Content-server: Auto-import on Linux?

[maddhin]

Hi,

I imagine having a sync folder on my PC where I export books to from my local Calibre library. That folder is then automatically synced with a folder on my Pi and books are then automatically imported into the library on the Pi (with only the calibre-server running and files in sync folder automatically erased after successful import).

Possible or a dream?

That would actually be an awesome method to feed a server without the need of direct access and, say, editing the remote library remotely (and firing up calibre).

[eschwartz]

Sure, but you don't need to jump through so many hoops.

You'd be importing them through `calibredb add`, which requires you either stop the server, or use --with-library=http://127.0.0.1#mainlibrary at which point you can simply use calibredb directly from your PC.

Alternatively, you could sync your actual library folder with the rpi while the server is stopped.

[maddhin]

Thanks, eschwartz - I'm currently using your second option but in a "dirty" way = I'm live syncing the actual library onto the RPI with the server running... That works "well" (until it doesn't...)

So, I want to have a workflow which is as "lazy" but safe. So, having a dedicated "books to import" (Sync) folder and - say - a (crontab) script which (shuts down the server) and imports the books from there every hour or so seems to be a good method.

Naturally, if one would just give the server an import folder and the server would check that folder every few minutes and auto-imports would be ideal but I guess that IS too much to ask

I could also run a script as you mentioned from my laptop for the import but in terms of workflow I'd prefer an "automatic" solution. I'm using a number of different computers, etc so keeping a script up to date w/ different IPs etc seem tedious

Thanks a bunch for your help!

[eschwartz]

And I will reiterate, that crontab job can run from on the laptop or from on the RPI server. Either way it will need to use --with-library=http://localhost:8080/#mylibrary or --with-library=http://rpi.localdomain/#mylibrary which means you might as well do it on the laptop.

[maddhin]

Sorry, I'm asking all the stupid questions but I'm not very familiar with this and do not want to kill my library

So I would add something like this into crontab and have it run regularly?:

calibredb add --one-book-per-directory --with-library=home/pi/library home/pi/folder-with-exported-ebooks

Does anybody know how much CPU/RAM this action uses? I'd schedule it to run every 30min for convenience reasons but if it needs ressources, I'd run it like twice a day haha

Thanks a lot for the help!

[maddhin]

PS: does Calibre "clean up" (erase/move) the files in the import folder?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by maddhin

PS: does Calibre "clean up" (erase/move) the files in the import folder?

If you mean the designated 'Auto-Import" folder: mostly, Yes.The file must be accepted for import (excluded and not book types will remain).

If you mean the folder selected fro "Add Book": NO
You need to implement the disposition after the Add