info
InitialConnectionError: Unable to connect to iDevice
failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 582, in initialize_plugin
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 916, in initialize
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 1245, in _get_connected_device_info
InitialConnectionError: Unable to connect to iDevice

Is there anything at all I can do to make a proper sync using my iphone or potential workarounds? I just have the iphone for reading so I'm very frustrated at the idea of having to redownload my books onto marvin everytime I update something on calibre. I would appreciate any help.

Thanks.

[pwalker8]

The plugin doesn't work anymore and hasn't for sometime. It has to do with the way Apple changed iOS. There are a couple of work arounds. First you can download into Marvin via a wireless connection (i.e. via ODPS). You just need to go into the Calibre properties (connections) and turn on the content server. The disadvantage is that it will not sync up the meta data or anything like that.

Or you can download Calibre Companion from the app store, download your ebooks in that, use that as the library and use Marvin as the reader.

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The plugin doesn't work anymore and hasn't for sometime. It has to do with the way Apple changed iOS. There are a couple of work arounds. First you can download into Marvin via a wireless connection (i.e. via ODPS). You just need to go into the Calibre properties (connections) and turn on the content server. The disadvantage is that it will not sync up the meta data or anything like that.

Or you can download Calibre Companion from the app store, download your ebooks in that, use that as the library and use Marvin as the reader.

A little expansion on the above comment:

You can get Calibre to include the metadata by adding an extra step in the process. After you've updated the metadata you need to select "Polish Books" and then update the cover/metadata in the epub file itself. It's pretty easy...just a couple of clicks. Unfortunately Calibre doesn't automatically add metadata for some of the things the plugin would add, like word count. But you can manually do that (I think there is a separate process for that, but I'm not sure what it is) and then polish.

You can also have a completely separate OPDS server, like I do. I run the server from a different machine that has been set up to respond to internet requests with a username/password. In that case you don't have to polish the books to update the metadata, all you do is use "Save to disk" and it automatically does the update for you. I personally save to a hot-folder that Calibre is monitoring from the server. Calibre automagically adds the new book to the OPDS library and it is available within seconds. I can add books to, and download from, my library from anywhere around the world that has an internet connection. It just so happens to be free, which is why I like that option over Calibre Companion. It does take some tenacity and computer know-how to get it set up...

There is another option as well. If you have a dropbox account you can simply "save to disk" to a folder on dropbox. You can allow Marvin access to your dropbox by selecting settings from the library page, then General settings, then "Link to Dropbox". After you have done that you can download books by selecting Dropbox instead of OPDS from the "Get Books From" menu.

I hope that helps!

[noirverse]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

A little expansion on the above comment:

You can get Calibre to include the metadata by adding an extra step in the process. After you've updated the metadata you need to select "Polish Books" and then update the cover/metadata in the epub file itself. It's pretty easy...just a couple of clicks. Unfortunately Calibre doesn't automatically add metadata for some of the things the plugin would add, like word count. But you can manually do that (I think there is a separate process for that, but I'm not sure what it is) and then polish.

You can also have a completely separate OPDS server, like I do. I run the server from a different machine that has been set up to respond to internet requests with a username/password. In that case you don't have to polish the books to update the metadata, all you do is use "Save to disk" and it automatically does the update for you. I personally save to a hot-folder that Calibre is monitoring from the server. Calibre automagically adds the new book to the OPDS library and it is available within seconds. I can add books to, and download from, my library from anywhere around the world that has an internet connection. It just so happens to be free, which is why I like that option over Calibre Companion. It does take some tenacity and computer know-how to get it set up...

There is another option as well. If you have a dropbox account you can simply "save to disk" to a folder on dropbox. You can allow Marvin access to your dropbox by selecting settings from the library page, then General settings, then "Link to Dropbox". After you have done that you can download books by selecting Dropbox instead of OPDS from the "Get Books From" menu.

I hope that helps!

Thank you, I'm happy to say that I've finally fixed my calibre problem!