Flatten out the subfolders

[Dellu]

I am tired of digging throught the hip of folders and subfolders that Calibre adds on top of my files. I just sometimes want to read my files without opening Calibre. I just wish that all the Epub files are stored in a single, accessible directory.

Is there any way to put all the metadadata in a single directory and the Epub files in another, single directory; without adding a lot of subfolder into it?

[theducks]

Not gonna happen. Do read the Calibre FAQ. it has been expalined.
Vou can use the Calibre CLI tools without ever adding books to the Library. You WILL be responsible to supply the FULL path for In and/or Out files

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Dellu

I am tired of digging throught the hip of folders and subfolders that Calibre adds on top of my files. I just sometimes want to read my files without opening Calibre. I just wish that all the Epub files are stored in a single, accessible directory.

You could use Save to Disk to save epubs to a single folder, but you would have to keep it up to date when you add new books, etc.

Or just open the library folder in your file manager and do a search for *.epub.

Originally Posted by Dellu

Is there any way to put all the metadadata in a single directory and the Epub files in another, single directory; without adding a lot of subfolder into it?

No - see this sticky thread ==>> Want to change folder structure or file names in the Calibre library?

bR

[Dellu]

I now see that Calibre doesn't support folder configuration.

The reason calibre copies all those ebooks over into its own set of folders is so that it can have exclusive access to them, and so it can know exactly what they are, where they are, and what they're named. Think of it as a black box, one with a big warning label stating "NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE!" Or maybe a storage room with a locked door with a sign on it saying "PRIVATE - Calibre Only".

I see the point.

But, I think this can be improved. I encourage the developers to check out a mac application called Bookends. It keeps a rich metadata about the books, as Calibre does, as well as permit the user to configure the folder structure. it is very useful option because I want to index the files into a search engine (tool). Storing the metadata and the raw files like Pdf in the same folder creates a huge mess.

I see the suggestion for exporting. that is not good option because it will create duplicated. Duplicates are viruses in my view. It is always a pain to remove them once you duplicated them.

Calibre also should offer the user the option either to MOVE or copy the book.

I will check back if the folder structuring option is coming. I will use Bookends till then.

Thank you for the reply.

[JSWolf]

One thing Bookeneds will NEVER EVER do is allow you to manage your eBook on your device. That is one thing Calibre is awesome at that no other program can come even close.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Dellu

I will check back if the folder structuring option is coming. I will use Bookends till then.

Thank you for the reply.

Still not gonna EVER happem.
Calibre has used this Library structure as long as I have been a MR user (look at my join date)
Hundreds of plugins and other tools have been written to be compatible with (guess) 1M lines of current (some has been retired) code
Just because som MAC developer chose flat file system does not mean it would be compatible with all 3 OS like Calibre is.

Get a PC and join the Majority

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Dellu

But, I think this can be improved. I encourage the developers to check out a mac application called Bookends. It keeps a rich metadata about the books, as Calibre does, as well as permit the user to configure the folder structure.

We have had this discussion multiple times. It comes up periodically.

Originally Posted by Dellu

it is very useful option because I want to index the files into a search engine (tool). Storing the metadata and the raw files like Pdf in the same folder creates a huge mess.

Calibre is much, *much* better indexing and searching tool than the vast majority of indexing tools / search engines. You can even connect to Calibre running on the server via browser or Calibre Companion and search your files perfectly indexed by Calibre.

Originally Posted by Dellu

I see the suggestion for exporting. that is not good option because it will create duplicated. Duplicates are viruses in my view. It is always a pain to remove them once you duplicated them..

Exporting is a very useful option. You can set up elaborate schemes for naming of files, folders and folder structure. You can use any metadata and create your own structure with books for loading to your devices (that support browsing file structure)

Originally Posted by Dellu

I will check back if the folder structuring option is coming. I will use Bookends till then.

Do not hold your breath. Kovid Goyal - the principal developer of Calibre - explained multiple times why this is *not* going to happen.

[fidvo]

Calibre is "almost" an all-or-nothing system. You have 2 options:

A. Use Calibre for managing your library, and never go poking into the library folder. Treat it as a black box.

B. Manage the books manually in your own folder structure. Just don't expect Calibre to help you with that.

Choose Option A or Option B, and stick with it. For obvious reasons, most people here will recommend Option A, but there's no wrong answer, except trying to do both.

That said, there's a reason I said Calibre is an "almost" all-or-nothing system. Calibre is also modular. You can associate ebook file types with Calibre's reader, and open them directly in the reader without going through the library management system. You can import books into a temporary library to clean up metadata and do conversions, then export them and delete them from the library.

Find a system that works for you, whether it includes Calibre or not. Just don't try to manage your library in two different ways.