Calibre 3.4 web interface - read books

CrustyCurmudgeon · 07-14-2017, 02:05 PM

Hello,

I am using Calibre 3.4 on a Windows server and accessing calibre-server via Google chrome. All seems two be well except I can see now way to manage books that have been "read" on chrome. For example, If I click on a title and select "Read", the app opens the book and allows me to read.

The next time I access my calibre library, that book is listed at the top Under "Continue Reading". That might be handy, except that they never leave, even after I've read the book. There is no function in the browse or in Calibre that I can see to turn this off or to indicate I am finished with the book.

How can I stop or control this behavior so that the web page does not show the last book accessed?

kovidgoyal · 07-14-2017, 02:19 PM

Simply delete the book which you can do by accessing the controls (tap in the top quarter) and click delete book.

drbayless · 07-14-2017, 10:53 PM

Hi,

I'm having the same issue. I'm running a Linux server and accessing the library on a Mac with Chrome browser. When I'm on the home screen with the title "Continue reading…" and book cover, I'm unable to bring up any controls. The cover enlarges when I hover but clicking anywhere just opens the book for reading.

Oh, by the way, thanks for an awesome piece of software!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Simply delete the book which you can do by accessing the controls (tap in the top quarter) and click delete book.

kovidgoyal · 07-14-2017, 10:54 PM

Once the book is opened for reading, you can bring up the controls, not before.

drbayless · 07-14-2017, 10:56 PM

Never mind, I see the controls are actually on the reading screen and not the prior screen.

CrustyCurmudgeon · 07-21-2017, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Simply delete the book which you can do by accessing the controls (tap in the top quarter) and click delete book.

There are no controls (see screenshot) in the browser window or in the reading window, either. None, zilch, zero.

WAIT! I can get to the controls with a mouse right-click. Wow. That is NOT intuitive. Maybe a small gear icon in the upper right corner? That would beg to be clicked.

Not everybody reads on a mobile device or a reader. SOME of us actually use desktop computers and browsers on large monitors... :-)

kovidgoyal · 07-21-2017, 10:58 AM

Umm if you are using a desktop computer, use the calibre viewer, it is designed for use on desktop computers, unlike the browser viewer, which is designed for use on touch screens.

shalym · 07-26-2017, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Umm if you are using a desktop computer, use the calibre viewer, it is designed for use on desktop computers, unlike the browser viewer, which is designed for use on touch screens.

Ah...but what if you don't have Calibre installed on the computer that you wish to read from?

If Calibre is installed on a server, and the person reading is using a different desktop computer to access the Calibre library through a web browser, then I can see how an intuitive way to access the controls might be needed.

Shari

kovidgoyal · 07-26-2017, 11:15 PM

If you can access the calibre server, you can access the internet, which means you can install calibre. I am not going to try and make the browser viewer interface suitable for every kind of device, that way lies chaos. Just like the main calibre interface is optimized for use with a mouse/keyboard, the browser interface is optimized for use with a touch screen.

CrustyCurmudgeon · 07-28-2017, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Umm if you are using a desktop computer, use the calibre viewer, it is designed for use on desktop computers, unlike the browser viewer, which is designed for use on touch screens.

Umm, thank you, Kovid, but it IS just a browser app, isn't it? I mean HTML and CSS-based, no flash, etc? Considering that most web apps can accommodate both desktop AND device browsers, how difficult could it be?

Given that calibre doesn't want to support multiple user access in the DB, using the browser is the easiest approach on a desktop or laptop when the calibre server is running elsewhere. I read everywhere I go and I use full desktop/laptop and touch devices. On my laptop, I can get decent reading apps that will access my remote library, but on my Linux desktop, the only choice is to connect to the library via the network (not supported) or to use the browser. The browser is by far easiest to reach for.

I suspect I am not alone in this practice, so it would be nice if the web browser viewer was fully responsive and could accommodate both desktops and mobile/touchscreen devices.

kovidgoyal · 07-28-2017, 02:06 PM

It accomodates them just fine. Simply right click to access the controls. Not that hard is it. About the only thing it doesn't do is tell you you have to right click to access controls.

