Which plugins are essential to install?

[AnnieQuinn]

In your opinion, for a basic user with needs such as ebook management and simple editing, which plugins should be installed?
This is just a survey-style question to listen to different opinions, and it reflects my personal curiosity.
Currently, I have installed: Quality Check, Goodreads Sync, Resize Cover, Find Duplicates, and Count Pages.
I think this is a perfect combination. I would definitely recommend these plugins first to my friends.
However, do you think anything is still missing? The Plugin section has so many options, and there are plugins that seem very interesting, but trying each one would probably take quite a lot of time.
That’s why I trust and look forward to further recommendations.
Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts.

[theducks]

Import List if you like to use Empty Book as a wish list.
I find Manage Series handy, but not a show stopper if not used.

[Sirtel]

As I don't use Goodreads, any Goodreads plugin is totally unnecessary for me. Ditto for resizing covers - I prefer to download hi-res covers and not to shrink them.

The plugins I personally consider essential are ACSM Input (DRM removal), Author Book Count, Count Pages, Epub Split/Merge, Favorites, Find Duplicates, KFX Input (DRM removal), Kobo Utilities (as I use Kobo ereaders), Modify Epub, Quality Check, Search the Internet, View Manager and of course deDRM.

Plus some metadata plugins, like Kindle Hi-Res covers, Kobo Metadata and Apple covers.

[Dal Bhat]

What does Quality Check do?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Dal Bhat

What does Quality Check do?

Checking lots of things in metadata and content, including various missing things - too many to list here. Quickly swapping the author's first and last name, can be done in bulk. Fixing the initials in authors' names according to your preferences (so that you won't have A.M. Wordsmith, A M Wordsmith and A. M. Wordsmith listed as three different authors)

[AnnieQuinn]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

As I don't use Goodreads, any Goodreads plugin is totally unnecessary for me. Ditto for resizing covers - I prefer to download hi-res covers and not to shrink them.

The plugins I personally consider essential are ACSM Input (DRM removal), Author Book Count, Count Pages, Epub Split/Merge, Favorites, Find Duplicates, KFX Input (DRM removal), Kobo Utilities (as I use Kobo ereaders), Modify Epub, Quality Check, Search the Internet, View Manager and of course deDRM.

Plus some metadata plugins, like Kindle Hi-Res covers, Kobo Metadata and Apple covers.

Yes, thank you for sharing ^^
I also like to download book covers with high size and resolution. But I hate the unevenness, the varying heights and widths between the covers. So I need to use Resize to make them consistent.

Some people see the original size as a unique feature and feel like a real bookshelf.

But the people around me are quite similar to me in their preference for uniformity. Every time I show them off, they ask: how do you get the covers so uniform?

I love looking at book covers; it relaxes me just as much as reading a book I really enjoy.

[AnnieQuinn]

Originally Posted by theducks

Import List if you like to use Empty Book as a wish list.
I find Manage Series handy, but not a show stopper if not used.

Thank you, I'll try those. They seem worth a try.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by AnnieQuinn

Yes, thank you for sharing ^^
I also like to download book covers with high size and resolution. But I hate the unevenness, the varying heights and widths between the covers. So I need to use Resize to make them consistent.

Some people see the original size as a unique feature and feel like a real bookshelf.

Ah. I never use cover views, always the list view for me. So I never see any unevenness.

[aborel]

Originally Posted by AnnieQuinn

In your opinion, for a basic user with needs such as ebook management and simple editing, which plugins should be installed?

In my opinion, none. Calibre without any plugin is totally sufficient for beginners.

[AnnieQuinn]

Originally Posted by aborel

In my opinion, none. Calibre without any plugin is totally sufficient for beginners.

Hmm, to sum it up, I still think Quality Check is necessary, especially if someone is managing a large number of ebooks.

Thanks for sharing ^^

[BetterRed]

Must have

View Manager
Modify ePub
Count Pages
Drop Search Results
Job Spy

Nice to have

Favourites Menu
Backup Configuration Folder
Find Duplicates
Scroll Book Details
Calibre Config Reports

BR

[AnnieQuinn]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Must have

View Manager
Modify ePub
Count Pages
Drop Search Results
Job Spy

Nice to have

Favourites Menu
Backup Configuration Folder
Find Duplicates
Scroll Book Details
Calibre Config Reports

BR

Thank you, I'll try them one by one.

[DNSB]

For what it may be worth, these are the optional plugins I have installed. I use mostly Kobo ereaders so the Kobo Utilities, Obok DeDRM are unlikely to be much interest to you.

Plugins I place on the toolbar

Kobo Utilities
Modify Epub
Find Duplicates
Obok DeDRM
KindleUnpack
Quality Check
Resize Cover
Count Pages
Job Spy
ACSM Input

This one is not normally on the toolbar since I don't use it that often

ScrambleEbook

Metadata/misc plugins

Apple Books Covers
Kindle hi-res covers
Kobo Metadata
AZW6 Image Merge
Backup Configuration Folder (saves calibre configuration on exit)

A must have plugin for me which is not available from calibre's repository

DeDRM (10.0.12)

Plugins for calibre's ebook editor

Diaps Editing Toolbag
EpubCheck

Pretty obvious from the name

KFX Input
KFX Output

[un_pogaz]

Hard to know what could be called a essential plugin since Calibre embed itself any essentials features.

The two closest would be Manage Series and Quality Check.
Manage Series is not alway usefull (default behavior of Calibre is enough for a day to day use), but it so much handy if you have to manage more that five entry in bulk.
Quality Check is a very big toolbox. You probably won't need all of them, but you're bound to find something useful in.

Additional usefull plugins should be ACSM Input and LCPL Input, that convert/import ACSM/LCPL files into a epub (still with DRM), but their are a bit specific to be "essential".
Also probably DeDRM to remove DRM, but since it grey area, I will not elaborate.

Else, any other plugins that come in mind depend greatly of you, so just check the Index of plugins and take what seem fit to you.

Personaly, I would recommend taking a look to:
Search The Internet, because downloaded book don't allway come with complet metadata (I prefer that than the build-in "Download Metadata online").
Comments Cleaner, usefull to clean the book comment, especialy after past the text copy from webpage.
Find Duplicates, explicit. Usefull one day by year, but realy usefull when you need it.
And View Manager because it allow to quick switch betewen different sorting of your library view.
Also, if if you have a Kobo, KoboUtilities could be pretty usefull too.

[Wiggo]

These lists are also helpful for non beginners.
Never heard of author book count