UX student looking for interviewees

[MarjaE]

Are text interviews an option? I have sensory processing issues, and both flashing/animation and noise can trigger my migraines.

For epub and mobi files, I convert to mobi in Calibre, and usually read on a Kindle 5. It has an e-ink screen, buttons, no touchscreen.

For pdf files, it's more challenging. I need a bigger screen. I prefer to read on the Kindle Dx. It has an e-ink screen, buttons, keyboard, no touchscreen. But it isn't compatible with most pdfs, so I have to run either Ghostscript, or Willus's k2pdfopt, or a splicing scrip I've written which uses both, to convert a newer pdf into a Kindle-readable pdf. Calibre can't do that. I process files outside Calibre, and then import the processed versions into Calibre, and write up the metadata, and use an extra column to track the processing.

For pdf files, I've also bought a Boyue Likebook Mars, to avoid having to convert everything. It's an e-ink tablet and doesn't trigger my migraines as much as regular tablets. But it relies on Android. So every time I'm supposed to type text, it has a blinking cursor, and it hurts, and I can't see the text because of the cursor. For note-taking, I was able to pick an app with dark mode which reduces the contrast, but for other things which require typing, it's still a problem. Apparently Android lacks any accessibility options to stop blinking cursors.

For websites, online stories, etc., I've experimented with a number of options. I can sometimes run fanficfare from within Calibre. I mostly use Dot Epub though. For example, I've sometimes been researching the Seattle WTO protests, and a lot of the original websites are down, but partially archived. I can retrieve the articles using Dot Epub, no such luck with EpubPress or Grab My Books.

I usually keep the originals on another disk.

Since Calibre only supports metadata search, I still need other options for Full-Text Search. I use separate Calibre libraries for Intake, where I haven't typed up any of the metadata, General, Fiction, Research, and so on. That way I can pick which libraries to include or exclude from the full-text search.

I've created a lot of extra columns so I can see relevant metadata at a glance.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by MarjaE

Since Calibre only supports metadata search, I still need other options for Full-Text Search. I use separate Calibre libraries for Intake, where I haven't typed up any of the metadata, General, Fiction, Research, and so on. That way I can pick which libraries to include or exclude from the full-text search.

If you add the Power Search plugin to calibre, it allows you to generate a searchable full text database. See [GUI Plugin] Power (Full-text) Search. It's a bit of a pain to setup and the first run can take quite a while since it needs to scan all the selected books but once setup, it works quite well.

[Quoth]

Text search works well on some eReaders. It's not intended as a core function of Calibre. Which brings up a thought.

You might use a computer for your job and use a Spreadsheet, Wordprocessor, Photoediting, magazine layout (InDesign), CAD/CAE (Schematics, PCBs, 2D drawings, 3D models etc) ALL DAY.

The purpose of Calibre is to manage transfer of ebooks from the PC to an ereader, or an ereader app. Several minutes of use will provide days or even weeks of reading. Thus the aspects of use related to all day use programs are not the same.

Also ebooks can have poor formatting or be the wrong kind. So there are a huge variety of plug-in utilities or tools written by diverse people over many years.

It runs on Linux, Windows and Mac. Unlike Mac and Win10, Linux can use radically different desktops. Then there are user configurable themes. Calibre uses QT. There is even a utility for QT to adjust the desktop application look and feel.

Additionally Calibre has different layout options, one or multiple tool bars, A menu strip option and all can be configured as to the content. Content can be set to change depending on if a device is connected or not.

So I think Calibre UX greatly depends on:

• Which OS you use.
• Which Linux Desktop and QT settings.
• Calibre configuration.
• Which plug-ins and utilities you need. Some people edit the CSS of every ebook to their own flavour.
• What device or devices are connected for transfer, if they are Mass Storage, MTP direct or via a directory, if the App imports or uses directly.
• If you merely transfer books to the device, or use annotations to a 3rd party program, or rotate which books are on a device with limited Flash.
• If you buy a lot of ebooks with DRM
• If you also use PDFs.
• If you use Calibre to catalogue stuff not for an ereader.

Kobo, Adobe and Amazon, and in the past Sony, provide crippled walled garden desktop programs that only work with specific brands or formats of ebook and are mostly desktop shop or DRM management for people without WiFi. I've not used any of those for years.

So I think Calibre is a very hard choice for a UX study in that it works with so many diverse architectures of ereaders and gadgets, so many ebook formats and has so many important diverse 3rd party plug-ins.

You'd want a Mac, Win 10, Linux with multiple desktops, multiple kinds of ereaders, using both PD ebooks and ones from Amazon, Kobo, Google and Smashwords stores.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by DNSB

If you add the Power Search plugin to calibre, it allows you to generate a searchable full text database. See [GUI Plugin] Power (Full-text) Search. It's a bit of a pain to setup and the first run can take quite a while since it needs to scan all the selected books but once setup, it works quite well.

Quality Check also lets you search through ePubs. Not other formats though so I'd recommend Power Search over it.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I don't have any; my shelf space and income are both too limited to expend on physical books I already have. But if I did, I could differentiate with ISBN.

Maybe a 1/4 of my books don't have ISBN. Certainly lots. Maybe more than that.
We do sometimes end up with multiple identical copies and gradually find homes for the duplicates.

