using calibre on two pc - HELP

stefano.polacchi · 02-05-2020, 09:00 AM

Is it possible to have the same library using Calibre app on two different computers? I have the library of Clibre on Mac uploaded on Google Drive. I'd like to have the same library to share that library with Calibre app that's installed on a different PC... How to do? Is it possible?

stefano.polacchi · 02-05-2020, 09:01 AM

ps. I do npt say if I will be able to read your answer!!! so, you can help me through email: spol1712@gmail.com

DNSB · 02-05-2020, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefano.polacchi

Is it possible to have the same library using Calibre app on two different computers? I have the library of Clibre on Mac uploaded on Google Drive. I'd like to have the same library to share that library with Calibre app that's installed on a different PC... How to do? Is it possible?

Using calibre with network storage is not recommended. Google Drive has caused issues in the past. There are several threads on MobileRead you might want to check. See the Calibre and Google Drive thread for instance where the original poster noted that he was able to use calibre and Google Drive for a couple years before his library corrupted.

So you can try it, just make sure that you have backups. Lots of backups.

theducks · 02-05-2020, 10:16 AM

And read the FAQ entry at the main Calibre HELP plage

Leave 1 PC running and run the content server with full Library rights to the other user. They can make changes to the metadata. You can also creat a limited login for others

JSWolf · 02-05-2020, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Using calibre with network storage is not recommended. Google Drive has caused issues in the past. There are several threads on MobileRead you might want to check. See the Calibre and Google Drive thread for instance where the original poster noted that he was able to use calibre and Google Drive for a couple years before his library corrupted.

So you can try it, just make sure that you have backups. Lots of backups.

I do have my Calibre libraries on one drive that I can access from three different computers. I do not use a NAS drive. I just map the drive and can access the libraries no problem.

Sirtel · 02-05-2020, 03:11 PM

My Calibre library is in Dropbox and I use it with my laptop and my Surface tablet. BUT there are several caveats with this scenario.

NEVER have the Dropbox running while Calibre is open (pause syncing before you open Calibre). NEVER have Calibre open on both computers at once. Run the Library Maintenance regularly. Conflicted copies do creep in.

You should do things in the following order:

Pause Dropbox
Open Calibre
Do what you need
Close Calibre
Resume syncing
When syncing is done, quit Dropbox
Start Dropbox on the other computer
When syncing is done, pause it
Open Calibre
Do what you need
Close Calibre
Resume syncing
Quit Dropbox

If you ignore those steps, you'll end up with a corrupted library. The same goes for Google Drive and OneDrive. Don't use them. They don't work well with Calibre.

mbovenka · 02-07-2020, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I do have my Calibre libraries on one drive that I can access from three different computers. I do not use a NAS drive. I just map the drive and can access the libraries no problem.

Same thing, Jon. Whether that drive is on another PC and you map it from there or that 'other PC' is a NAS makes no difference. I ran Calibre with the library on a NAS for quite a while without issues, but when the man himself says that it's a bad idea...

JSWolf · 02-07-2020, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Same thing, Jon. Whether that drive is on another PC and you map it from there or that 'other PC' is a NAS makes no difference. I ran Calibre with the library on a NAS for quite a while without issues, but when the man himself says that it's a bad idea...

I've been doing this for many years without an issue. It works. The only thing you have to be careful of is trying to access the same library from multiple computers. That's only an issue if you have someone else that also runs Calibre with the same libraries.

Can you give me one good reason why it should not work (when clearly it does)?

theducks · 02-07-2020, 10:54 AM

Jon
It is unpredictable. (assumes you are not running it on a system that does versioning (like GD), that does thing to the file name... then it is guaranteed to bite you.)

It is like driving your car with 2 different sizes or types of tires.
It goes straight just fine. You may do this dozens of times
It is when you brake, that the surprise can happen . You just have not hit that case,,, YET

Kovid knows that Calibre does not have all the attributes needed for a true client file server for a robust and safe transaction using remote data systems.

kacir · 02-07-2020, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefano.polacchi

Is it possible to have the same library using Calibre app on two different computers?

Run Calibre on one of computers, enable the Calibre server and access the library from the other computer.
Preferences, Sharing, Sharing over the net in Calibre
Connect using browser from the other computer[s] on the network.

Or you can use Remote Desktop or VNC (open VNC, tight VNC, ...) or whatever Mac users like to use to access a remote desktop and run Calibre just on one computer.

Or put the library to a shared folder on the network. BEWARE! never access the the library from two computers at the same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefano.polacchi

I have the library of Clibre on Mac uploaded on Google Drive.

Not a good idea. It might work nicely and then something happens and you will come here asking how your library got corrupted.
If you want to do that anyway, MAKE A BACKUP. You should have a backup anyway.

JSWolf · 02-07-2020, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Jon
It is unpredictable. (assumes you are not running it on a system that does versioning (like GD), that does thing to the file name... then it is guaranteed to bite you.)

It is like driving your car with 2 different sizes or types of tires.
It goes straight just fine. You may do this dozens of times
It is when you brake, that the surprise can happen . You just have not hit that case,,, YET

Kovid knows that Calibre does not have all the attributes needed for a true client file server for a robust and safe transaction using remote data systems.

As I don't use versioning, it's not going to bite me. It's been working perfectly for more then 5-years.

02-05-2020, 09:00 AM	#1
stefano.polacchi Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: kobo	using calibre on two pc - HELP Is it possible to have the same library using Calibre app on two different computers? I have the library of Clibre on Mac uploaded on Google Drive. I'd like to have the same library to share that library with Calibre app that's installed on a different PC... How to do? Is it possible?

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02-05-2020, 09:01 AM	#2
stefano.polacchi Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2020 Device: kobo	ps. I do npt say if I will be able to read your answer!!! so, you can help me through email: spol1712@gmail.com

02-05-2020, 10:16 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,062 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	And read the FAQ entry at the main Calibre HELP plage Leave 1 PC running and run the content server with full Library rights to the other user. They can make changes to the metadata. You can also creat a limited login for others

02-05-2020, 03:11 PM	#6
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,474 Karma: 239219543 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	My Calibre library is in Dropbox and I use it with my laptop and my Surface tablet. BUT there are several caveats with this scenario. NEVER have the Dropbox running while Calibre is open (pause syncing before you open Calibre). NEVER have Calibre open on both computers at once. Run the Library Maintenance regularly. Conflicted copies do creep in. You should do things in the following order: Pause Dropbox Open Calibre Do what you need Close Calibre Resume syncing When syncing is done, quit Dropbox Start Dropbox on the other computer When syncing is done, pause it Open Calibre Do what you need Close Calibre Resume syncing Quit Dropbox If you ignore those steps, you'll end up with a corrupted library. The same goes for Google Drive and OneDrive. Don't use them. They don't work well with Calibre.

02-07-2020, 10:54 AM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,062 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Jon It is unpredictable. (assumes you are not running it on a system that does versioning (like GD), that does thing to the file name... then it is guaranteed to bite you.) It is like driving your car with 2 different sizes or types of tires. It goes straight just fine. You may do this dozens of times It is when you brake, that the surprise can happen . You just have not hit that case,,, YET Kovid knows that Calibre does not have all the attributes needed for a true client file server for a robust and safe transaction using remote data systems.