Calibre instructions

[Nyssa]

I'm really curious to know if:

1. JRMcClure registered with the sole purpose of posting this rant.

2. JRMcClure is really looking for assistance, in understanding Calibre.

3. JRMcClure will read anything posted in this thread.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Without Calibre my Kindle would only be half as enjoyable.

You use it to download RSS feeds?

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I'm really curious to know if:

1. JRMcClure registered with the sole purpose of posting this rant.

2. JRMcClure is really looking for assistance, in understanding Calibre.

3. JRMcClure will read anything posted in this thread.

I was wondering if maybe he was the author of a competing program.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

You use it to download RSS feeds?

I have, but I'm not using that feature right now. It works really well for that, though. I just got backed up and didn't have time to read the feeds so I've stopped until things slow down again.

[DiapDealer]

I want to know what calibre will do and a "e-book library management application" tells me nothing.

Hurr durr derp.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I have, but I'm not using that feature right now. It works really well for that, though. I just got backed up and didn't have time to read the feeds so I've stopped until things slow down again.

Why is your Kindle doubly useful and fun now that you are using it?

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Why is your Kindle doubly useful and fun now that you are using it?

Well, first of all, I have OCD tendencies, which can be kept in check as long as I have a few specific things I can control and over-organize. Basically, managing my music in iTunes, my pbooks on their shelves and my ebooks in Calibre and things like that give me an outlet for my control needs. Over the years I learned that having a few specific areas of focus keep me from doing things like reorganizing the kitchen cabinets every day. I honestly don't think I'd be satisfied with only the organizational tools found on most ereaders, including the Kindle collections. I'd go nuts, or at the very least it would take me hours and hours to get a semblance of order I'd be happy with. I use Calibre, then I use Mornington's python script to create and maintain my Kindle collections.

Next, I get a lot of stuff from Smashwords, and often the epub is great but the mobi is crap. Calibre makes getting decent conversions a painless process.

Also, I get a lot out of being able to see my ebooks in Calibre that I don't get out of looking at lists on the Kindle. It's harder to explain this part of it, and it's probably related to the first item I mentioned, but I feel like it gives me a better handle on what I've got in my collection.

To put "me" in perspective - when I moved back here from Florida, I unpacked my HUNDREDS of pbooks, shelved them, and knew exactly which two books were missing. (The Stand and Katherine of Aragon, to be exact. And it's still bugging me.)

[RockdaMan]

Thanks for the writeup. I need to learn more about how to use it...it seems complex.

I just organize my stuff by descriptive filenames in a big folder on dropbox (for backup purposes).

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Hurr durr derp.

My sentiments exactly! I'm thinking we should break it down for JRMClure, like 'ebook' =, 'library' =, and so on ...

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Thanks for the writeup. I need to learn more about how to use it...it seems complex.

I just organize my stuff by descriptive filenames in a big folder on dropbox (for backup purposes).

It is complex in the sense that it does a lot, but I think it's pretty easy to catch on to after you get the basics down. It's great that the developers are available right here on MR.

One of the best things about it is that there are more complicated operations possible with it, but you don't need to use them for it to be useful. You can use as little or as much as you need to.

Hang around the Calibre forum a little, read the stickies, and you can get a pretty good idea of what it's all about. If you decide to try it out, you can do so without touching your existing files because when you add books to Calibre it copies them into it's library file structure and leaves the originals alone, so you can play with it with a few files and see if you like it before you rely on it for anything else.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Well, first of all, I have OCD tendencies, which can be kept in check as long as I have a few specific things I can control and over-organize. Basically, managing my music in iTunes, my pbooks on their shelves and my ebooks in Calibre and things like that give me an outlet for my control needs. Over the years I learned that having a few specific areas of focus keep me from doing things like reorganizing the kitchen cabinets every day. I honestly don't think I'd be satisfied with only the organizational tools found on most ereaders, including the Kindle collections. I'd go nuts, or at the very least it would take me hours and hours to get a semblance of order I'd be happy with.

OMG, we are so much a like! I would say my OCD is milder - as in self prescribed not actually diagnosed. I arranged all of mypbooks on the book shelf but gave up when my hubby "reorganized" them by being messy. I understand, however, about over organizing things like e-books and iTunes.

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I use Calibre, then I use Mornington's python script to create and maintain my Kindle collections.

What, pray tell is Mornington's python ?

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Also, I get a lot out of being able to see my ebooks in Calibre that I don't get out of looking at lists on the Kindle. It's harder to explain this part of it, and it's probably related to the first item I mentioned, but I feel like it gives me a better handle on what I've got in my collection.

I understand completely! It is a bit difficult to articulate.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

OMG, we are so much a like! I would say my OCD is milder - as in self prescribed not actually diagnosed. I arranged all of mypbooks on the book shelf but gave up when my hubby "reorganized" them by being messy. I understand, however, about over organizing things like e-books and iTunes.

I'm glad someone understands. My friends are, well, startled when they pick up my iPod and see that I have 105 different genres. As for my pbooks, when someone gets near the bookshelves I just watch them so I can undo whatever they mess up. I've been told my behavior is unnerving to those who dare to venture near the books. But then, I was an only child so sharing isn't my strong point anyway.

What, pray tell is Mornington's python ?

Mornington is a user who posted a script written in python that uses metadata from Calibre to create and maintain collections on the Kindle. It's flippin' brilliant. Now, there are two (possibly more) other users here who developed applications to manage collections, and they're good apps, but my control needs are a little beyond that.

Working with the script might seem a little daunting if you've never worked with scripts before, but since the day I found it I've been convinced I couldn't survive without it.

However, it only works properly with DRM-free, non-Amazon files. This means that Amazon files must be either organized manually or stripped and twice-converted to make them non-recognizable as Amazon files. Knowing my level of compulsion, I think you can guess which of those two options I use.

The irony is that the user who brought this wonderful script into my life decided to send his Kindle back and is no longer supporting the script. But there are some good Python coders around so I'm sure there's help to be found if I have a problem I can't sort out.

I understand completely! It is a bit difficult to articulate.

I'm glad you get it. I hate sounding vague when I'm not trying to be.

[RockdaMan]

And so the the thread has morphed into something useful.

Kudos to the folks who did that.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

And so the the thread has morphed into something useful.

Kudos to us folks who did that.

There, I fixed that for ya. You get the credit too.

Your very good questions helped the morphing. I gave out a day's worth of Karma trying to combat the stench of rudeness and even that wasn't enough. This is what communities are supposed to do - turn the bad into something good for everyone. (Which is why cities build playgrounds in gangbanger territory. But they mean well.)

[HealyHQ]

This, my friends, is what we call a "Troll."
Please do not feed him.