Readers and folders on PC's - Annoying

timezone · 12-05-2010, 01:20 PM

From Zinio to Adobe Digital Edition Library to Mobipocket, Blio and even Calibre we are either unable to set the directory location or unable to create folders. With new devices such as Tablets it is often the case where the data files should be put on the card to save main memory resources.

As to the folders there are reasons for separating work PDF's from the main reading group for example. With Calibre we are told it can do a better job sorting if it handles the organization. Apologies if I am misrepresenting Calibre. This is probably what the other readers would say. My answer to it would be keep the sort organization within the folder. Each time we create a folder let it standalone. Then it won't break the sort algorithms because it won't be done across folders. Then both groups are happy. Calibre can still do its work and if we choose to add additional organization to the bookshelf then we are allowed this added benefit.

Of course my biggest gripe is with reader software that is so arrogant to not allow the user to set the location of the files if we so choose.

v1k1ng1001 · 12-05-2010, 01:28 PM

This is one of the main arguments for buying a pocketbook device.

timezone · 12-05-2010, 01:40 PM

I might agree but for me the PC Tablet provides me the freedom to use any DRM or non DRM format I choose. Also magazines have there own formats. If I want to subscribe to a magazine I just download their reader. Unless of course I have no choice in file location. Then I email them and ask when they are going to fix the problem.

With a pocket reader you have the advantage of weight and portability with long lasting battery charges. But lose out with choice. For me choice trumps the other benefits.

This is not about one being better than the other. Just a personal choice. With that choice comes benefits and issues for both types of devices. I am focusing on an issue I have with mine.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 12-06-2010, 08:21 AM

This is one of the reasons I like the Nook Color: It will allow you to store your documents on an SD card in nested folders as you desire. What point is having a library where all your content is in one humongous file?

Sweetpea · 12-06-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timezone

From Zinio to Adobe Digital Edition Library to Mobipocket, Blio and even Calibre we are either unable to set the directory location or unable to create folders. With new devices such as Tablets it is often the case where the data files should be put on the card to save main memory resources.

Hmm, I make folders with Calibre... Very easily doable these days, as a matter of fact. My BBM doesn't read metadata, so a folder system is very important. And while my Mobipocket (mobile) doesn't acknowledge folders, it will still read them.

I'd say: use the Calibre library on your pc/laptop/external HD (I use the last option) and export the books to all devices you want, such as a card on a tablet, with the directory structure you want.

Jellby · 12-07-2010, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1k1ng1001

This is one of the main arguments for buying a pocketbook device.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

This is one of the reasons I like the Nook Color

Or a Bookeen Cybook... Actually, it looks like that's one of the reasons to buy something other than Kindle or Sony.

Ken Maltby · 12-08-2010, 09:57 PM

Hmm... I find it very easy to maintain the file structure for the books I read on my
Ectaco Jetbook Lite, by first creating it on my PC using all the tools for file management
available. It is created as a directory/folder then I use the free "SyncToy", by Microsoft
to keep my SD card ebook libraries matching what I have on the PC.

Now I can keep the SD card for my son's JBL up to date with the books that I think
he might like as well as my own SD card for my JBL. Of course there are different parts
of the master Directory/Folder that I have setup to be included in his SD card than
mine, as well as many common parts.

I acquire all my ebooks through my PC, and disinfect them there, so there is no hardship
to also maintain the file structure there. With SyncToy it is very easy to keep the SD
card(s) up to date.

Luck;
Ken

Sweetpea · 12-09-2010, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Hmm... I find it very easy to maintain the file structure for the books I read on my
Ectaco Jetbook Lite, by first creating it on my PC using all the tools for file management
available. It is created as a directory/folder then I use the free "SyncToy", by Microsoft
to keep my SD card ebook libraries matching what I have on the PC.

Now I can keep the SD card for my son's JBL up to date with the books that I think
he might like as well as my own SD card for my JBL. Of course there are different parts
of the master Directory/Folder that I have setup to be included in his SD card than
mine, as well as many common parts.

I acquire all my ebooks through my PC, and disinfect them there, so there is no hardship
to also maintain the file structure there. With SyncToy it is very easy to keep the SD
card(s) up to date.

Luck;
Ken

I do something like that, except I use Calibre.

Ken Maltby · 12-09-2010, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I do something like that, except I use Calibre.

