Where to start?

philcool · 02-29-2012, 11:42 PM

Hi, I have about 6000 ebooks in PDF format that I saved on a server at home. The ebooks are already categorised in different folders (Management, Science, Mathematics, etc.).

I just discovered Calibre today. Seems like a nice product, especially that I now have an Android tablet that I plan to use to read ePub books. So far, I was reading my PDF eBooks on a tablet PC and it worked well, but I realise that more and more books are now only available in ePub or Mobi formats.

Well, now that I am finished with my intro, here are my questions: where do I start with Calibre? I downloaded and installed the program and even imported a dozen or so of my PDF ebooks into Calibre. However, I noticed Calibre makes a copy of each PDF it imports into a folder on the machine where it is installed. Since I have more than one PC (a tablet PC, a couple of notebooks and desktop PCs), does this mean I will need to duplicate this operation on each and every machine? What about that duplication of PDF files? I mean, is there a way to tell Calibre where the original file is located and only save the metadata locally? I mean, how do you guys get organised with Calibre?

Thanks in advance,

PhilCool

theducks · 03-01-2012, 09:44 AM

You did not read the FAQ

here http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#id10 or you would know most of the answers.

2(maybe 3) simple choices depending on connectivity and system availability.
1)Calibre content server running on a 24/7 system (this content is read only to clients). Clients use a standard Web browser to dowload content for viewing with user supplied

viewers (like Acroreader)

2) Sneaker-Net. Copy the Calibre Library folder to each PC capable of running Calibre, Just point the Local Calibre to that folder. Do Not combine Libraries (just copy onto an existing Library), Only delete and replace the entire folder contents if it is the same library being refreshed or you will gain lots of cruft.

3)Put your library in Drop box, only 1 system can be connected at a single time to avoid damage.

allison1 · 03-07-2012, 02:59 PM

I'm using calibre portable for my master library, and only putting the books I want on any specific device, copied over from portable.

I use a kindle (I plug in the kindle and the portable drive to my computer to update the kindle)

I use my android phone (I previously copied several books into a dropbox folder, to read on my android.)

Sometimes I use a computer. (just plug in the drive, and read from calibre's built in reader).

I hope this helps!

eta: If you are already running a server, there is a server setup for calibre. Also, as you get used to running calibre, and get more of your stuff in it, you'll start to look at your calibre copy as "the real copy" instead of the other files already on your drive.
Note of warning: don't move/rename/mess with the calibre version in their folders. It will get calibre all kinds of confused. Any importing/exporting/organizing needs to be done in calibre, not in the explorer window.

philcool · 03-09-2012, 12:47 PM

Thanks to both of you for the helpful hints. I am slowly getting used to considering Calibre the "real copy" as Allison suggested. Anyways, one step at a time, I am staring to enjoy Calibre more and more.

Cheers!

GeekyGal · 03-09-2012, 06:50 PM

philcool,

Welcome. I'm not sure about the protocol of promoting someone else's work, but if you can find the thread from unboggling called

KISS for New calibre Users (a work in progress…)

it is a GREAT discussion of how to get organized and how the author found what worked for him. It may not have been updated or active really recently, but was a lifesaver for me.

Cheers.

theducks · 03-09-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyGal

philcool,

Welcome. I'm not sure about the protocol of promoting someone else's work, but if you can find the thread from unboggling called

KISS for New calibre Users (a work in progress…)

it is a GREAT discussion of how to get organized and how the author found what worked for him. It may not have been updated or active really recently, but was a lifesaver for me.

Cheers.

You just did the Protocol: recommend something useful to read that answers the users questions

philcool · 03-16-2012, 11:55 AM

Quite useful and instructive material indeed. Thank you all for your assistance.

02-29-2012, 11:42 PM	#1
philcool Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Android	Where to start? Hi, I have about 6000 ebooks in PDF format that I saved on a server at home. The ebooks are already categorised in different folders (Management, Science, Mathematics, etc.). I just discovered Calibre today. Seems like a nice product, especially that I now have an Android tablet that I plan to use to read ePub books. So far, I was reading my PDF eBooks on a tablet PC and it worked well, but I realise that more and more books are now only available in ePub or Mobi formats. Well, now that I am finished with my intro, here are my questions: where do I start with Calibre? I downloaded and installed the program and even imported a dozen or so of my PDF ebooks into Calibre. However, I noticed Calibre makes a copy of each PDF it imports into a folder on the machine where it is installed. Since I have more than one PC (a tablet PC, a couple of notebooks and desktop PCs), does this mean I will need to duplicate this operation on each and every machine? What about that duplication of PDF files? I mean, is there a way to tell Calibre where the original file is located and only save the metadata locally? I mean, how do you guys get organised with Calibre? Thanks in advance, PhilCool

03-01-2012, 09:44 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	You did not read the FAQ here http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#id10 or you would know most of the answers. 2(maybe 3) simple choices depending on connectivity and system availability. 1)Calibre content server running on a 24/7 system (this content is read only to clients). Clients use a standard Web browser to dowload content for viewing with user supplied viewers (like Acroreader) 2) Sneaker-Net. Copy the Calibre Library folder to each PC capable of running Calibre, Just point the Local Calibre to that folder. Do Not combine Libraries (just copy onto an existing Library), Only delete and replace the entire folder contents if it is the same library being refreshed or you will gain lots of cruft. 3)Put your library in Drop box, only 1 system can be connected at a single time to avoid damage. Last edited by theducks; 03-01-2012 at 09:46 AM. Reason: forgot #3

03-07-2012, 02:59 PM	#3
allison1 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: kindle	I'm using calibre portable for my master library, and only putting the books I want on any specific device, copied over from portable. I use a kindle (I plug in the kindle and the portable drive to my computer to update the kindle) I use my android phone (I previously copied several books into a dropbox folder, to read on my android.) Sometimes I use a computer. (just plug in the drive, and read from calibre's built in reader). I hope this helps! eta: If you are already running a server, there is a server setup for calibre. Also, as you get used to running calibre, and get more of your stuff in it, you'll start to look at your calibre copy as "the real copy" instead of the other files already on your drive. Note of warning: don't move/rename/mess with the calibre version in their folders. It will get calibre all kinds of confused. Any importing/exporting/organizing needs to be done in calibre, not in the explorer window. Last edited by allison1; 03-07-2012 at 03:02 PM. Reason: more thoughts...

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03-09-2012, 12:47 PM	#4
philcool Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Android	Thanks to both of you for the helpful hints. I am slowly getting used to considering Calibre the "real copy" as Allison suggested. Anyways, one step at a time, I am staring to enjoy Calibre more and more. Cheers!

03-09-2012, 06:50 PM	#5
GeekyGal Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 13888 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle FireHD, Kindle3G, iPad, MacBook, iRex Illiad (ret)	philcool, Welcome. I'm not sure about the protocol of promoting someone else's work, but if you can find the thread from unboggling called KISS for New calibre Users (a work in progress…) it is a GREAT discussion of how to get organized and how the author found what worked for him. It may not have been updated or active really recently, but was a lifesaver for me. Cheers.

03-16-2012, 11:55 AM	#7
philcool Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Android	Quite useful and instructive material indeed. Thank you all for your assistance.

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