Why use CC? (Seriously)

Lori Reeser · 03-15-2015, 04:25 PM

I'm changing from Nook to an Android. I've been looking around and asking a few questions here (with very helpful answers).

I'm confused about something. Why should I use CC and an ereader program? Why not just use the program (I'm going to start with Moon+) and sideload the books from my computer like I've been doing with Nook?

I do use Calibre and love it. I don't mind connecting my PC to my tablet directly to do sideloads, although wireless downloads would be nice. One reason I can think of is that I can sort my books to find an older book to re-read. Are there any other reasons?

eschwartz · 03-15-2015, 04:39 PM

The ability to sort through metadata to find your books as easily as in calibre itself is the main reason. Most ereaders/apps do not support a lot of metadata (series I'm looking at you), and certainly not calibre's custom columns.

Connecting wirelessly is another good one. Especially via the content server from half a continent away if necessary.

Also, if you have different formats, CC can handle all of them and simply tell the appropriate app to open PDF vs EPUB vs MOBI/AZW3 vs comics etc.

chaley · 03-15-2015, 06:05 PM

It really depends on how you use calibre and how you use your device.

If you seldom change metadata in calibre, don't use or don't care about seeing custom columns on your device, and can live with the search/sort/display facilities the reader app provides, then CC won't be particularly useful. If any of the above don't describe how you want to use your device, then CC could be very useful.

Some people keep hundreds, often thousands, of books in CC, in which case CC's grouping and sorting features are very useful. Some use calibre custom columns to organize their library by genre, by source, by priority, or by other things important to them. CC lets you access and use this information. Some like to update metadata in calibre and see those updates on their device without having to resend the books or remember what was changed, something that CC supports. Some want to manage their device from calibre, which requires calibre to treat the phone/tablet as a calibre device, supported by CC as the wireless device connection. Some like the ability to customize the library display to display the information important to them. Etc Etc.

Perhaps the best approach would be for you to try CC's free demo version and see if it satisfies your requirements.

theducks · 03-15-2015, 06:21 PM

Because whatever you had before did not do the job YOU wanted

Had a clunky UI
Frequently barf on you feet (locked up your device)

Only let you use the Walled Gardner's tools

Matth79 · 03-15-2015, 07:57 PM

You ask why? There is a free alternative.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...l_opds_scanner
If you choose FBREADER, then there is a free plugin that enables it to access the Calibre ODPS catalog over wifi. Ok the only thing it address is ODPS (Calibre server) access, but it means you can transfer without plugging in.

Calibre companion has more, but ain't free!
Try CC trial, try FBREADER with plugin - if you prefer CC, buy it, but if you prefer the plugin, just keep it

Difflugia · 03-15-2015, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Because whatever you had before did not do the job YOU wanted

Exactly.

I started using it when Android stopped alowing the device's storage to be mounted as a drive (the MTP interface is abysmal) and I got tired of popping the SD Card whenever I wanted to add new books.

I originally only used Calibre Companion to load the books and still managed them with the reader software, but I gradually found myself using more and more of CC's management interface.

hleo12 · 03-16-2015, 02:11 AM

I've said this before and I'll this again.

CC changed my ereading experience.

My Kobo Glo broke last Christmas and I couldn't afford a replacement. Then I discovered CC. CC is the only thing that's keeping me from buying a new eReader. I'd dare say CC is more user friendly than most eReaders out there. I mean, it practically has the interface of Calibre.

But the fellows above have already answered the OP's question. Most ereader apps don't play well with metadata.

Josieb1 · 03-16-2015, 08:41 AM

I use CC on my Kindle Fire and my Asus tablet. Someone on here was kind enough to write me some code that adds a txt file to all my books in Calibre and I use that format to send to CC because I need the metadata, I.e author, title, series, I don't need the actual book. I have thousands of books and its easy to buy the same book twice ( or more) as I buy from multiple sites so having the metadata for all my books on CC helps prevent me doing that. I rarely have my pc on during the week.

Lori Reeser · 03-20-2015, 06:45 PM

Now that my new tablet is in my hot little hands I can see why CC is worth it. I've only had it for a day, so right now I'm trying to get Moon+ set up the way I like it. I have the demo version of CC and I will buy it soon.

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies!

nqk · 04-17-2015, 01:57 AM

I started now using CC as the default book library that serves a number of readers at the same time. I have installed quite a number of e-readers in my android devices, but none of them provide all the features that I need - they then can co-exist. CC is much more powerful than any of built-in library/opds browser of the ereaders (Moon+ Reader, FB reader, Google Play Book, Kindle, Mantano, Aldiko).

However, CC doesn't automatically "see" local books. Currently it requires connection to Calibre ... then it does something .... then the local books appear. Inconvenient it is regarding this point.

hleo12 · 04-17-2015, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nqk

However, CC doesn't automatically "see" local books. Currently it requires connection to Calibre ... then it does something .... then the local books appear. Inconvenient it is regarding this point.

I think that's where the term "Conpanion" from Calibre Companion comes in. It's designed to be used alongside Calibre and not on its own.

leitz · 05-07-2015, 11:53 AM

New to CC, is Calibre Companion from the same people who developed Calibre?

PeterT · 05-07-2015, 12:16 PM

CC is from one of the many contributors to calibre. chaley has been active in the calibre community for many years, and has contributed numerous features and enhancements to calibre in that time.

leitz · 05-07-2015, 12:51 PM

May be worthwhile considering CC if they are in someway "related" to Calibre

Thks for the info

eschwartz · 05-07-2015, 01:15 PM

Yes, absolutely.

chaley (developer of CC) contributed several invaluable features to calibre, and has a substantial knowledge of calibre's internals, which he has put to good use in making CC work well with calibre -- especially the device driver he personally wrote for CC and contributed to calibre.

