Feature Request: Mask calibre server connection string with user configurable name

[Zealousky]

Hello,

Sorry to start a new thread, but I had another thought and since it is a request for calibre companion I thought I should move it into the proper forum. The initial post and chaley's response are there, but in a nutshell I am running 11 instances of calibre server on different ports and would like some way to distinguish them in CC apart from memorizing the port number. It doesn't appear easy to implement in the server, so obviously it isn't an option there.

My thought was that perhaps a configuration option could be added to CC so that it could remember an "alias" for previously encountered mDNS strings and the content server choice could present those alias's rather than the mDNS string. This would require the user (me) to set up the alias one time, but from then on the choice would be more human readable. It would certainly help me personally choose the right library, but also help my wife and 14 year old who are not as tech savvy.

Thanks,
Simon

[theducks]

Why the convoluted arrangement? Server specific passwords?

The content server is quite capable of delivering filtered content to CC (or to any web browser)

Reasons I have seen FOR separate Libraries:

Restricted (age, license...) availability
Library structure differences that can't be accomplished with a single library

[Zealousky]

Originally Posted by theducks

Why the convoluted arrangement? Server specific passwords?

The content server is quite capable of delivering filtered content to CC (or to any web browser)

Reasons I have seen FOR separate Libraries:

Restricted (age, license...) availability
Library structure differences that can't be accomplished with a single library

The arrangement is pretty easy to manage, I have one batch file that launches all 11 instances and another to shut them down if I need to.

I have quite a number of ebooks and response times improve when the DB isn't huge. I also have a "feeder" library that I use to import and sort books, and a "mobile" library that I sync through Mega so that I have a reduced library set on my laptop when I travel. There are some structural issues between the RPG DB and the other types of books, and there are some libraries I don't want my 14 year old (or 7 year old when he gets a bit older) to access. Multiple libraries are a very convenient feature and I'm surprised more people don't use it.

As for using CC, I prefer its interface and management options to using the web interface. I've been toying with creating a plug-in for MediaBrowser 3 as the currently available plug in doesn't operate well with Calibre's structure, but I'm not sure I have the time and my skills would need a LOT of development.

Regards,
Simon

[theducks]

Your reasons are good.

How do you keep the kids from just changing the port number "just to see what dad is hiding'

[Zealousky]

Originally Posted by theducks

Your reasons are good.

How do you keep the kids from just changing the port number "just to see what dad is hiding'

Shhhhhhh

[chaley]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will add it to the wish list so I don't lose it.

[Zealousky]

Originally Posted by chaley

Thanks for the suggestion. I will add it to the wish list so I don't lose it.

Thank you!

[chaley]

I decided to go ahead and do it now.


The next release (probably a week or two) has this new setting:


To test, I started 6 content server instances on ports 8080 to 8085. In order for CC to know which servers exist, I did a connect. After that connect, tapping the above setting gives you this dialog (I had already renamed 2 servers):

The above dialog is a scroll view, so there is no limit to the number of servers.

After making changes, when you connect you see:

[Zealousky]

Thats awesome, thank you! Love the server names btw!

Regards,
Simon