Is their an alternative to Calibre that is as good?

Josieb1 · 12-09-2009, 09:32 AM

Hi

I am having major issues using Calibre at the moment as most of the time it doesn't recognise my reader, It doesn't seem to have a pattern and I have the same issue on 3 pc's. I have raised a bug ticket and the Calibre developers have been very helpful but so far we can't work out what is wrong. I have uninstalled and reinstalled loads of times, and disablled AV but still no joy. I did wonder if my reader was faulty but it works fine with the Sony Software.

So my question is, can anyone recommend any software out on the market ( I donated to Calibre so I am quite happy to pay for it) thats as good as Calibre and works in the same way?

I need to be able to edit book details, such as title, author, publisher etc, (I load a lot of word docs) and be able to use Tags to group my stories into Collections.

I am a heavy ebook library user and have 618 stories set into 72 collections, all loaded via Calibre, so I really need something as good as Calibre, the Sony ebook software is just nowhere near good enough

I hate not being able to use Calibre

rcuadro · 12-09-2009, 10:06 AM

To be completely honest I cannot. There are options like Adobe Digital Editions but nothing quite like Calibre.

kjk · 12-09-2009, 12:08 PM

I haven't seen or used anything quite like Calibre either-and this site (Mobilewise) and Teleread are probably the two main sources for any eBook related news-so if one shows up, you'll hear about it here first (or second ).

Josieb1 · 12-09-2009, 01:23 PM

Thank you both for your comments, I am just pinning my hopes on a future release fixing whatever's wrong.

pilotbob · 12-09-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Thank you both for your comments, I am just pinning my hopes on a future release fixing whatever's wrong.

Have you created a web ticket outlining your problems or started a specific thread for it. Kovid is very helpful.

BOb

guyanonymous · 12-09-2009, 01:25 PM

Can you, in the mean-time, just export the files to a directory and manually copy? Shouldn't add more than a few seconds if you do it in bulk!

slm · 12-09-2009, 01:57 PM

I use "save to disk" and select the mounted drive when Calibre doesn't recognize my device. You might try it.

Josieb1 · 12-09-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Have you created a web ticket outlining your problems or started a specific thread for it. Kovid is very helpful.

Yes I have its ticket 4146, and yes Kovid is being very helpful, the problem is its a intermitant problem so we can't see any pattern. Sometimes it is recognised, sometimes not (mostly not). I am doing some PC housekeeping now and will then try a slightly older version of Calibre (pre 6.24) as the problem is quite recent.

Quote:

Can you, in the mean-time, just export the files to a directory and manually copy? Shouldn't add more than a few seconds if you do it in bulk!

Quote:

I use "save to disk" and select the mounted drive when Calibre doesn't recognize my device. You might try it.

I am not sure what you mean?

Do you mean load my stories into Calibre and then using 'save to disc' navigate to the external drive (which is actually the reader), bypassing 'send to device'

Would that even work?

DoctorOhh · 12-09-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Yes I have its ticket 4146, and yes Kovid is being very helpful, the problem is its a intermitant problem so we can't see any pattern. Sometimes it is recognised, sometimes not (mostly not). I am doing some PC housekeeping now and will then try a slightly older version of Calibre (pre 6.24) as the problem is quite recent.

It sounds to me like the problem is unique to your PRS-505. Have you tried a new cable or resetting the reader? Maybe reformatting and starting over?

I can imagine how frustrating it is.

Good Luck

Update - I just noticed you said it works fine with the Sony software. So resetting or reformatting your device is the logical step. It certainly is a mystery. I'm glad my 505 reader isn't affected by this bug.

Sydney's Mom · 12-09-2009, 08:25 PM

I don't think there is anything like it. It is itunes for ebooks.

Josieb1 · 12-10-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

It sounds to me like the problem is unique to your PRS-505. Have you tried a new cable or resetting the reader? Maybe reformatting and starting over?

I can imagine how frustrating it is.

Good Luck

Update - I just noticed you said it works fine with the Sony software. So resetting or reformatting your device is the logical step. It certainly is a mystery. I'm glad my 505 reader isn't affected by this bug.

