calibre and google books

adun · 02-22-2011, 11:16 AM

Sorry if this is not the proper forum.
My question: Is there a way to use google books, the android reader application, with calibre?
I’d synchronize my calibre library with either my google cloud library or the SD card on my phone.
Thanks a lot.

Manichean · 02-22-2011, 11:26 AM

That depends on which formats the application supports. The list of formats supported by Calibre is here, if the application supports one or more of those, then you can at least send files to the SD card (either via send to device, if the device is recognized by Calibre, or via save to disk/connect to folder, if it isn't). Sending books to the cloud library is not supported.

adun · 02-22-2011, 01:06 PM

Sorry, not a technical person here.
The app supports epub-formatted books; that much I know. Sending to the device is problematic. Mine is a Samsung Galaxy Tab, which is not an ebook reader and is not recognized by calibre. Sending to the SD card, I can manage but I’m not sure to what folder exactly send the books.
Probably I should explain more. I have been using ebooks on the desktop and on my WindowsCE handheld since 2001. Microsoft Reader was the only ebook software I used for many years. Naturally, my library grew quite a lot and became very difficult to manage. After I got my first Android device, a friend introduced me to the wonders of calibre, and it became the king of my desktops. However, on my portable devices I’m having problems. None of my devices is a reader and therefore not so nicely integrated with calibre. What I’m really looking for is something like any of these two possibilities:
1-An Android software ebook reader (like Aldiko), that was easy to integrate or was recognized by calibre.
2-A web service similar to google books that would allow me to synch it with my calibre library and an Android software ebook reader that would allow for synch with the web service for off-line reading.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

itimpi · 02-22-2011, 03:11 PM

Calibre will not recognise specific Android ereader software - it works at the device level for recognition. However if you know what folder the ebook reader wants to use for books, then you can use the Calibre Connect to Folder option to get that folder treated as a device.

kovidgoyal · 02-22-2011, 03:14 PM

I'm confused. Install ALdiko or WordPlayer on your galaxy, plug it in, and click send to device in calibre to send books to the device.

If you want to use google books, then find out what folder it imports from and use connect to folder in calibre to send books to that. Or customize the android plugin in calibre to send books to that folder.

Or use the calibre content server to wirelessly access your collection over the network (though this will take some technical knowledge to get working).

Starson17 · 02-22-2011, 03:21 PM

I have followed the same path that you followed - Windows CE devices (except that I used uBook, not Microsoft Reader - and still do when I use my older devices) then an Android device. (Even the older CE devices work well with Calibre!)

Review Kovid's post. Everything you want to do is already well supported by Calibre, from application integration and web server to device and folder support. You seem to think that because you have an Android device, not a dedicated e-reader that Calibre support is lacking. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have more flexibility with your Android device, not less.

adun · 02-22-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

I'm confused. Install ALdiko or WordPlayer on your galaxy, plug it in, and click send to device in calibre to send books to the device.

If you want to use google books, then find out what folder it imports from and use connect to folder in calibre to send books to that. Or customize the android plugin in calibre to send books to that folder.

Or use the calibre content server to wirelessly access your collection over the network (though this will take some technical knowledge to get working).

Now I AM confused. Installed Aldiko, plugged the Galaxy Tab and for the life of me, can’t find the send books to device option / button. However, I can connect to a folder (the one Aldiko needs) and send the books there. Afterwards, I can import the books inside Aldiko. That way it works, but it is kind of an odd procedure. On top of that, Aldiko makes some duplicate copies. I did not try Wordplayer .
I repeated the all of the above with my Archos 7 Home Tablet with the same results.
I do not want to use google books; I simply do not know what to use.
The wireless thing seems intimidating.
Thank you very much for your help.

adun · 02-22-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starson17

I have followed the same path that you followed - Windows CE devices (except that I used uBook, not Microsoft Reader - and still do when I use my older devices) then an Android device. (Even the older CE devices work well with Calibre!)

