Calibre

[Mikeloftus]

Hey,

Just a quick one, is it possible to simply use Calibre to edit books and not have it linked with your device. I am one of the few who like the Sony Reader software and having both connecting to the reader is causing problems. I wish to use the Sony software for management and Calibre as an when.

Cheers,

Mike

[cfrizz]

Sure it is. Just don't have the reader connected to the the pc when you first open Calibre.

I Only use Calibre when I want to remove drm and convert a book. Once I have done all of that, THEN I close out of calibre and open my Sony software to add the book to my reader.

[Mikeloftus]

Cheers for the help.

Since posting I have been messing about with Calibre an am starting to like it. I have found one problem though, I have put a number of books in a series an numbered them accordingly but on the reader they are still in random order but in the right collection?

Any ideas?

Mike

[Kai Winters]

I have the same "problem".
I have added the series number to the name of the book...ie "The Scourge of God-5" for the 5th book in the "Dies the Fire" Series. I have all the books in the series named this way.
Perhaps by editing the meta data to add the series number to the beginning of the title...or perhaps you will have to use a letter designation...ie "E-The Scourge of God" for the fifth book in the series and then list by title.

I'm using the small icon view with Mantano and it shows the name of the book at the bottom of the book and it is the name I gave it when editing the meta data with Calibre. This makes it easier to choose the next book in the series.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Kai Winters

I have added the series number to the name of the book...ie "The Scourge of God-5" for the 5th book in the "Dies the Fire" Series. I have all the books in the series named this way.

If you use Calibre to write the ebooks to your device, this can be done automatically for you with a "plugboard", see Techniques to use plugboards, custom columns and templates for lots of examples.

[Polarpenguin]

I believe this will make sure your series are sorted in order on the Sony.

Preferences> tweaks> Specify how SONY collections are sorted

sony_collection_sorting_rules = [(['series'], 'series_index')]

Found the above in another thread. It's what works for me.

[SilverBear]

Originally Posted by Mikeloftus

Hey,

Just a quick one, is it possible to simply use Calibre to edit books and not have it linked with your device. I am one of the few who like the Sony Reader software and having both connecting to the reader is causing problems. I wish to use the Sony software for management and Calibre as an when.

Cheers,

Mike

Just adding my voice to the others:

I have no knowledge of the Sony Reader software. If you like it --fine! Use it. Yes, Calibre can convert ebooks on an ad-hoc basis, without it being linked to your device. But you will probably, I think, have to let it set up it's database system that will involve whatever ebooks you're converting. Given the small size of ebooks, that's a pretty low-overhead requirement.

I love Calibre and am using it to organize all my ebooks. But on my eReader, I use an SD card to hold my library. I prefer to use Calibre [with pinboard algorithms] to write my planned uploads first to a directory on my computer HDD. And then I just copy that over to the SD card, after I'm sure i have the directory structure the way I want it.

So even though I use it exclusively, Calibre still isn't "linked" to my device in a restrictive sort of way.

Hey, even if you're not up to learning the database markup rules to do fancy genre-directory/subdirectory etc. etc. sorting --once you get everything organized with Calibre, you can always just manually go though and copy whatever books you want to your device --in whatever place you want to put them.

I'm not familiar with the SONY setup, but if you have a separate SD card you can plug into your computer, it will be no problem. I understand SONY has some particular filesystem requirements, so check with other SONY users first for a flawless experience.

[Mikeloftus]

Thanks again for all the help. In terms of using Calibre, how do you have it sync to the device for changes as suggested above? At the moment I can only work out how to put books on it but not to make plug in or meta data changes effective?

Mike

[Polarpenguin]

Mine is set to Automatic

Preferences> Sending books to device > Metadata Management

[Mikeloftus]

Polar I have changed the details as you pointed out but it doesn't seem to have made a difference? I know i could just put 1 in front of the book title but then this will effect the book title list? I cant get my head around what your saying Wallcraft I am not the best with pc related things!

I know its not a major issue but this is proving quite annoying!! Any other suggestions?

Mike

[speakingtohe]

This is how I have mine set up
I have automatic management turned on
Preferences-> sending books to device

1. PRS-t1 plugin
preferences->plugins->Sony PRST1
Click customize plugin

I have every checkbox unchecked except for epub
I have {author_sort}/{title} - {authors} in Save Template box
I have author_sort in comma seperated list... box

This is not necessarily what you will end up using as most people have series collections as well, but I keep a lot of books on my device

2.Sorting by series

Polarpenquin's probably right on this one
sony_collection_sorting_rules = [(['series'], 'series_index')]

Mine is
sony_collection_sorting_rules = [(['author_sort'], 'series_index')] which is strange. Seems to work but may try Polarpenquin's

3. Plugboard (from Jackie_W)
Preferences->metadata plugboard

Format
I have any format but probably should be specific and choose EPUB etc.

Device
I have any device but probably should be specific and choose PRST1

Source template
{author_sort}{series:| - | }{series_index:0>2s}

Destination Field
authors
(this appends series name and number to author field on T1 does not affect library and looks good on T1)

This works great for me. I would like to have series collections as well, but I have currently 193 authors (books, anthologies)on T1 many with more than one series it is too cumbersome to page through.

For the plugboard to work you have to resend the books
For the plugin to work you may have to reconvert books to embed series metadata. I always do if I change the series field but may work without.

Warning: You may lose your current collections when it makes new ones. However when you get it set up the way you like it, it will work flawlessly.
I would advise one step at a time and testing Write down old settings as you go if you can.

This thread has post by Jackie_W that gives plugboard instructions and picture.
I used the device_db for PRS 600 and PRS 350 but had problems with T1 so I changed device_db to any device.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ight=device_db

Helen

[Mikeloftus]

Thanks for the detailed response Helen! Will give that a go tonight! Just a quick one how do you mean reconvert books to embed series metadata? Really sorry for the stupidity :s

Mike

[speakingtohe]

If you convert the book after changing any metadata, that metadata is imbedded in the book file itself for most formats. A plugboard will embed metadata in the file sent to the device, but whether it get the metadata from the database or the book file (epub etc.) I am not sure. I like to make sure it is in the book so I always reconvert when I change covers or metadata. Then I know where I am.

Select book(s) click convert and hit enter
I have the keep original file tweak set to on in case I make a mistake, but your preference.

Helen

[Polarpenguin]

Mike this thread was the one I used when I was trying to get my collections to work. Hope it is of some use.

Not sure why the tweak I posted above isn't working for you, as I'm still a complete Calibre novice myself.

[Mikeloftus]

This is going to sound really stupid but I dont think I have the PRS T1 plug in? How can I be sure?

Mike