Custom column widths per computer?

[Zealousky]

Hello,

We have multiple computers in the house and my wife and I edit our libraries from different machines at different times. This wouldn't be terrible except the monitors have different resolutions which leads me to have to adjust the column widths when I'm viewing the same library from different computers. Is there a way to set the column widths locally to each computer?

Thanks,
Simon

[theducks]

An aside

This practice is not a supported usage. See the FAQ on Network shares or NAS

You may be lucky. then something changes
All I can say Keep good backups


BTW
IIRC Column widths are stored inside the DB.
Consider using the I(nfo) panel (IMHO better than the Details pane)

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Zealousky

Hello,

We have multiple computers in the house and my wife and I edit our libraries from different machines at different times. This wouldn't be terrible except the monitors have different resolutions which leads me to have to adjust the column widths when I'm viewing the same library from different computers. Is there a way to set the column widths locally to each computer?

Thanks,
Simon

That implies you are using a common calibre configuration folder across the different machines. If that's so, and you haven't already done it, then I suggest you might want to consider implementing some sort of 'in use' semaphore that prevents concurrent access from multiple machines, some day Murphy's (USA only) or Sods' (everywhere else) Laws will kick in.

If you put the book details panel at the bottom, by setting Preferences->Look and Feel->User Interface layout (needs restart) to Narrow perhaps you can define a layout that is suitable across your different monitors.

Alternatively, the View Manager plugin may be of some use to you. It can maintain different book list column layouts (including column widths) and sort orders within each library. But it's not monitor aware, so you would need to set up monitor specific views for each library.

BR

[Zealousky]

Originally Posted by theducks

An aside

This practice is not a supported usage. See the FAQ on Network shares or NAS

You may be lucky. then something changes
All I can say Keep good backups


BTW
IIRC Column widths are stored inside the DB.
Consider using the I(nfo) panel (IMHO better than the Details pane)

I've had multiple Calibre libraries on my NAS drive for years without problems. I think I am using ext3 on my N7700 Pro, but I set it up so long ago that I have forgotten. I think that I have only used Calibre installs on Windows machines to access it though. On the few occasions I have accessed the same library on multiple machines, the original machine is locked out of the DB and any unsaved changes are lost. I haven't had any DB corruption though luckily (knock on wood).

Originally Posted by BetterRed

That implies you are using a common calibre configuration folder across the different machines. If that's so, and you haven't already done it, then I suggest you might want to consider implementing some sort of 'in use' semaphore that prevents concurrent access from multiple machines, some day Murphy's (USA only) or Sods' (everywhere else) Laws will kick in.

I have a NAS drive, and its my understanding that the column configuration is stored in the library's metadata, so that is why changing it on one computer changes it on another. I know what you mean by a semaphore, but I have no idea how to implement one in Calibre. Fortunately or unfortunately I am the Keeper of Libraries in my house and most other people don't mess with them, only occasionally my wife. I have a machine set up with multiple instances of Calibre servers (1 for each library) running which is how the books are normally accessed. I do access them from either from my desktop or my laptop though, hence the question. Given the decreasing cost and increasing use of home NAS machines though some sort of in use signal would be a great and useful addition to Calibre even if NAS's still aren't officially supported for other reasons.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If you put the book details panel at the bottom, by setting Preferences->Look and Feel->User Interface layout (needs restart) to Narrow perhaps you can define a layout that is suitable across your different monitors.

Alternatively, the View Manager plugin may be of some use to you. It can maintain different book list column layouts (including column widths) and sort orders within each library. But it's not monitor aware, so you would need to set up monitor specific views for each library.

BR

Thanks for the idea. View manager sounds promising since I have a single Calibre install on each computer, and each computer is semi-permanently connected to a specific monitor at a specific resolution. I'll dig into it.

Regards,
Simon

[BetterRed]

@Zealousky - the next major version of calibre (3.0) will incorporate multi-user client/server facilities. It's being actively developed now. If you search for 'calibre 3.0' within the calibre forum, you should find a couple threads. And in one of them Kovid posted the instructions for taking a sneak peek from the current install. So I wouldn't expect calibre to implement any short term features for semaphores etc; when version 3.0 is released there won't be any need for such artefacts.

But anyhow, IIRC there are Unix daemons that manage semaphores in a generic way, I recall using them on AIX and Solaris systems that inter-oped with MVS/CICS TP applications almost 30 years ago. I'm sure they must be in Linux too, most NAS devices are based on Linux. If push comes to shove you could use presence of a file - I've seen that done by vendors who ought know better

But I get the impression you're au fait with the pitfalls and risks of using calibre on a NAS, so should the proverbial hit the fan you probably have your back covered already - with scars, if nothing else

BTW View Manager is my #1 pick for Plugin of the Decade.

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If you search for 'calibre 3.0' within the calibre forum, you should find a couple threads. And in one of them Kovid posted the instructions for taking a sneak peek from the current install.

Actually its not as easy to find as I thought it would be, so ==>> https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...02&postcount=2

BR