Syncing Calibre between 2 networked computers???

[slayda]

I have a small home network (basically 2 computers). I tend to alternate between them when I have something that is compute intensive running on one. Because of this I have Calibre on both and sometimes download books to one & sometimes to the other. I use synctoy to keep both up to date on the DLed books (which also serves as a backup for my books) but it would be nice if there were a way to have Calibre synced as well. So far I haven't discovered a way to do this & wondered if anyone had any ideas, other than the brute force method.

I mainly use Calibre to format shift and move books to my NookColor. Since Calibre seems to want its books in a particular place (I haven't figured out how to make it put them where I want them), I end up with the Calibre library in one place & mine in another place. Suggestion (with examples) on how to make Calibre put books where I want them would be much appreciated.

[BookJunkieLI]

You can do one of two things.

1. Set the CalibreLibrary folder on one computer to be Shared, on the second computer use Map Drive in Windows Explorer to set the Shared folder as a drive, then tell Calibre on the second computer to use that CalibreLibrary folder as the library.

or 2. If your network has internet access you can get a free Dropbox account, put your CalibreLibrary folder in the My Dropbox folder and then tell Calibre on both computers to use that folder for the library. This is the method I use so that I can access Calibre from my two computers at work and my desktop and laptop at home without having to worry about synching everything all the time as Dropbox automatically does it for me.

The only thing with either of these methods is that you cannot have Calibre open in more than one place unless it's accessing a different library. I know for sure it will cause synching problems with Dropbox, It will probably do the same using the Shared folder/Mapped Drive method.

If you need detailed directions on how to setup either method let me know and I can write them up for you.

Beth

Edit: This only works for synching. Manichean is right if you're looking to change the folder structure, Calibre won't do it.

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by slayda

I mainly use Calibre to format shift and move books to my NookColor. Since Calibre seems to want its books in a particular place (I haven't figured out how to make it put them where I want them), I end up with the Calibre library in one place & mine in another place. Suggestion (with examples) on how to make Calibre put books where I want them would be much appreciated.

If, by that, you mean having your own folder structure inside the Calibre library, you're out of luck- the structure isn't customizable since the user isn't supposed to directly access it. If, on the other hand, you mean having the Calibre library reside in a folder of your choosing, that is easy: In the library dropdown menu (downward arrow on the right hand of the library button) select "Switch/create library" and in the resulting dialog box select "Move library". Select a new location using the provided box, and Calibre should move the library there.

As for the synching: Basically, as long as you make absolutely sure that the location isn't going to be accessed simultaneously by both computers, any syncing method you use is fine. There may be some residual effects between *nixoid OSes and Windows, but generally, you should be fine.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by slayda

Suggestion (with examples) on how to make Calibre put books where I want them would be much appreciated.

Calibre is going to store the books as it sees fit. You can't change the format calibre is going to use for its database/folders.

You can however, use the save to disk feature in calibre and the associated template language to export the books from calibre to where you would like to see them and usually in the exact format you would like to see them.

Good Luck.