new calibre help file

[Rachel]

Hi Becca - this looks useful. Although I've been using Calibre for a long time, I forget how to do some things and then seem to spend hours finding out how!
Is it possible to add your manual into Calibre so I can launch it from the toolbar, or do I have to access it separately?

[BeccaPrice]

That would be up to Kovid. It would be easy enough to do, but that would be a developer's task.

I'm glad you find my project useful!

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Rachel

Is it possible to add your manual into Calibre so I can launch it from the toolbar, or do I have to access it separately?

Currently you have to access it separately but it is a main link in the New to calibre? Start Here calibre sticky post. If you haven't noticed at the top of every calibre forum are informative posts that are stuck to the top of each forum for easy finding.

Everyone should take time as they have a question to see if the answer is in these posts.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Everyone should take time as they have a question to see if the answer is in these posts.

Amen!

[BeccaPrice]

and if there's something that should be in the help file and isn't, let me know and I'll add it.

right now my next addition will be about the Calibre Companion, once it's out of beta.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

and if there's something that should be in the help file and isn't, let me know and I'll add it.

right now my next addition will be about the Calibre Companion, once it's out of beta.

BR

Default locations for Calibre Library on OS/X and Linux, like you have for Windows 7 in the About Calibre section.

I have to do a couple of installs at the Community Centre next week for some senior citizens, a Win7 PC, a Mac & a Mint

theducks told me its the user home directory on Linux, I think it would be the same in OS/X, unboggling might know, I'll ask him & let you know. I think he's Mac Man

BR

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

BR
Default locations for Calibre Library on OS/X and Linux, like you have for Windows 7 in the About Calibre section…. theducks told me its the user home directory on Linux, I think it would be the same in OS/X, unboggling might know, I'll ask him & let you know. I think he's Mac Man
BR

Yes, home dir on OSX too. Often in its documents dir. Don't remember exactly where the welcome wizard defaults to.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by unboggling

Yes, home dir on OSX too. Often in its documents dir. Don't remember exactly where the welcome wizard defaults to.

Thanks mate, and I didn't even have to get round to asking you.

Incidentally I made an RTF version of your 'How I Manage ...." post, I wanted to print it, the last section with all the links screwed up, so its still in bbCode. Let me know if you want it and I'll get it to you.

BR

[BeccaPrice]

If someone can get me the default settings for the Linux and Mac libraries I'd appreciate it - I don't have access to them, so can't check.

Also, ctrl+P is windows for the Preferences screen. What is the equivalent in mac and Linux?

[unboggling]

On Mac OS X

Prefs open with command+p

And I checked. Welcome Wizard after initial installation presents (changeable):
/Users/username/Calibre Library

Once library is created the path at that location would be:
/Users/username/Calibre Library/author1/title (id)/title - author1.ext

If user later moves library to external drive, would be:
/Volumes/VolumeName/Calibre Library/author1/title (id)/title - author1.ext

[theducks]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

If someone can get me the default settings for the Linux and Mac libraries I'd appreciate it - I don't have access to them, so can't check.

Also, ctrl+P is windows for the Preferences screen. What is the equivalent in mac and Linux?

The Same in Linux. I think the File System (and case rules) locations are the only difference.

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by theducks

The Same in Linux. I think the File System (and case rules) locations are the only difference.

In OS X, usually HFS Plus. I read somewhere that HFS Plus case sensitivity is optional. I believe default is case-insensitive. Never bothered to find out how to switch.

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Thanks mate, and I didn't even have to get round to asking you.

Incidentally I made an RTF version of your 'How I Manage ...." post, I wanted to print it, the last section with all the links screwed up, so its still in bbCode. Let me know if you want it and I'll get it to you.

BR

It gets revised so often a print version makes me cringe. Thanks for the offer. I write/revise it in text, bbcode included. So don't need a copy.

[kovidgoyal]

The default location for the calibre library is always the folder 'Calibre Library' or whatever it is translated to in the local language in the user's home directory, on all platforms.

The keyboard shortcuts are also all the same across platforms, except that Macs dont have Ctrl keys so you substitute that with Cmd.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The default location for the calibre library is always the folder 'Calibre Library' or whatever it is translated to in the local language in the user's home directory, on all platforms.

The keyboard shortcuts are also all the same across platforms, except that Macs dont have Ctrl keys so you substitute that with Cmd.

The 'home' directory on Windows is normally regarded as :-

Windows 2000 & XP ===> %SystemDrive%/Documents and Settings/<user name>
Windows Vista & 7 ===> %SystemDrive%/Users/<user name>

On Windows 7 I am positive that the calibre install wizard defaults to the <userhome>/Documents directory, I'd put money on the Wizard defaulting to the <userhome>/Documents directory on Vista and to <userhome>/My Documents directory on XP & 2000.

I just did a fresh install in Windows 7, below are screen shots showing that calibre defaults to the users Document folder (aliased as My Documents for legacy support)

Having the Calibre Library in the users (My) Documents folder is a bad idea on 2 counts:

1. its a bit rich when new users are berated because they dare poke around in folders that the so called Calibre Wizard puts into the their My Documents folder.
   
2. on Windows 7 it means that the Calibre Library gets included in the users Documents (Windows) Library where Calibre's 3 tier directory hierarchy can be flattened by file type, modify date or tag in a couple of clicks of the mouse. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but ...

If it were me, then,

• in Windows 7 I'd have the Wizard create a directory in <userhome> called Calibre and make it a relocatable folder, then I'd create a folder called Main Library in Calibre into which I'd put the manual.
  
• I'd leave the XP & Vista install Wizard as is, its not worth the effort of fixing, besides XP and Vista don't have the Windows Library issue.

BR