Calibre is great at managing ebooks, of course, allowing many more features
than the simple file management that the OS provides. For use on the PC
it would be hard to beat. But my reader has a limited and specific set of
features that are implemented in its Menu System, so most of the great
features of Calibre's ebook management system are no longer accessible
from the menus of my device. It can only make use of the file structure,
the naming of the file, and a little of the metadata of some formats.

Many of my files do pass through Calibre on their way to my Master Folder
for the SD cards.

Luck;
Ken

Ken Maltby · 12-09-2010, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timezone

From Zinio to Adobe Digital Edition Library to Mobipocket, Blio and even Calibre we are either unable to set the directory location or unable to create folders. With new devices such as Tablets it is often the case where the data files should be put on the card to save main memory resources.

As to the folders there are reasons for separating work PDF's from the main reading group for example. With Calibre we are told it can do a better job sorting if it handles the organization. Apologies if I am misrepresenting Calibre. This is probably what the other readers would say. My answer to it would be keep the sort organization within the folder. Each time we create a folder let it standalone. Then it won't break the sort algorithms because it won't be done across folders. Then both groups are happy. Calibre can still do its work and if we choose to add additional organization to the bookshelf then we are allowed this added benefit.

Of course my biggest gripe is with reader software that is so arrogant to not allow the user to set the location of the files if we so choose.

I'm no Calibre expert, quite the contrary, but you can easily "set the
directory" and "create folders". There is a downarrow next to the
"Preferences" tab that gives you the option to re-run the startup wizard
and set your own directory for the Calibre Library. The folders in the library
are based on the Author field of the metadata, if you enter a folder title
that you want for the author field that is the folder that the book will be
put into, in the Calibre Library directory. There are probably other ways to
do it, I am just a novice when it comes to Calibre.

Luck;
Ken

Sweetpea · 12-09-2010, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It can only make use of the file structure,
the naming of the file, and a little of the metadata of some formats.

So does my Mini. But I still use Calibre to manage it. Calibre nicely saves all files to their specified folders (which are exactly the same I had before I used Calibre):

PDF\[A-F]\Asimov, Isaac\Foundation\01 - The Foundation.pdf

and

Epub\[A-F]\Asimov, Isaac\Foundation\01 - The Foundation.epub

The advantage of using Calibre is that I can see which files are already on the device and which aren't, as it'll create its own "database" to keep track of it. and this "database" is stored on the device as well.

Ken Maltby · 12-09-2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

The advantage of using Calibre is that I can see which files are already on the device and which aren't, as it'll create its own "database" to keep track of it. and this "database" is stored on the device as well.

I guess most programs that "Sync" things have such files, SyncToy does
and ADE has its "manifest.xml" file. With SyncToy you run a "preview"
that examines the pairs and lists all the changes to be made, based on
your settings. You can not only see the changes, like adding a new file,
but you can opt to not make the change for any file or files that you wish.

Luck;
Ken

Sweetpea · 12-09-2010, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

I guess most programs that "Sync" things have such files, SyncToy does
and ADE has its "manifest.xml" file. With SyncToy you run a "preview"
that examines the pairs and lists all the changes to be made, based on
your settings. You can not only see the changes, like adding a new file,
but you can opt to not make the change for any file or files that you wish.

Luck;
Ken

I tried SyncToy once. I had to reboot my pc because it was using so much processor power, I couldn't do anything anymore. And it hadn't even started copying yet, only the compare and space calculations...

Ken Maltby · 12-09-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I tried SyncToy once. I had to reboot my pc because it was using so much processor power, I couldn't do anything anymore. And it hadn't even started copying yet, only the compare and space calculations...

Hmm... If that were your experience it's easy to understand your dislike
for the program, but that is not how the program is supposed to work.
You may have been using an older version (the current version is 2.1) or
perhaps your system didn't meet the system requirements.

Version 2.1 System Requirements:
Supported Operating Systems:Windows 7;Windows Vista;Windows XP
Microsoft .NET Framework v2.0
1GHz Intel P3 processor or equivalent
256MB RAM, 512MB RAM recommended
20MB free disk space

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...laylang=en#Top

Luck;
Ken

Worldwalker · 12-09-2010, 11:02 AM

With regard to calibre and where it keeps its internal database, please see the description in the post linked in my .sig. The short version is that calibre is a book manager, not a file manager, so one shouldn't mess with its internal file folders. If you need access to the files directly, either use your originals (which are still exactly where you left them), export them individually or en masse from calibre, or use calibre's right-click function to go to that file. Pretend that its ebooks are actually stored inside a database (they used to be, in fact, but there were other issues). The fact that it's possible to get to calibre's files makes people think it's some kind of file manager ... but it isn't, and was never intended to be, and won't become one, any more than Windows Explorer will become a block/sector editor. That's just not what it's for.

