Calibre & the Cloud

MikiSunshine · 06-28-2023, 04:04 PM

One or two short questions. I hope this is the right forum. First, can Calibre use Dropbox or iCloud to store all books? I'd like to be able to access them from my iPad and if so, how can I do that?

FYI, I'm using an iMac with MacOS 13.4.1. I used to run Calibre quite a few years ago and had over 1000 books. Unfortunately I can't access the portable drive they used to be on so I'm rebuilding my collection.

I've got plenty of room but I'm not always at the computer and prefer to use my iPad. I'd love to be able to run Calibre over my network as I've got a ton of books that really need cleaning up.

Any help appreciated.

ownedbycats · 06-28-2023, 04:08 PM

Do not store Calibre on an NAS or cloud storage. SQLite is very touchy.

Backing up to it is usually fine (not Google Drive; it strips the ID numbers off the folders.)

Check out the Calibre content server. You run it on a computer and then access it through the browser on other computers.

theducks · 06-28-2023, 07:21 PM

What is the (portable) drive problem? Unreadable (might be repairable), or Lost/damaged physically?

MikiSunshine · 06-28-2023, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

What is the (portable) drive problem? Unreadable (might be repairable), or Lost/damaged physically?

It’s completely unreadable just up and died. I tried a lot of things at the time and I can’t afford to have the data retrieved professionally. It’s not critical but it is frustrating to lose all those books. Also, if I remember correctly, my computer doesn’t see it anymore. Of course it’s been a few years so I’m not even sure where it is now.

MikiSunshine · 06-28-2023, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Do not store Calibre on an NAS or cloud storage. SQLite is very touchy.

Is there a way that I can use my iPad to see my books list? I tried Calibre Companion but it doesn’t seem to work.

ownedbycats · 06-28-2023, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikiSunshine

Is there a way that I can use my iPad to see my books list? I tried Calibre Companion but it doesn’t seem to work.

I mentioned it in my first post.

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/server.html

Wiggo · 06-28-2023, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikiSunshine

Is there a way that I can use my iPad to see my books list? I tried Calibre Companion but it doesn’t seem to work.

Calibre Sync and a copy of the database on NAS works perfect for me

Jctrouss · 06-29-2023, 02:23 AM

Hello,
I am very happy with Calibre Sync (Ios) in combination with a copy of my library on OneDrive.
Easy to use and good performance even with a large library.
Kind regards.

MikiSunshine · 06-29-2023, 02:44 AM

Calibre Sync does look like a good idea. Loo I’ll just have to figure it out tomorrow. Too tired
To think now.

Thank you all for your suggestions. Not to see if I can her it to work.

theducks · 06-29-2023, 10:21 AM

The IMPORTANT bit is COPY (AKA Mirror) and NOT 2-way sync to a Networked drive (almost any kind except Google Drive).

2-Way use open up a bunch of possible issues that do not agree with Calibre integrity. If you do use a copy, then NO Calibre use should be active during the restore (Copy back)

theducks · 06-29-2023, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikiSunshine

Is there a way that I can use my iPad to see my books list? I tried Calibre Companion but it doesn’t seem to work.

CC is now abandonware.

@ownedbycats has the right of it. Run the content server. (you leave the PC running to use)
You set it up by Preferences: Sharing over the Net (there are lots of tabs with settings to consider. Local use only (in a single family structure), might get away with just the first.

ownedbycats · 06-29-2023, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The IMPORTANT bit is COPY (AKA Mirror) and NOT 2-way sync to a Networked drive (almost any kind except Google Drive).

2-Way use open up a bunch of possible issues that do not agree with Calibre integrity. If you do use a copy, then NO Calibre use should be active during the restore (Copy back)

Also, make sure to run the mirror only when Calibre's shut down.

MikiSunshine · 06-29-2023, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Also, make sure to run the mirror only when Calibre's shut down.

Forgive me but I don't know what you mean by mirror.

Also, I love your user name. It could be me. I'm also owned by cats. Gotta love the little furballs.

ownedbycats · 06-29-2023, 04:36 PM

'Mirroring' is basically copying the entire file structure to another location - it also propagates deletions and renames and the like.

If you use something like FreeFileSync/SyncBack/JaBuT to mirror your files to dropbox or onedrive or whatever, only do that when Calibre is shut down. Otherwise you'll probably get errors.

JSWolf · 06-30-2023, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

'Mirroring' is basically copying the entire file structure to another location - it also propagates deletions and renames and the like.

If you use something like FreeFileSync/SyncBack/JaBuT to mirror your files to dropbox or onedrive or whatever, only do that when Calibre is shut down. Otherwise you'll probably get errors.

Best to use FreeFileSync as it's easier to use.

06-28-2023, 04:04 PM	#1
MikiSunshine Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Margate, FL Device: Kindle	Calibre & the Cloud One or two short questions. I hope this is the right forum. First, can Calibre use Dropbox or iCloud to store all books? I'd like to be able to access them from my iPad and if so, how can I do that? FYI, I'm using an iMac with MacOS 13.4.1. I used to run Calibre quite a few years ago and had over 1000 books. Unfortunately I can't access the portable drive they used to be on so I'm rebuilding my collection. I've got plenty of room but I'm not always at the computer and prefer to use my iPad. I'd love to be able to run Calibre over my network as I've got a ton of books that really need cleaning up. Any help appreciated.

06-28-2023, 04:08 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,968 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Do not store Calibre on an NAS or cloud storage. SQLite is very touchy. Backing up to it is usually fine (not Google Drive; it strips the ID numbers off the folders.) Check out the Calibre content server. You run it on a computer and then access it through the browser on other computers. Last edited by ownedbycats; 06-28-2023 at 04:19 PM.

06-29-2023, 04:36 PM	#14
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,968 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	'Mirroring' is basically copying the entire file structure to another location - it also propagates deletions and renames and the like. If you use something like FreeFileSync/SyncBack/JaBuT to mirror your files to dropbox or onedrive or whatever, only do that when Calibre is shut down. Otherwise you'll probably get errors. Last edited by ownedbycats; 06-29-2023 at 10:08 PM.

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06-28-2023, 07:21 PM	#3
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	What is the (portable) drive problem? Unreadable (might be repairable), or Lost/damaged physically?

06-29-2023, 02:23 AM	#8
Jctrouss Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2017 Device: Ipad	Hello, I am very happy with Calibre Sync (Ios) in combination with a copy of my library on OneDrive. Easy to use and good performance even with a large library. Kind regards.

06-29-2023, 02:44 AM	#9
MikiSunshine Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Margate, FL Device: Kindle	Calibre Sync does look like a good idea. Loo I’ll just have to figure it out tomorrow. Too tired To think now. Thank you all for your suggestions. Not to see if I can her it to work.

06-29-2023, 10:21 AM	#10
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	The IMPORTANT bit is COPY (AKA Mirror) and NOT 2-way sync to a Networked drive (almost any kind except Google Drive). 2-Way use open up a bunch of possible issues that do not agree with Calibre integrity. If you do use a copy, then NO Calibre use should be active during the restore (Copy back)

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