calibre library management - book files finished reading

[m9ke]

I am accumulating many files in my calibre library that I have finished dreading.

I want to delete those files but still maintain a list of books I've read.

If calibre is expecting to find those files when opened/running, I am not sure it would be a good idea to simply delete the read files from my calibre library directory.

Can I just delete the files I've already read and perhaps re-scan my library?

Could calibre keep track of books I've read without the files being present in my calibre library directory?

Or how are other folks dealing with this?

Thanks,
m9ke

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by m9ke

I am accumulating many files in my calibre library that I have finished dreading.

I want to delete those files but still maintain a list of books I've read.

If calibre is expecting to find those files when opened/running, I am not sure it would be a good idea to simply delete the read files from my calibre library directory.

Can I just delete the files I've already read and perhaps re-scan my library?

Could calibre keep track of books I've read without the files being present in my calibre library directory?

Or how are other folks dealing with this?

Thanks,
m9ke

Create another library and move the finished eBooks to the new library.

[m9ke]

Thank you @Jon!

BTW sorry i posted this in the wrong place--it shouldn't be in News! But i couldn't see a way to move it

[Sirtel]

Never, ever delete files from the library directory. You can't "re-scan" the library and the result will be a corrupted database. If you don't want those books in your library, either remove them via the Calibre GUI (Remove Books) or move them to another library, as Jon suggested.

What I do is tag the books as read and color the library entry red. I don't remove them from my library, as I often reread. If I never reread, I'd probably create a virtual library for finished books.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by m9ke

I want to delete those files but still maintain a list of books I've read.

Yes, you can do this in Calibre. If you're doing it to save disk space, you're not going to save much. In the world of modern computer file sizes and quantities, eBooks are about the last thing you'll need to worry about.

[theducks]

Right click the Book in the Library grid: Remove all formats
That leaves 'an empty book' in the Library

BTW this works in bulk (multi selected) so be vewwwey cawful