How do you keep track of what books are on your devices when they're not plugged in?

ownedbycats · 11-29-2020, 03:36 PM

Just curious about how to handle this.

georgemk · 11-29-2020, 03:45 PM

A tag called "OnDevice". Added to the book before being sent across. Removed when book deleted from device.

Sirtel · 11-29-2020, 04:22 PM

I have a custom column in Calibre, with a different icon for each device. So I can see at a glance what is where.

theducks · 11-29-2020, 07:03 PM

I have a UserTag column entry: OnKobo, OnK4

ownedbycats · 11-30-2020, 02:12 AM

Since I have only the one device, I made a bool column #onkobo which displays a column icon of an eReader when set to true. (Nicer-looking than the checkmark.)

If I had multiple devices I'd probably make it a tag-like instead.

pdurrant · 11-30-2020, 05:50 AM

I'v never considered it necessary to know. But perhaps that's because I don't tend to have more than one book being actively read at any one time.

JSWolf · 11-30-2020, 07:27 AM

I have a column titled "On Reader" and it gets auto populated by Reading List when the Reader is plugged in. So I can see what's on my Reader minus the books I've just added. But if I connect again to update the series/metadata, then I'll have all books marked correctly.

ownedbycats · 11-30-2020, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'v never considered it necessary to know. But perhaps that's because I don't tend to have more than one book being actively read at any one time.

(nervously looks at the dozen or so in-progress fanfics that I'm waiting for the next update...)

pdurrant · 11-30-2020, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

(nervously looks at the dozen or so in-progress fanfics that I'm waiting for the next update...)

I'm not saying other reading habits are wrong. I'm just saying how I use calibre and my ebook readers.

Sirtel · 11-30-2020, 06:02 PM

Eh, I'm impatient and often jump from to book to book and back again. Usually I have 4-5-6 books and/or series going at the same time. The old laser focus just isn't there anymore...

davidfor · 12-01-2020, 12:01 AM

This question is asked at least monthly. And I'm always a little baffled as to why. The books on the device are the ones you put there. You can pick it up and look at any time. Or, connect the device and let calibre tell you.

But, maybe it is just me. I decided a long time ago it wasn't worth tracking. Instead, I track what I am going to put on the device. I have a Reading List for each devices. When I get a new book or change one, I add it to the lists for the devices I want it on. Plug in the device and the books are sent to it and the list is cleared. Hence the devices have the books on them that I want on them, plus the ones that will be sent the next time. And if I add a book to the list that is already on the device, it too will be sent with no damage.

Sirtel · 12-01-2020, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

This question is asked at least monthly. And I'm always a little baffled as to why. The books on the device are the ones you put there. You can pick it up and look at any time. Or, connect the device and let calibre tell you.

Too much bother, at least for me. I change my mind constantly as to what I want to read next, and I want to be able to tell at a glance where something is. I also have so many books on my devices (for the same reason, my reading wishes change all the time) that I couldn't tell anything by merely picking them up, I'd have to search. Keeping a column in Calibre with the relevant info works best for me.

ownedbycats · 12-01-2020, 03:07 PM

In my case, it's mostly so I know which fanfic updates to add to my send-to-device list without plugging it in.

11-29-2020, 03:36 PM	#1
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,807 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	How do you keep track of what books are on your devices when they're not plugged in? Just curious about how to handle this.

11-30-2020, 02:12 AM	#5
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,807 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Since I have only the one device, I made a bool column #onkobo which displays a column icon of an eReader when set to true. (Nicer-looking than the checkmark.) If I had multiple devices I'd probably make it a tag-like instead. Last edited by ownedbycats; 11-30-2020 at 02:25 AM.

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11-29-2020, 03:45 PM	#2
georgemk Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 291844 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: Kobo Nia	A tag called "OnDevice". Added to the book before being sent across. Removed when book deleted from device.

11-29-2020, 04:22 PM	#3
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,355 Karma: 238915017 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I have a custom column in Calibre, with a different icon for each device. So I can see at a glance what is where.

11-29-2020, 07:03 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,944 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I have a UserTag column entry: OnKobo, OnK4

11-30-2020, 05:50 AM	#6
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,792 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	I'v never considered it necessary to know. But perhaps that's because I don't tend to have more than one book being actively read at any one time.

11-30-2020, 07:27 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,448 Karma: 145491800 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I have a column titled "On Reader" and it gets auto populated by Reading List when the Reader is plugged in. So I can see what's on my Reader minus the books I've just added. But if I connect again to update the series/metadata, then I'll have all books marked correctly.

11-30-2020, 06:02 PM	#10
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,355 Karma: 238915017 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Eh, I'm impatient and often jump from to book to book and back again. Usually I have 4-5-6 books and/or series going at the same time. The old laser focus just isn't there anymore...

12-01-2020, 12:01 AM	#11
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	This question is asked at least monthly. And I'm always a little baffled as to why. The books on the device are the ones you put there. You can pick it up and look at any time. Or, connect the device and let calibre tell you. But, maybe it is just me. I decided a long time ago it wasn't worth tracking. Instead, I track what I am going to put on the device. I have a Reading List for each devices. When I get a new book or change one, I add it to the lists for the devices I want it on. Plug in the device and the books are sent to it and the list is cleared. Hence the devices have the books on them that I want on them, plus the ones that will be sent the next time. And if I add a book to the list that is already on the device, it too will be sent with no damage.

12-01-2020, 03:07 PM	#13
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,807 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	In my case, it's mostly so I know which fanfic updates to add to my send-to-device list without plugging it in.

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