Improving my Calibre "flow" : adding books, backing...

[Hevel]

Hello,

I'm still a newbie with Calibre and I'm exploring some ways to improve my "flow": adding books, backing, and synchronizing, accessing from mobile...

Adding books

"Automatic adding" seems fine to me. You create an empty folder just for this purpose. You put every new eBook in it, so it'll be automatically added to the library and deleted from the folder.

Better options?

Backing

The trickiest part for me right now... If I understood correctly, OneDrive may corrupt the library when Calibre is open. So, either:

• I pause OneDrive while Calibre is open (boring).
• I create a copy of my library in OneDrive (I'm not sure how to do that). But I suppose it would require making a new backup every time I add a book? (super-boring)

Accessing from mobile devices

I guess Calibre Companion works well with OneDrive, even if I didn't try yet.

Installing Calibre on a new computer

Finally, if my computer crashes, is it possible to install Calibre on a new computer with the same settings and customizations. If so, how to do it ?

Thank you all

[kovidgoyal]

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...ter-to-another

[Bookstooge]

Onedrive should be considered a NAS. Here's what the documentation says about that:

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...rked-drive-nas


There is a way to copy all your settings so your new install of calibre is setup just like your old. It involves moving a set of "settings" folders, but I can't remember what folder. someone else should be able to tell you. It's too early for me...

[Sirtel]

Keeping your active Calibre library in OneDrive is not recommended. Best to keep a backup copy there. For that purpose many of us use FreeFileSync, the mirror sync option (certainly not two-way sync!). It will mirror any changes from your active library to the backup library, so you don't have to copy the whole library over every time you make changes.

Yes, you can install your library and settings on a new computer. There is an export-import option for that, but personally I have just copied the library folder and the settings folder over in their entirety and pointed the new Calibre installation to the library folder (right-click on the Library icon, Create/Switch, Use existing).

The settings folder is usually located (on Windows) in User/AppData/Roaming. You have to copy over the whole folder named calibre, to the same location on your new computer.

[Hevel]

Thanks for the documentation everyone!

(I'm honored to have my thread answered by the creator of Calibre ).

@Sirtel : I'll try FreeFileSync and follow your advices

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Hevel[B

Backing[/B]

The trickiest part for me right now... If I understood correctly, OneDrive may corrupt the library when Calibre is open. So, either:

• I pause OneDrive while Calibre is open (boring).
• I create a copy of my library in OneDrive (I'm not sure how to do that). But I suppose it would require making a new backup every time I add a book? (super-boring)

I use differential backups. A full backup every so often, and the other ones are only of changed files. Saves space and time. Note that I disabled storing bookmarks inside ePubs because it was making an absolute mess of it.

(I use Cobian Backup for this despite it not having been updated in years. Probably better alternatives around, but I like this one.)

As mentioned above mirror syncing is also a good option.

[BetterRed]

I use Windows 10. I avoid using the mouse. I prefer to work from my file manager wherever possible.

Originally Posted by Hevel

Hello,

I'm still a newbie with Calibre and I'm exploring some ways to improve my "flow": adding books, backing, and synchronizing, accessing from mobile...

Adding books

"Automatic adding" seems fine to me. You create an empty folder just for this purpose. You put every new eBook in it, so it'll be automatically added to the library and deleted from the folder.

Better options?

I start calibre and switch to my Intake library, I have calibre at the top of Windows Send To list, so I select the file(s) I want to add in my file manager, tap N, N, right arrow, Enter. The files remain in my download sub-folders until I do my weekly backups.

Once the books are in the library I enter the metadata into the library list cells. After setting the Author and Title I usually show that authors books (Alt+A) and then use the metadata copy and paste to copy columns from a similar book - I don't like dialogue boxes either

Once I'm satisfied the metadata is correct I move (copy with delete) the books from Intake to my Books, Journals, or Media libraries.

Backing

The trickiest part for me right now... If I understood correctly, OneDrive may corrupt the library when Calibre is open. So, either:

• I pause OneDrive while Calibre is open (boring).
• I create a copy of my library in OneDrive (I'm not sure how to do that). But I suppose it would require making a new backup every time I add a book? (super-boring)

I use GoodSynch to maintain incremental (mirror image) backups of my all my data, including calibre libraries, and application configuration data, on a daily basis to external USB 3.0 drives, and on a weekly basis to a commercial FTP server. I can switch to the libraries from calibre if I need to. Most importantly, I can salvage individual files or books if I break or lose them.

Accessing from mobile devices

I guess Calibre Companion works well with OneDrive, even if I didn't try yet.

I've only ever kept what I'm currently reading (usually three or fours texts) and a few reference texts on my devices, so I just copy things as I need them, my major device now is a Surface Go. I sometimes slice the endnotes from books and put them on my phone, popup notes -- useful as chocolate teapot.