What a Calibred Mess

[Guilgamm]

Everybody and their dog is raving about Calibre.
Indeed it is the best doc conversion software to be found, and it has an excellent reading interface. But here it ends.
As for the rest, it is catastrophic.
It would have been so simple, so obvious, to program this "book manager" as any library, book shop, librarian and book-lover classify their books and have been doing all over the world and in any language, that is to display titles starting with the surname, then the name, then the series if any, and then the title - with the article in its due place and not thrown out or at the end of said title.
In its marketing purpose, I suppose, to be original at all cost, now instead of having one document labeled according to basic logic, Calibre enables each user to set their own display system (Name, surname or surname, name, series, title with the article (The or A) at the end or before -- Series, title + article at the end or before, surname, name or name, surname -- Title, name, surname or surname, name, series… etc., etc., you see what I mean). Titles are chopped up in bits and the e-book seldom retains even its name proper in full. And I haven't mentioned missing spaces gluing words together and underscores.
What with all the e-book sharing going around, and everybody using Calibre, personal libraries have become an appaling mess, and duplicates, triplicates, a curse.
Thank you not, Calibre. Your book management defies reason and good sense and poisons our lives. For we can't help squandering a precious time trying to clean up this chaos.
Will you try to do something about it ??

[daveps]

If you don't like it don't use it.

No idea what you are doing but I don't have any book titles mangled in the manner you suggest. The display and sorting options are there for something called USER CHOICE.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

Everybody and their dog is raving about Calibre. Indeed it is the best doc conversion software to be found, and it has an excellent reading interface.

True.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

As for the rest, it is catastrophic.

Your catastrophic, is most folks flexible.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

It would have been so simple, so obvious, to program this "book manager" as any library, book shop, librarian and book-lover classify their books and have been doing all over the world and in any language, that is to display titles starting with the surname, then the name, then the series if any, and then the title - with the article in its due place and not thrown out or at the end of said title.

Even though the books in the library or book store are sorted by Surname/first name the author names on the books are usually first name/surname. Same for calibre, by default books are sorted surname/first name - but shown first name/surname

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

In its marketing purpose, I suppose, to be original at all cost

This is just speculation that couldn't be further from the truth.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

now instead of having one document labeled according to basic logic, Calibre enables each user to set their own display system (Name, surname or surname, name, series, title with the article (The or A) at the end or before -- Series, title + article at the end or before, surname, name or name, surname -- Title, name, surname or surname, name, series… etc., etc., you see what I mean).

I see exactly, complete user flexibility.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

Titles are chopped up in bits and the e-book seldom retains even its name proper in full. And I haven't mentioned missing spaces gluing words together and underscores.

It sounds like you are comparing file names with metadata. The various devices have various needs for the user to be able to sort their files correctly.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

What with all the e-book sharing going around, and everybody using Calibre, personal libraries have become an appaling mess, and duplicates, triplicates, a curse.

What you say is true. If you stop "e-book sharing" you will minimize the chance of being exposed to this phenomenon.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

Thank you not, Calibre. Your book management defies reason and good sense and poisons our lives. For we can't help squandering a precious time trying to clean up this chaos.

It does take time to line up multiple libraries in exactly the way you wish.

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

Will you try to do something about it ??

Calibre has already done something and provides all of the tools you need to manage these libraries. If you would like to suggest an enhancement to calibre go here, however if you prefer to complain, find a good soapbox and a busy corner and enjoy yourself.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

What with all the e-book sharing going around, and everybody using Calibre, personal libraries have become an appaling mess, and duplicates, triplicates, a curse.

I think you may be missing the point. Calibre's library is what you see when you're using the program.

If the program chose to store its data in a single database you wouldn't be making this complaint, as multiple copies in different formats, or authors named slightly differently in the underlying paths wouldn't be visible. The fact that it stores its data in a readable file structure doesn't make that the library.

Graham

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Guilgamm

What with all the e-book sharing going around, and everybody using Calibre, personal libraries have become an appaling mess, and duplicates, triplicates, a curse.

If it's bad for the low-life scum who steal e-books, then we should be thankful for it.

[MooseFam5]

Can't tell if trolling...

Seriously though, Calibre is the best library management and conversion software I've seen anywhere. I use Calibre over any eReader manufacturer's or third-party solution. When you also consider that Kovid makes this available at no cost Calibre is an even more amazing solution. (Incidentally, I've donated as an appreciation for how effective this program is.)

In any event, I doubt your post will be well-received here. I'd guess that most readers of this part of the forum are either supporters of the program or are coming here for help. (I've been both of those.) Considering Calibre is distributed free, the simplest option for those who don't think Calibre is effective would be to simply use something else.

If you're having difficulty making some aspect of the program work, I'd recommend posting a new message describing your issue. Folks here tend to be very helpful. I've learned a lot simply reading the posts.

Good luck to you!

[Kralik]

I've found Calibre to be incredible for organizing my eBooks and saving them exactly as I wish with the exact folder structure I wish on my readers. When I add a new book that I've purchased myself, it takes less than a minute to organize the tags and information to fit the rest of what I use. I don't add books en masse from questionable outside sources.

Do you somehow think that "real-life" book organization takes less time?

[jersysman]

First post and this is what we get? I think it is a troll wishing us (grateful Calibre users) a good holiday season. Oh, as others have said, if you think it is a mess, just don't use it!

Oh, welcome to MR!

[geormes]

Originally Posted by jersysman

First post and this is what we get? I think it is a troll wishing us (grateful Calibre users) a good holiday season. Oh, as others have said, if you think it is a mess, just don't use it!

Oh, welcome to MR!

Your measured response is a good lesson and something I should work to develop for myself.

Somehow I wonder if this is indeed a first post or just another "reincarnation".

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If it's bad for the low-life scum who steal e-books, then we should be thankful for it.

Given the millions of e-books out there that it is perfectly legal to share it seems a little harsh to jump to the conclusion you seem to have jumped to.

Having said that, I personally find Calibre to be an extremely useful product and I would not support the OP's sentiments in any way.

[country0129]

to call no man a fool.

Who is this "person?" (you substitute fool if you dare!)

Free.

Multifunctional

Dynamic integration of multiple devices

Absolute ease of user interface

Multiple sources of community help

Multiple OS support

Wonderful people like Mr. Kovid and his peers

And this "person" complains about the program?

Why don't you, Sir, submit constructive suggestions to Mr. Kovid or the community and wait, see, how improvements are made with this wonderful program?

[country0129]

fool. So I shall remain silent against this "person" who has slighted our wonderful developers of this wonderful piece of, of ever evolving, software.

[Ripplinger]

I think someone got their seasons wrong and released their inner troll instead of a friendly cute elf.

[country0129]

Folks. I, too, wish all you a Merry, Wonderful, Prosperous, season of rejoicing for the reason we all exist. I love Calibre, but I love you all more. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakah, and whatever else I've missed in ignorance of the season's greetings I wish to extend to all of you!

[country0129]

Shut up.

Now.

For now.