Review Kovid's post. Everything you want to do is already well supported by Calibre, from application integration and web server to device and folder support. You seem to think that because you have an Android device, not a dedicated e-reader that Calibre support is lacking. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have more flexibility with your Android device, not less.

Thank you. Good to know I’m not alone.
Now I realize that I have to read more carefully the manual. Also part of my problem seems to be that the Archos 7 is not supported. I will post the debug info in a separate thread.
btw. Karma was given

Starson17 · 02-23-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adun

Also part of my problem seems to be that the Archos 7 is not supported. I will post the debug info in a separate thread.
btw. Karma was given

Thanks for Karma. I've also got an Archos 7. My understanding is it's supported as an Android device, along with other Android devices. I don't connect it to my Calibre machine, except through the Content Server, so I can't really comment on whether it gets recognized correctly, but Ive seen posts that the Archos 10" works. If you find that it's not recognized, you can post to the bug reports. I believe most Android users prefer to connect to Android devices with the Connect to Folder option. That works with everything, so the need to have Calibre recognize it seems pretty low.

Calibre doesn't talk directly to the database structure of any Android reader programs. It can send files directly into those programs when they connect to the Content Server (that's my usual method, and it's why I don't have much familiarity with other wired connection options.) Calibre can send files to any folder, from which the Android reader app can import them (I believe Calibre does that when it recognizes an Android device - sending to the Aldiko defined "import" folder). But you can do the same thing simply by using Connect to Folder.

Manichean · 02-23-2011, 08:56 AM

Just as a side comment: There was an initiative, headed by Charles if I remember correctly, to integrate Aldiko with Calibre (there was talk of things like putting books directly into the Aldiko database and such). However, due to lack of interest from Aldiko developers and lack of donations toward testing hardware, that project died.

ellett · 02-27-2011, 01:48 PM

When you USB connect an Android device you should see a USB connected icon in the status bar. pull down your status bar and you should see a message about enabling USB storage. You have to do that before your phone will appear as a disk drive on your PC.

JRT Studio makes a free Android app that automatically mounts your phone's storage, or that function is included in their very cool and inexpensive iSyncr app.

To take Aldiko as an example, Aldiko does not communicate with Calibre. The way to get books into Aldiko is to set up a folder under your phone's ebooks folder called Import. Set up Calibre to copy selected books into that folder. Once Calibre has done the copy, then run Aldiko's import function.

Aldiko import has changed in many important details with version 2 but the flow is still the same up until you enter Aldiko to do the import. And it's no longer necessary but is still wise to use the Import folder.

Starson17 · 02-28-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellett

To take Aldiko as an example, Aldiko does not communicate with Calibre.

Aldiko will "communicate with Calibre." It just has to do it via the content server.

Quote:

The way to get books into Aldiko is to set up a folder under your phone's ebooks folder called Import. Set up Calibre to copy selected books into that folder. Once Calibre has done the copy, then run Aldiko's import function.

Aldiko import has changed in many important details with version 2 but the flow is still the same up until you enter Aldiko to do the import. And it's no longer necessary but is still wise to use the Import folder.

Do you know if version 2 will import from other folders, or,will it leave the book in the original folder and just grab a link to the book? Laputa will do the latter. My Archos device is peculiar in that both the main memory and the sdcard are part of the main memory. Its memory is organized so that the real sdcard is mounted as /sdcard/sdcard, and many devices that assume the sdcard is in /sdcard eat up my limited memory,

ellett · 03-01-2011, 01:04 AM

Aldiko V1 and V2 import each file into the ebooks folder using a \author\title\filename.epub structure. No links.

V2 can import from anywhere, but setting up to import is a completely different process from V1. That's one of the "important details" I alluded to.

02-22-2011, 11:16 AM	#1
adun Member Posts: 23 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: iPad	calibre and google books Sorry if this is not the proper forum. My question: Is there a way to use google books, the android reader application, with calibre? I’d synchronize my calibre library with either my google cloud library or the SD card on my phone. Thanks a lot.