03-15-2015, 04:25 PM	#1
Lori Reeser Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 475040 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Silicon Valley (Sunnyvale, CA) Device: Lenovo Tab M10	Why use CC? (Seriously) I'm changing from Nook to an Android. I've been looking around and asking a few questions here (with very helpful answers). I'm confused about something. Why should I use CC and an ereader program? Why not just use the program (I'm going to start with Moon+) and sideload the books from my computer like I've been doing with Nook? I do use Calibre and love it. I don't mind connecting my PC to my tablet directly to do sideloads, although wireless downloads would be nice. One reason I can think of is that I can sort my books to find an older book to re-read. Are there any other reasons?

03-15-2015, 04:39 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The ability to sort through metadata to find your books as easily as in calibre itself is the main reason. Most ereaders/apps do not support a lot of metadata (series I'm looking at you), and certainly not calibre's custom columns. Connecting wirelessly is another good one. Especially via the content server from half a continent away if necessary. Also, if you have different formats, CC can handle all of them and simply tell the appropriate app to open PDF vs EPUB vs MOBI/AZW3 vs comics etc. Last edited by eschwartz; 03-15-2015 at 04:41 PM.

03-15-2015, 06:05 PM	#3
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,362 Karma: 8012652 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	It really depends on how you use calibre and how you use your device. If you seldom change metadata in calibre, don't use or don't care about seeing custom columns on your device, and can live with the search/sort/display facilities the reader app provides, then CC won't be particularly useful. If any of the above don't describe how you want to use your device, then CC could be very useful. Some people keep hundreds, often thousands, of books in CC, in which case CC's grouping and sorting features are very useful. Some use calibre custom columns to organize their library by genre, by source, by priority, or by other things important to them. CC lets you access and use this information. Some like to update metadata in calibre and see those updates on their device without having to resend the books or remember what was changed, something that CC supports. Some want to manage their device from calibre, which requires calibre to treat the phone/tablet as a calibre device, supported by CC as the wireless device connection. Some like the ability to customize the library display to display the information important to them. Etc Etc. Perhaps the best approach would be for you to try CC's free demo version and see if it satisfies your requirements.

03-15-2015, 06:21 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,939 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Because whatever you had before did not do the job YOU wanted Had a clunky UI Frequently barf on you feet (locked up your device) Only let you use the Walled Gardner's tools

03-15-2015, 07:57 PM	#5
Matth79 Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 502620 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	You ask why? There is a free alternative. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...l_opds_scanner If you choose FBREADER, then there is a free plugin that enables it to access the Calibre ODPS catalog over wifi. Ok the only thing it address is ODPS (Calibre server) access, but it means you can transfer without plugging in. Calibre companion has more, but ain't free! Try CC trial, try FBREADER with plugin - if you prefer CC, buy it, but if you prefer the plugin, just keep it

03-16-2015, 02:11 AM	#7
hleo12 Guru Posts: 655 Karma: 5078890 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo Glo (deceased), Kindle 4th, Kindle Basic 10th Generation	I've said this before and I'll this again. CC changed my ereading experience. My Kobo Glo broke last Christmas and I couldn't afford a replacement. Then I discovered CC. CC is the only thing that's keeping me from buying a new eReader. I'd dare say CC is more user friendly than most eReaders out there. I mean, it practically has the interface of Calibre. But the fellows above have already answered the OP's question. Most ereader apps don't play well with metadata.

03-16-2015, 08:41 AM	#8
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I use CC on my Kindle Fire and my Asus tablet. Someone on here was kind enough to write me some code that adds a txt file to all my books in Calibre and I use that format to send to CC because I need the metadata, I.e author, title, series, I don't need the actual book. I have thousands of books and its easy to buy the same book twice ( or more) as I buy from multiple sites so having the metadata for all my books on CC helps prevent me doing that. I rarely have my pc on during the week.

03-20-2015, 06:45 PM	#9
Lori Reeser Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 475040 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Silicon Valley (Sunnyvale, CA) Device: Lenovo Tab M10	Now that my new tablet is in my hot little hands I can see why CC is worth it. I've only had it for a day, so right now I'm trying to get Moon+ set up the way I like it. I have the demo version of CC and I will buy it soon. Thanks for all the thoughtful replies!

04-17-2015, 01:57 AM	#10
nqk Fanatic Posts: 564 Karma: 32228 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Onyx Boox Leaf	I started now using CC as the default book library that serves a number of readers at the same time. I have installed quite a number of e-readers in my android devices, but none of them provide all the features that I need - they then can co-exist. CC is much more powerful than any of built-in library/opds browser of the ereaders (Moon+ Reader, FB reader, Google Play Book, Kindle, Mantano, Aldiko). However, CC doesn't automatically "see" local books. Currently it requires connection to Calibre ... then it does something .... then the local books appear. Inconvenient it is regarding this point.

05-07-2015, 11:53 AM	#12
leitz Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 1740970 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: Kobo	New to CC, is Calibre Companion from the same people who developed Calibre?

05-07-2015, 12:16 PM	#13
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,368 Karma: 78877538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	CC is from one of the many contributors to calibre. chaley has been active in the calibre community for many years, and has contributed numerous features and enhancements to calibre in that time.

05-07-2015, 12:51 PM	#14
leitz Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 1740970 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: Kobo	May be worthwhile considering CC if they are in someway "related" to Calibre Thks for the info

05-07-2015, 01:15 PM	#15
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Yes, absolutely. chaley (developer of CC) contributed several invaluable features to calibre, and has a substantial knowledge of calibre's internals, which he has put to good use in making CC work well with calibre -- especially the device driver he personally wrote for CC and contributed to calibre.