open more than one library?

gianni_1 · 12-04-2023, 03:50 PM

Hi,
Please, can someone tell me if (on the same PC and at the same time), it is possible to keep two Calibre sessions open each with a different books library?
Thank you very much.
Bye

Sirtel · 12-04-2023, 04:46 PM

With Windows you can use the Sandbox or something similar. You must copy your library and settings to Sandbox, of course. They will auto-delete again when you close the Sandbox.

theducks · 12-04-2023, 06:20 PM

For what purpose I ask?

Find Duplicates:find LIBRARY duplicates can check into another to see if there is an entry.

Find Duplicates is a very handy plugin

Comfy.n · 12-04-2023, 06:55 PM

This works for me, although it needs an account with admin privileges:

- On a different Windows user account (this one doesn't need to be admin), install a Calibre Portable instance. Path can be C:\Users\user2\Calibre Portable.

- Log off and switch to the admin account - where main Calibre is installed.

- Open main Calibre.

- Now to open the second library, in the Calibre Portable instance: navigate to C:\Users\user2\Calibre Portable, right click while pressing shift key on calibre-portable.exe. Select Run as a different user. Fill in the credentials.

- Yay! Now you have two Calibre instances running side-by-side, see:

BetterRed · 12-04-2023, 07:42 PM

Been a while since I did it, but I used to open two different libraries, one in the desktop GUI and the other in a browser via the Server… but that was before the Server could write to the library.

BR

kjdavies · 12-06-2023, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Been a while since I did it, but I used to open two different libraries, one in the desktop GUI and the other in a browser via the Server… but that was before the Server could write to the library.

BR

I don't believe you can do that now. As I recall, the server grabs the 'running calibre' stick and doesn't let another instance run, just like having calibre active means you can't run calibredb (outside of a few change-nothing operations like --help).

BetterRed · 12-06-2023, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjdavies

I don't believe you can do that now. As I recall, the server grabs the 'running calibre' stick and doesn't let another instance run, just like having calibre active means you can't run calibredb (outside of a few change-nothing operations like --help).

that's why I added my closing phrase.

At one stage I ran the server from calibre portable version 3.48 alongside later versions of calibre desktop. When that started to play up I switched to CalibreSpy for a while, it provided read only access to multiple libraries concurrently. But afaik it's stopped working and the developer hasn't been seen for months.

BR

kjdavies · 12-08-2023, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

that's why I added my closing phrase.

At one stage I ran the server from calibre portable version 3.48 alongside later versions of calibre desktop. When that started to play up I switched to CalibreSpy for a while, it provided read only access to multiple libraries concurrently. But afaik it's stopped working and the developer hasn't been seen for months.

BR

I've considered writing my own front end, but haven't been willing to commit the time to try to capture all the edge cases. I also thought about seeing if I can amend (a copy of) the current code to allow multiple concurrent libraries but haven't found the time.

kovidgoyal · 12-08-2023, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjdavies

I don't believe you can do that now. As I recall, the server grabs the 'running calibre' stick and doesn't let another instance run, just like having calibre active means you can't run calibredb (outside of a few change-nothing operations like --help).

Sure you can, run the server from within the calibre GUI, then you have one library open in the calibre GUI and as many as you like via the server in a browser.

democrite · 12-26-2023, 10:12 PM

I've started using a separate library for self made epubs to keep them in a different folder. For me what woiud be ideal is having each in a separate tab. Switching takes some time.

Perhaps such would require a fair amount of changes yet for us who often want to switch libraries or have multiple open doe quicker access it sure would be great.

Sirtel · 12-26-2023, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by democrite

I've started using a separate library for self made epubs to keep them in a different folder. For me what woiud be ideal is having each in a separate tab. Switching takes some time.

Perhaps such would require a fair amount of changes yet for us who often want to switch libraries or have multiple open doe quicker access it sure would be great.

You can have separate tabs with virtual libraries.

democrite · 12-27-2023, 03:02 AM

not the same. as said for a reason listed and other I keep separate folders and libraries.

Sirtel · 12-27-2023, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by democrite

not the same. as said for a reason listed and other I keep separate folders and libraries.

Well, Calibre cannot keep several separate libraries open at once, so you're unlikely to get both separate folders and separate tabs. It's either one or the other.

theducks · 12-27-2023, 10:31 AM

I have 3 VL on my 'MainLib' Library, Less than 5 seconds to change tabs.
Neither the Editor nor the Viewer are Library-Modal, which are the times I do open another book at the same time.

democrite · 12-27-2023, 06:01 PM

Maybe for the moment something could improve with switching. For me it takes much longer than for example opening the app to my main library of 10k+ EPUBs. Takes seems like 30+ seconds. Tried maintenance/vacuuming.

12-04-2023, 03:50 PM	#1
gianni_1 Connoisseur Posts: 85 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: tablet	open more than one library? Hi, Please, can someone tell me if (on the same PC and at the same time), it is possible to keep two Calibre sessions open each with a different books library? Thank you very much. Bye

12-04-2023, 06:55 PM	#4
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,611 Karma: 7891011 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	This works for me, although it needs an account with admin privileges: - On a different Windows user account (this one doesn't need to be admin), install a Calibre Portable instance. Path can be C:\Users\user2\Calibre Portable. - Log off and switch to the admin account - where main Calibre is installed. - Open main Calibre. - Now to open the second library, in the Calibre Portable instance: navigate to C:\Users\user2\Calibre Portable, right click while pressing shift key on calibre-portable.exe. Select Run as a different user. Fill in the credentials. - Yay! Now you have two Calibre instances running side-by-side, see: Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Comfy.n; 12-05-2023 at 03:38 AM.

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12-04-2023, 04:46 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,467 Karma: 239219543 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	With Windows you can use the Sandbox or something similar. You must copy your library and settings to Sandbox, of course. They will auto-delete again when you close the Sandbox.

12-04-2023, 06:20 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	For what purpose I ask? Find Duplicates:find LIBRARY duplicates can check into another to see if there is an entry. Find Duplicates is a very handy plugin

12-04-2023, 07:42 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,721 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Been a while since I did it, but I used to open two different libraries, one in the desktop GUI and the other in a browser via the Server… but that was before the Server could write to the library. BR

12-26-2023, 10:12 PM	#10
democrite Evangelist Posts: 441 Karma: 77256 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	I've started using a separate library for self made epubs to keep them in a different folder. For me what woiud be ideal is having each in a separate tab. Switching takes some time. Perhaps such would require a fair amount of changes yet for us who often want to switch libraries or have multiple open doe quicker access it sure would be great.

12-27-2023, 03:02 AM	#12
democrite Evangelist Posts: 441 Karma: 77256 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	not the same. as said for a reason listed and other I keep separate folders and libraries.

12-27-2023, 10:31 AM	#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	I have 3 VL on my 'MainLib' Library, Less than 5 seconds to change tabs. Neither the Editor nor the Viewer are Library-Modal, which are the times I do open another book at the same time.

12-27-2023, 06:01 PM	#15
democrite Evangelist Posts: 441 Karma: 77256 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	Maybe for the moment something could improve with switching. For me it takes much longer than for example opening the app to my main library of 10k+ EPUBs. Takes seems like 30+ seconds. Tried maintenance/vacuuming.

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