CrustyCurmudgeon · 08-04-2017, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It accomodates them just fine. Simply right click to access the controls. Not that hard is it. About the only thing it doesn't do is tell you you have to right click to access controls.

And, therein, lies the value of intuitive interface design. Respectfully, the fact that a right-click can access the functions is only known to you because you designed it. Users relying on intuition are left with no indication at all, forced to stumble along until they discover the secret.

The problem isn't difficulty in the act of accessing the functions, once you know how. The problem is a lack of intuitive design to help users know HOW to access the functions.

I'm not trying to debate with you. You're the creator of the program, so you're going to do whatever you want to do. I'm just offering some user feedback and a suggestion for future improvements. Your welcome.

Divingduck · 08-04-2017, 04:20 PM

You are right. The manual should have a hint about this behavior for non mobile browser user. Standard windows user do not make right clicks in a browser all days.

Well, right clicks are very common for windows. The calibre content server is very new and (by guessing) mostly used from users who walk along with the beta tests too. We know about it because the question was already asked and answered somewhere in the beta test thread. So we are slightly ahead of you

theducks · 08-04-2017, 07:57 PM

Right-clicks (AKA context menu) have been around for years in both Windows and Linux ,even some MSDOS aps that were designed for a Mouse.
Many Windows keyboards even have a Menu key

kovidgoyal · 08-04-2017, 09:48 PM

Actually, the content server viewer displays a usage hint the first time it is used, showing where you can tap to get the controls/turn pages, etc.. And it also mentions that you can right click, as of the last calibre release.

07-14-2017, 02:05 PM	#1
CrustyCurmudgeon Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2017 Device: many	Calibre 3.4 web interface - read books Hello, I am using Calibre 3.4 on a Windows server and accessing calibre-server via Google chrome. All seems two be well except I can see now way to manage books that have been "read" on chrome. For example, If I click on a title and select "Read", the app opens the book and allows me to read. The next time I access my calibre library, that book is listed at the top Under "Continue Reading". That might be handy, except that they never leave, even after I've read the book. There is no function in the browse or in Calibre that I can see to turn this off or to indicate I am finished with the book. How can I stop or control this behavior so that the web page does not show the last book accessed?

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07-14-2017, 02:19 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Simply delete the book which you can do by accessing the controls (tap in the top quarter) and click delete book.

07-14-2017, 10:54 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Once the book is opened for reading, you can bring up the controls, not before.

07-14-2017, 10:56 PM	#5
drbayless Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: ios	Never mind, I see the controls are actually on the reading screen and not the prior screen.

07-21-2017, 10:58 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Umm if you are using a desktop computer, use the calibre viewer, it is designed for use on desktop computers, unlike the browser viewer, which is designed for use on touch screens.

07-26-2017, 11:15 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If you can access the calibre server, you can access the internet, which means you can install calibre. I am not going to try and make the browser viewer interface suitable for every kind of device, that way lies chaos. Just like the main calibre interface is optimized for use with a mouse/keyboard, the browser interface is optimized for use with a touch screen.

07-28-2017, 02:06 PM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	It accomodates them just fine. Simply right click to access the controls. Not that hard is it. About the only thing it doesn't do is tell you you have to right click to access controls.

08-04-2017, 04:20 PM	#13
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,166 Karma: 1410083 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	You are right. The manual should have a hint about this behavior for non mobile browser user. Standard windows user do not make right clicks in a browser all days. Well, right clicks are very common for windows. The calibre content server is very new and (by guessing) mostly used from users who walk along with the beta tests too. We know about it because the question was already asked and answered somewhere in the beta test thread. So we are slightly ahead of you

08-04-2017, 07:57 PM	#14
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Right-clicks (AKA context menu) have been around for years in both Windows and Linux ,even some MSDOS aps that were designed for a Mouse. Many Windows keyboards even have a Menu key

08-04-2017, 09:48 PM	#15
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Actually, the content server viewer displays a usage hint the first time it is used, showing where you can tap to get the controls/turn pages, etc.. And it also mentions that you can right click, as of the last calibre release.

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