Calibre: I do not get it

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I thought that post had a typo and the poster meant an OCR library. At least that would make more sense.

No, I meant OCD'ed. As in, library that has undergone my obsessive compulsive disorder based need to have data categorized logically and has been properly sorted to my individual needs.

It's not meant as an insult, it's not implying that anyone has OCD, it just is a reference to a library that has been properly sorted.

EDIT: Also not implying that I actually have OCD, I just like data sorted and sorting data and I see nothing wrong with that.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

No, I meant OCD'ed. As in, library that has undergone my obsessive compulsive disorder based need to have data categorized logically and has been properly sorted to my individual needs.

It's not meant as an insult, it's not implying that anyone has OCD, it just is a reference to a library that has been properly sorted.

EDIT: Also not implying that I actually have OCD, I just like data sorted and sorting data and I see nothing wrong with that.

Are you sure you aren't my daughter?
You like sorting data, I have a project for you.
There is not a thing in the world wrong with sorted data. The big obstacle is inputting the data in the first place.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

You like sorting data, I have a project for you.

What do you have? Maybe I can point you to something that will make your life easier.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

What do you have? Maybe I can point you to something that will make your life easier.

A cookbook collection. I have all the titles entered. I would kind of like to do a card catalog for them. Oh and most apps won't work because they require ISBN. Roughly a third of the books are fundraiser cookbooks. About 25% are more booklet than book.
Though I am all ears or eyes as the case may be.
I think the total between books and booklets is 2200.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

A cookbook collection. I have all the titles entered. I would kind of like to do a card catalog for them. Oh and most apps won't work because they require ISBN. Roughly a third of the books are fundraiser cookbooks. About 25% are more booklet than book.
Though I am all ears or eyes as the case may be.
I think the total between books and booklets is 2200.

Do the cookbooks themselves have ISBNs within them?

Regardless, this is what I use for presorting, maybe it will be helpful.

It scans for ISBNs first but if there aren't any, it will search based on title and author, from filename or metadata.

https://github.com/na--/ebook-tools

It's meant for a unix environment and there are docker images.

I'm not the author but I have found it invaluable in a short space of time.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Do the cookbooks themselves have ISBNs within them?

Regardless, this is what I use for presorting, maybe it will be helpful.

It scans for ISBNs first but if there aren't any, it will search based on title and author, from filename or metadata.

https://github.com/na--/ebook-tools

It's meant for a unix environment and there are docker images.

I'm not the author but I have found it invaluable in a short space of time.

That is half the battle. These are not ebooks. They are physical books and most do not have a visible ISBN.
Still if you ever want a challenge let me know.

[Cyberman tM]

Since the topic of the file structure came up - I'm curious.
Why do some want the file structure to be a certain way, what do you do with it?
I'd never thought I'd ask this, a few years ago I'd BE one of you, though I doubt I could give a better reason than "just, because".

Nowadays, I prefer simply telling Calibre "Ey, this book isn't on my reader. Move it!" and completely ignore where it is on my PC or reader.
I know it's there and I can find it if necessary, but the details don't really bother me, I see no reason to traverse the directories.

Is it just a desire to have things sorted the "right" way, or is there some use-case I simply don't see?

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by Cyberman tM

Since the topic of the file structure came up - I'm curious.
Why do some want the file structure to be a certain way, what do you do with it?
I'd never thought I'd ask this, a few years ago I'd BE one of you, though I doubt I could give a better reason than "just, because".

Nowadays, I prefer simply telling Calibre "Ey, this book isn't on my reader. Move it!" and completely ignore where it is on my PC or reader.
I know it's there and I can find it if necessary, but the details don't really bother me, I see no reason to traverse the directories.

Is it just a desire to have things sorted the "right" way, or is there some use-case I simply don't see?