02-22-2011, 03:21 PM	#6
Starson17 Wizard Posts: 4,004 Karma: 177841 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: WinMo: IPAQ; Android: HTC HD2, Archos 7o; Java:Gravity T	I have followed the same path that you followed - Windows CE devices (except that I used uBook, not Microsoft Reader - and still do when I use my older devices) then an Android device. (Even the older CE devices work well with Calibre!) Review Kovid's post. Everything you want to do is already well supported by Calibre, from application integration and web server to device and folder support. You seem to think that because you have an Android device, not a dedicated e-reader that Calibre support is lacking. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have more flexibility with your Android device, not less. Last edited by Starson17; 02-22-2011 at 03:24 PM.

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02-22-2011, 11:26 AM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	That depends on which formats the application supports. The list of formats supported by Calibre is here, if the application supports one or more of those, then you can at least send files to the SD card (either via send to device, if the device is recognized by Calibre, or via save to disk/connect to folder, if it isn't). Sending books to the cloud library is not supported.

02-22-2011, 01:06 PM	#3
adun Member Posts: 23 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: iPad	Sorry, not a technical person here. The app supports epub-formatted books; that much I know. Sending to the device is problematic. Mine is a Samsung Galaxy Tab, which is not an ebook reader and is not recognized by calibre. Sending to the SD card, I can manage but I’m not sure to what folder exactly send the books. Probably I should explain more. I have been using ebooks on the desktop and on my WindowsCE handheld since 2001. Microsoft Reader was the only ebook software I used for many years. Naturally, my library grew quite a lot and became very difficult to manage. After I got my first Android device, a friend introduced me to the wonders of calibre, and it became the king of my desktops. However, on my portable devices I’m having problems. None of my devices is a reader and therefore not so nicely integrated with calibre. What I’m really looking for is something like any of these two possibilities: 1-An Android software ebook reader (like Aldiko), that was easy to integrate or was recognized by calibre. 2-A web service similar to google books that would allow me to synch it with my calibre library and an Android software ebook reader that would allow for synch with the web service for off-line reading. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

02-22-2011, 03:11 PM	#4
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Calibre will not recognise specific Android ereader software - it works at the device level for recognition. However if you know what folder the ebook reader wants to use for books, then you can use the Calibre Connect to Folder option to get that folder treated as a device.

02-22-2011, 03:14 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,255 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I'm confused. Install ALdiko or WordPlayer on your galaxy, plug it in, and click send to device in calibre to send books to the device. If you want to use google books, then find out what folder it imports from and use connect to folder in calibre to send books to that. Or customize the android plugin in calibre to send books to that folder. Or use the calibre content server to wirelessly access your collection over the network (though this will take some technical knowledge to get working).

02-23-2011, 08:56 AM	#10
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	Just as a side comment: There was an initiative, headed by Charles if I remember correctly, to integrate Aldiko with Calibre (there was talk of things like putting books directly into the Aldiko database and such). However, due to lack of interest from Aldiko developers and lack of donations toward testing hardware, that project died.

02-27-2011, 01:48 PM	#11
ellett Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Android	When you USB connect an Android device you should see a USB connected icon in the status bar. pull down your status bar and you should see a message about enabling USB storage. You have to do that before your phone will appear as a disk drive on your PC. JRT Studio makes a free Android app that automatically mounts your phone's storage, or that function is included in their very cool and inexpensive iSyncr app. To take Aldiko as an example, Aldiko does not communicate with Calibre. The way to get books into Aldiko is to set up a folder under your phone's ebooks folder called Import. Set up Calibre to copy selected books into that folder. Once Calibre has done the copy, then run Aldiko's import function. Aldiko import has changed in many important details with version 2 but the flow is still the same up until you enter Aldiko to do the import. And it's no longer necessary but is still wise to use the Import folder.

03-01-2011, 01:04 AM	#13
ellett Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Android	Aldiko V1 and V2 import each file into the ebooks folder using a \author\title\filename.epub structure. No links. V2 can import from anywhere, but setting up to import is a completely different process from V1. That's one of the "important details" I alluded to.

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