Thank you Walt, I took your sugestion and 1) went back to default settings, and 2) reformatted my reader.

I didn't know what Format Internal Memory did, but I do now, it wiped my reader clean of every story (I had 618 on the reader). That does seem to have done the trick, alhough I am running version 6.23, and I won't upgrade for a while as I don't want to risk any more problems.

Kovid thinks my over full memory (I only had 35GB out of 210GB free) may have been causing some intermittant problems, and my reader is certainly faster now.

I love my 505 but will be upgrading to a 600 this weekend, as it has a bigger memory (so my story collection won't make it almost full) and a better processer. I can also split my library between two books.

I travel a lot and like to have plenty of choice and rarely delete a story, just keep adding more!

Thanks everyone who commented and tried to help.

DoctorOhh · 12-11-2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Thank you Walt, I took your suggestion and 1) went back to default settings, and 2) reformatted my reader.

I didn't know what Format Internal Memory did, but I do now, it wiped my reader clean of every story (I had 618 on the reader). That does seem to have done the trick, although I am running version 6.23, and I won't upgrade for a while as I don't want to risk any more problems.

Kovid thinks my over full memory (I only had 35M out of 210M free) may have been causing some intermittent problems, and my reader is certainly faster now.

Your Welcome.

Previously I found that when my reader was short on memory that my reader would restart more frequently. A cheap 2Gb SD card solved this problem, I just put the books on the SD card and left main memory mostly clear.

Although currently I've removed the SD card and just limit books in main memory to those I may wish to read. I have 179 books out of my 1000+ books in Calibre on my reader . Those books are in 32 collections the rest of the books are in Calibre just waiting to be called up.

When I update Calibre (I.E. 0.6.25 to 0.6.26) my reader is not connected to the computer. The current updates just change the computer software.

I'm glad it is working for you now.

12-09-2009, 09:32 AM	#1
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	Is their an alternative to Calibre that is as good? Hi I am having major issues using Calibre at the moment as most of the time it doesn't recognise my reader, It doesn't seem to have a pattern and I have the same issue on 3 pc's. I have raised a bug ticket and the Calibre developers have been very helpful but so far we can't work out what is wrong. I have uninstalled and reinstalled loads of times, and disablled AV but still no joy. I did wonder if my reader was faulty but it works fine with the Sony Software. So my question is, can anyone recommend any software out on the market ( I donated to Calibre so I am quite happy to pay for it) thats as good as Calibre and works in the same way? I need to be able to edit book details, such as title, author, publisher etc, (I load a lot of word docs) and be able to use Tags to group my stories into Collections. I am a heavy ebook library user and have 618 stories set into 72 collections, all loaded via Calibre, so I really need something as good as Calibre, the Sony ebook software is just nowhere near good enough I hate not being able to use Calibre Last edited by Josieb1; 12-09-2009 at 05:38 PM.

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12-09-2009, 10:06 AM	#2
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	To be completely honest I cannot. There are options like Adobe Digital Editions but nothing quite like Calibre.

12-09-2009, 12:08 PM	#3
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	I haven't seen or used anything quite like Calibre either-and this site (Mobilewise) and Teleread are probably the two main sources for any eBook related news-so if one shows up, you'll hear about it here first (or second ).

12-09-2009, 01:23 PM	#4
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	Thank you both for your comments, I am just pinning my hopes on a future release fixing whatever's wrong.

12-09-2009, 01:25 PM	#6
guyanonymous Guru Posts: 692 Karma: 27532 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Ebookwise 1150 / 1200	Can you, in the mean-time, just export the files to a directory and manually copy? Shouldn't add more than a few seconds if you do it in bulk!

12-09-2009, 01:57 PM	#7
slm Fool Posts: 462 Karma: 4113712 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle: Voyage,PW1,KOA, Kobo: Clara Colour, Nook GLP, Pocketbook verse	I use "save to disk" and select the mounted drive when Calibre doesn't recognize my device. You might try it.

12-09-2009, 08:25 PM	#10
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I don't think there is anything like it. It is itunes for ebooks.

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