Calibre: I do not get it

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

We really need some folder friendly calibre like software.

Well, it "Ain't Cheap" (about $70 US), but ACDSee's See Plus will likely do the trick. It's an office based digital asset manager built around the same technology as the popular ACDSee Photo management tools.

EDIT: I take that back! I could have sworn an earlier version supported eBook formats, but I just looked and it does not. I can't figure out how to delete this post. Sorry!

[JSWolf]

Thing is, there isn't anything like Calibre. So you either use it's directory structure or you don't use Calibre. That's all there is to it.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thing is, there isn't anything like Calibre. So you either use it's directory structure or you don't use Calibre. That's all there is to it.

Not really, you can use both (and JSWolf, you can deny it as you want, but I do it, and use any of them as it fits my needs of the moment).

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by JustinThought

Don't let the grammar-Bolsheviks bother you. I work with people learning English as a second language for my living, and it's unfair to expect someone in that situation to be a Master (or Mistress if you will) of the language.

No offense taken. And the problem was that the typo made my sentence hard to understand indeed.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

No offense taken. And the problem was that the typo made my sentence hard to understand indeed.

Yes, sorry for the message, but I didn't really understand it (as a norm, I never correct the grammar of a message, the content is another matter &#128513

[sjfan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Thing is, there isn't anything like Calibre. So you either use it's directory structure or you don't use Calibre. That's all there is to it.

I (automatically) create a mirrored directory of symlinks into the calibre library tree, based on my virtual library and tags. That way I can navigate to things via my preferred directory structure, while calibre lays it out the way it wants for the library.

It's just directories and files, which is nice and easy to work with using existing OS tools.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Yeah, put my files in the folders that I want, and not the way some stupid software think it should be.

Hell, even iTunes works that way, unless you ask it to do something else.

If only. The best way if you want to do both is to do what a couple of others here do and upload your OCD'ed book library to the cloud, mount it and have calibre import and sort from there.

I'm not sure how calibre handles watched directories tho. Not sure things would get automatically updated if the OCD library were changed. Added to, sure but not sure how it would handle updates.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

If only. The best way if you want to do both is to do what a couple of others here do and upload your OCD'ed book library to the cloud, mount it and have calibre import and sort from there.

I'm not sure how calibre handles watched directories tho. Not sure things would get automatically updated if the OCD library were changed. Added to, sure but not sure how it would handle updates.

Having two instances of Calibre with the same library open is an interesting experience. Modifying the contents of a calibre library outside of calibre is also an interesting experience. Nothing like an inconsistent database to make your day.

My workaround is to have calibre libraries and exported calibre libraries. I use the exported libraries for backup and my other nefarious purposes and simply treat the original calibre libraries as a black box with a big "DO NOT TOUCH!" sign.

[pdurrant]

Given that calibre provides an excellent way to displayed books using any filter or combination of filters imaginable, I just don't understand why people care how the book files are organised 'under the hood'.

But some people do. If you fit in that category, calibre isn't for you.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

If only. The best way if you want to do both is to do what a couple of others here do and upload your OCD'ed book library to the cloud, mount it and have calibre import and sort from there.

I'm not sure how calibre handles watched directories tho. Not sure things would get automatically updated if the OCD library were changed. Added to, sure but not sure how it would handle updates.

Yeah, sure, i have OCD because I don't things not like you.... That's insulting...
I'm not sick, I just think folders more easy and conviennent than collections, that's all. Collections are just overkilled for my use, need to be maintained. Yurk !

My main issue is the drm removal part, or I would be happy with no software at all.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by JustinThought

However, I don't use it otherwise for managing the storage of my e-books. I tried it, but because I am very particular about the nomenclature and folder structure of my disk storage, and Calibre is very dogmatic about the same thing--and they don't agree--I go with my own management system, such as it is.


But, as you can see from the above comments, I seem to be in a minority of one. Calibre should definitely be the first stop for anyone who is interested in taming their e-library.

Personally I have found that it's better to "pre-process" my ebooks before dumping them into Calibre. Sorting and doing ISBN lookups and such takes a very long time. Longer than it should.

I see value in maintaining two libraries, the calibre library and a presorted backup.

With that being said, Calibre is good if you need visual info about your books. It is the only software of it's class.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Yeah, sure, i have OCD because I don't things not like you.... That's insulting...
I'm not sick, I just think folders more easy and conviennent than collections, that's all. Collections are just overkilled for my use, need to be maintained. Yurk !

Sorry my man, no insult was intended. I personally like sorting my own libraries, be they music, movies, tv shows or comics or ebooks. I don't see the need to catagorize ones data according to ones logic as a sickness.

I use software tools to categorize all that stuff.

I agree about the folders thing.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Given that calibre provides an excellent way to displayed books using any filter or combination of filters imaginable, I just don't understand why people care how the book files are organised 'under the hood'.

But some people do. If you fit in that category, calibre isn't for you.

That's not true. It's entirely possible to have both worlds without the additional cost of storage space.

Until cloud providers get tired of offering "unlimited"...

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by DNSB

My workaround is to have calibre libraries and exported calibre libraries. I use the exported libraries for backup and my other nefarious purposes and simply treat the original calibre libraries as a black box with a big "DO NOT TOUCH!" sign.

Exactly. I pre-process instead of export but yea, exact same philosophy.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Yeah, sure, i have OCD because I don't things not like you.... That's insulting...
I'm not sick, I just think folders more easy and conviennent than collections, that's all. Collections are just overkilled for my use, need to be maintained. Yurk !

I thought that post had a typo and the poster meant an OCR library. At least that would make more sense.
I must agree with you on collections. Of course, that could be because I am here and procrastinating working on a collection of cookbooks.
Oh and if you ever type something I don't understand, I will just ask did you mean this or that. Your English is fantastic compared to my non-existent french.