I sometimes look directly for a book inside that directory file without opening calibre, and it's faster. But it is MY use case.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by Cyberman tM

Since the topic of the file structure came up - I'm curious.
Why do some want the file structure to be a certain way, what do you do with it?
I'd never thought I'd ask this, a few years ago I'd BE one of you, though I doubt I could give a better reason than "just, because".

Nowadays, I prefer simply telling Calibre "Ey, this book isn't on my reader. Move it!" and completely ignore where it is on my PC or reader.
I know it's there and I can find it if necessary, but the details don't really bother me, I see no reason to traverse the directories.

Is it just a desire to have things sorted the "right" way, or is there some use-case I simply don't see?

Just to sort stuff, because I don't use collections. Folders have two advantages. Simplicity, and interoperability. Mac, windows, Android, and synology's DSM, it just works. All you need is good old file browser.

I guess some with larger collections need something more, but with the number of books I have, folders are good enough.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Just to sort stuff, because I don't use collections. Folders have two advantages. Simplicity, and interoperability. Mac, windows, Android, and synology's DSM, it just works. All you need is good old file browser.

I guess some with larger collections need something more, but with the number of books I have, folders are good enough.

To an outsider, it seems like a lot of extra work for minimal return. My Calibre library backs up to Google drive and on the rare occasions when I access the library from there I never have a problem finding the book I'm looking for using Calibre's default file system.

[crich70]

Not sure if it has been mentioned but with another one of the plugins (one that is here at MR) you can also download files from places like Fanfiction.net and convert them into an ebook file format of your choice. I've gotten many HP fanfics converted to Kindle format that way. Also not only can Calibre store books but it can be used to edit them (though I still prefer Sigil for that myself) and even be used as an ebook reader program.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Are you sure you aren't my daughter?
You like sorting data, I have a project for you.
There is not a thing in the world wrong with sorted data. The big obstacle is inputting the data in the first place.

I agree that there is nothing wrong with having things organized. I understand one of the problems monasteries had with books that they had is that they had no real catalog system. So many "lost" volumes that were later found were only lost in the sense that the monastery that had them didn't realize that they had those books or scrolls in their collections. And I doubt most modern businesses would be able to keep their doors open if they weren't meticulous about keeping their records organized. I also agree that getting a mountain of data organized is a headache. Books, DVD's, etc. if it is so large as to need sorting it's bound to be a headache to do it.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by crich70

I agree that there is nothing wrong with having things organized. I understand one of the problems monasteries had with books that they had is that they had no real catalog system. So many "lost" volumes that were later found were only lost in the sense that the monastery that had them didn't realize that they had those books or scrolls in their collections. And I doubt most modern businesses would be able to keep their doors open if they weren't meticulous about keeping their records organized. I also agree that getting a mountain of data organized is a headache. Books, DVD's, etc. if it is so large as to need sorting it's bound to be a headache to do it.

They are mostly physically sorted except the last 30 or so. I would love a card catalog that I could just say Mexican and it would give me a list and shelf numbers of the books.
Or a master list of say all Texas cookbooks and the city they came from.
Like I said inputting the data is the big time suck.

[thomkat27]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

They are mostly physically sorted except the last 30 or so. I would love a card catalog that I could just say Mexican and it would give me a list and shelf numbers of the books.
Or a master list of say all Texas cookbooks and the city they came from.
Like I said inputting the data is the big time suck.

Have you ever tried Microsoft Access? It can be tedious when entering the data initially, but is fairly flexible in creating relations between items and custom searches can be created as well. We learned to use this in my catalog class in school as a basic cataloger program.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by thomkat27

Have you ever tried Microsoft Access? It can be tedious when entering the data initially, but is fairly flexible in creating relations between items and custom searches can be created as well. We learned to use this in my catalog class in school as a basic cataloger program.

I loved access. I created a card catalog in it when the library was a lot smaller. It got lost when the computer crashed and floppy disk went out of style.

I am actually using Google sheets. I do have a master list of all the books. It is just inputting the data that is a pain. Doing voice to text helps but on occasion Google doesn't understand me.