As for how files are set up on your device, calibre's output is infinitely flexible, or close to it. You can have it transfer files to your device in just about any way, to any structure, you want them to have. If the particular style you need isn't the default for your particular device, the folks over in the calibre forum will be more than happy to show you how to set it up to do what you need.

12-05-2010, 01:20 PM	#1
timezone Addict Posts: 244 Karma: 1232 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, MA Device: Windows Phone7, Kindle Fire	Readers and folders on PC's - Annoying From Zinio to Adobe Digital Edition Library to Mobipocket, Blio and even Calibre we are either unable to set the directory location or unable to create folders. With new devices such as Tablets it is often the case where the data files should be put on the card to save main memory resources. As to the folders there are reasons for separating work PDF's from the main reading group for example. With Calibre we are told it can do a better job sorting if it handles the organization. Apologies if I am misrepresenting Calibre. This is probably what the other readers would say. My answer to it would be keep the sort organization within the folder. Each time we create a folder let it standalone. Then it won't break the sort algorithms because it won't be done across folders. Then both groups are happy. Calibre can still do its work and if we choose to add additional organization to the bookshelf then we are allowed this added benefit. Of course my biggest gripe is with reader software that is so arrogant to not allow the user to set the location of the files if we so choose.

12-05-2010, 01:40 PM	#3
timezone Addict Posts: 244 Karma: 1232 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, MA Device: Windows Phone7, Kindle Fire	I might agree but for me the PC Tablet provides me the freedom to use any DRM or non DRM format I choose. Also magazines have there own formats. If I want to subscribe to a magazine I just download their reader. Unless of course I have no choice in file location. Then I email them and ask when they are going to fix the problem. With a pocket reader you have the advantage of weight and portability with long lasting battery charges. But lose out with choice. For me choice trumps the other benefits. This is not about one being better than the other. Just a personal choice. With that choice comes benefits and issues for both types of devices. I am focusing on an issue I have with mine. Last edited by timezone; 12-05-2010 at 01:42 PM.

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12-05-2010, 01:28 PM	#2
v1k1ng1001 Addict Posts: 378 Karma: 1624276 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South, South Texas Device: Pocketbook 620	This is one of the main arguments for buying a pocketbook device.

12-06-2010, 08:21 AM	#4
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	This is one of the reasons I like the Nook Color: It will allow you to store your documents on an SD card in nested folders as you desire. What point is having a library where all your content is in one humongous file?

12-08-2010, 09:57 PM	#7
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,466 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Hmm... I find it very easy to maintain the file structure for the books I read on my Ectaco Jetbook Lite, by first creating it on my PC using all the tools for file management available. It is created as a directory/folder then I use the free "SyncToy", by Microsoft to keep my SD card ebook libraries matching what I have on the PC. Now I can keep the SD card for my son's JBL up to date with the books that I think he might like as well as my own SD card for my JBL. Of course there are different parts of the master Directory/Folder that I have setup to be included in his SD card than mine, as well as many common parts. I acquire all my ebooks through my PC, and disinfect them there, so there is no hardship to also maintain the file structure there. With SyncToy it is very easy to keep the SD card(s) up to date. Luck; Ken

12-09-2010, 11:02 AM	#15
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	With regard to calibre and where it keeps its internal database, please see the description in the post linked in my .sig. The short version is that calibre is a book manager, not a file manager, so one shouldn't mess with its internal file folders. If you need access to the files directly, either use your originals (which are still exactly where you left them), export them individually or en masse from calibre, or use calibre's right-click function to go to that file. Pretend that its ebooks are actually stored inside a database (they used to be, in fact, but there were other issues). The fact that it's possible to get to calibre's files makes people think it's some kind of file manager ... but it isn't, and was never intended to be, and won't become one, any more than Windows Explorer will become a block/sector editor. That's just not what it's for. As for how files are set up on your device, calibre's output is infinitely flexible, or close to it. You can have it transfer files to your device in just about any way, to any structure, you want them to have. If the particular style you need isn't the default for your particular device, the folks over in the calibre forum will be more than happy to show you how to set it up to do what you need.

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