[MarjaE]

Originally Posted by DNSB

If you add the Power Search plugin to calibre, it allows you to generate a searchable full text database. See [GUI Plugin] Power (Full-text) Search. It's a bit of a pain to setup and the first run can take quite a while since it needs to scan all the selected books but once setup, it works quite well.

Thank you! But I'm happy with my other search software, and I've already split my Calibre Libraries, customized columns for each, etc.

[UXstudent]

Hi Jon!

Nice to see you chippin' in.

So may I ask you (Jon & maddz) to go into more detail and give a step-by-step description of how you check your library before making purchases?
For example, do you first browse, see something that interests you, then search your library to see if you have it and then buy it OR do you start searching a book you have in mind and proceed looking to buy it if you already don't have it? Or is there some other method to it?

Thank you for all the responses so far, you've been really helpful

[UXstudent]

Hello MarjaE!

I'm grateful for any insights you can provide no matter which channel you decide to choose. I wouldn't ask of you to do anything that is hurtful though, so text works just fine. Either keep posting here or pm me or email me if you prefer.

I must say that it is unlikely I will give a lot of thought to accessibility concerns because of time constraints. But I find it very interesting and would still like to hear your story on how you use Calibre and the problems it solves and can still be improved.
If you've made changes to the UI it would be helpful if you could provide screenshots and tell me about your setup.

[maddz]

Originally Posted by UXstudent

Hi Jon!

Nice to see you chippin' in.

So may I ask you (Jon & maddz) to go into more detail and give a step-by-step description of how you check your library before making purchases?
For example, do you first browse, see something that interests you, then search your library to see if you have it and then buy it OR do you start searching a book you have in mind and proceed looking to buy it if you already don't have it? Or is there some other method to it?

Thank you for all the responses so far, you've been really helpful

See book, think do I have it (as an ebook), open Calibre, open the author filter, select author, this displays all books by that author. Check title, and buy it if I don't have it.

If I'm not at home and have my Kobo with me, I check on the Kobo (not always foolproof as I split omnibuses into individual volumes before side-loading.

Otherwise, I load my browser on my phone (or iPad) and check what I have recorded in LibraryThing. At the moment, we aren't spending nights away and bookstores aren't open, so all my purchases (physical or digital) are via my computer.

I do a lot more on Calibre than just check potential purchases -

- I tidy up the metadata
- I format shift
- I strip DRM
- I edit the actual files occasionally (generally on badly OCR'd PD short stories - I haven't the patience or time to do full novels)
- I add or change covers

[John F]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I use Calibre itself to also catalog my paper books. I have a dummy .paperbook file that I add to the book records.

I remember the thought process pretty clearly: "I wish there was a program just like Calibre for...waitaminute."

Is there a reason to add a dummy file? Would adding an empty book accomplish the same thing?

[Quoth]

You don't need dummy file or empty book. You can create a new record with no files, or have it automatically create a nearly empty ebook. You can have book records with a cover image and no files (formats).

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by John F

Is there a reason to add a dummy file? Would adding an empty book accomplish the same thing?

Searching purposes. formats:false would work but it falls apart once you add any other format.

[Quoth]

Not needed for search. Have a user column with FIXED options, not free text, such as ebook, big PDF, paperbook, magazine, audiobook, cassette, LP, DVD, BD, CD etc.

A dummy file is the wrong way to do it. Slower and even a tiny file uses a minimum storage block and slows backups.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Not needed for search. Have a user column with FIXED options, not free text, such as ebook, big PDF, paperbook, magazine, audiobook, cassette, LP, DVD, BD, CD etc.

Enumerated columns only allow for one option. If I have both a physical copy and an eBook, I can't select both.

Originally Posted by Quoth

A dummy file is the wrong way to do it. Slower and even a tiny file uses a minimum storage block and slows backups.

dummy.paperbook is a zero-byte file; there's only the record in the MFT.* My physical books make up only a small part of my library; making a separate user column (necessitating a new table or even two of them in the database) and adding a value for every book would likely be less efficient.

Also, a custom column can only be used inside Calibre; in the filesystem, I can query for the .paperbook files themselves to check their existence.

* When using NTFS, very small files (<1 KB I believe) also store their contents directly in the MFT rather than move them out to disk.

[UXstudent]

Originally Posted by Quoth

You might use a computer for your job and use a Spreadsheet, Wordprocessor, Photoediting, magazine layout (InDesign), CAD/CAE (Schematics, PCBs, 2D drawings, 3D models etc) ALL DAY.

The purpose of Calibre is to manage transfer of ebooks from the PC to an ereader, or an ereader app. Several minutes of use will provide days or even weeks of reading. Thus the aspects of use related to all day use programs are not the same.

This could be interpreted as Calibre having a transient posture as we UX people calls it. It's when a program is used as a tool, that is briefly taken out of your toolbox to complete a small task and quickly move on. I'm not 100% sure Calibre should be considered transient, but maybe some design principles would still be applicable.

If there's still any activity in this thread I would want to know what it means to format shift? It's not the same as converting formats from say EPUB to MOBI, is it?

Not sure if that knowledge would benefit me in any way, but I'm curious.