Calibre and Kindle

[robbw]

I have 400+ books in my Calibre library, which I have used to upload to my K2 and K3. I love using metadata as the filing system.

I just found out that I'm getting my wife's hand-me-down iPad. I downloaded some Calibre addons to make my personal library more flexible and work with the iPad, but understand that all my books have to be deleted and downloaded anew from Amazon to take advantage of the flexibility.

Is there an easier way? I've done a lot of work with the metadata, cleaning authors names, etc. and hate to think of the rework that will entail. Is there a way to export the entire library to a folder, then reload the folder?

I use a MacBook Pro, by the way.

Thanks in advance for any hints you may have.

[user_none]

Originally Posted by robbw

but understand that all my books have to be deleted and downloaded anew from Amazon to take advantage of the flexibility.

My understanding is files from Amazon are DRM locked to a specific device. So you will need to authorize the iPad using the Kindle for iPad app. Then download the files for the iPad.

Here is what recommend you do. Create a new library using the down arrow beside books. Switch back to your old library, selet all books (CTRL+A), right click and choose "Copy to Library...", choose the new library you just created. Be very careful you don't choose the delete option.

Now that you have everything in a new library start downloading the books. find the entry in calibre and click "Edit metadata". In the upper right of the metadata window you can delete the book file and add the new one. This will keep all of your custom metadata in tact. It just replaces the book file associated with the entry.

Now you will have two libraries one for your Kindle and one for the iPad. This way you can keep everything separate and but not loose all of your hard work fixing the metadata.

Another option would be to use one library. Create a new entry in the library bring over all the metadata and tag it ipad. Then when you search you can filter for ipad or not ipad books. This will keep it separate but all in one library to view it all together.

[robbw]

Thanks, user_none. That was brilliant about creating a tag in Calibre for iPad. I ended up combining all my K2 and K3 books in Calibre, and downloading the complete library into each device. I'll keep a separate tag for the Kindle iPad library, and I guess just use the native iPad reader for her already purchased iPad ebooks.

I appreciate the help!