Manage books without importing

[carlodidier]

Hi!
I have many eBooks in PDF and some in other formats. I absolutely want to keep them in the various folders where they are right now. Is there a way to manage them with Calibre without copying them? I just want to manage them (their metadata).

[jgaiser]

Have you tried the command line apps? ebook-meta seems to be what you want.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Have you tried the command line apps? ebook-meta seems to be what you want.

I believe many command line options operate on/require the Library, Which will require the book to be IN the library.

The OP needs to find a different tool than Calibre if they want to do it their way (their folders).

[jgaiser]

I am sure I've used both ebook-convert and ebook-meta for standalone books. I'll have to check it out.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

I am sure I've used both ebook-convert and ebook-meta for standalone books. I'll have to check it out.

That you probably have.
I was thinking to OP wanted to inject metadata, and covers. That could get hairy via the CLI.

[carlodidier]

Thanks for your comments. I'm definetely not looking into a CLI interface. What I want is something like calibre, BUT without copying the eBooks. Just manage them (the metadata) like a catalog in Lightroom where images stay where they are but are managed by the application, with all the metadata only in the database.
I can't see why the books have to be copied somewhere else. That's just stupid.

[jgaiser]

It looks like calibre is not for you. Good luck with your search.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by carlodidier

I can't see why the books have to be copied somewhere else. That's just stupid.

Not stupid, a design decision that frankly saves the developer and the users quite a few headaches. Copying the books ensures that calibre is in no way going to alter the users original books. Ensures that all of the users book are in one location for easier backup. Ensures easier built in database disaster recovery. Ensures easier transfer of the library from one machine or disk to another. Bottom line is that it is a quality control decision that has prevented a lot more questions then it has spawned.

But this approach isn't for everyone. Good luck finding the management that fits your bill.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by carlodidier

Thanks for your comments. I'm definetely not looking into a CLI interface. What I want is something like calibre, BUT without copying the eBooks. Just manage them (the metadata) like a catalog in Lightroom where images stay where they are but are managed by the application, with all the metadata only in the database.
I can't see why the books have to be copied somewhere else. That's just stupid.

@carlodidier - if you don't need the features of Calibre that operate on the book content files (PDF, MOBI, EPUB, etc) - e.g. conversion, e-book reader integration etc, then perhaps you could adapt my scheme for 'linking' non book files into Calibre - see my exchange with Lynx-lynx starting at post 13 in this thread ===>>> https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=196599

It is OK to have a book in Calibre with no actual book content files

BR