Automatic export of Calibre library possible?

chillybang · 08-24-2021, 09:53 AM

My Calibre library is placed in a Google Drive.

The issue I face with any Android reader: if there is a (rare) possibility to connect a cloud, reader newertheless can't read books from Calibre library placed in the cloud - because Calibre library has a nested structure and no reader can add book files from nested folders.

Is there any possibility to export flatten version of the Calibre library automatically, after a library status was changed (book added, book deleted) or scheduled?

Or, asked differently: how do you deal with this issue?

uli · 08-24-2021, 11:29 AM

A few ideas:

0. Move calibre library out of Google Drive
1. Add "Connected Folder", Toolbar find "Share using Web server, Email, Special Device, etc"
2. On the Connected Folder that shows up on the toolbar, "Configure this device" set the Save Template remove {author_sort}/ to make a flat structure.
3. Try Action Chains and/or Reading List add-on to trigger a sync.

Quoth · 08-24-2021, 11:36 AM

1) Google drive shouldn't be used except for temporary use of backups and transfers. Ideally get your own hosting.
2) The main copy of Calibre library shouldn't be on the internet or google drive, drop box or one drive
3) Almost all ereaders can read nested directories (folders), but almost all need to use a browser and download a copy, not use a cloud drive directly.

Also ereaders only "add" books by download, if the on device browser works. The proper way to add books is to use the ereader as a perpheral device on a host. Nesting isn't an issue for the host or peripheral gadget except on a few prehistoric gadgets.

So there is no need to "flatten" the Calibre filestructure, though it's possible to select all or some ebooks in Calibre and "attach" storage location and using a template export all the books in one go with no nesting. This is a really bad idea.

So, yes what you want is a possible EXPORT of everything at once (calibre itself has to use what it uses and should be on a local drive), but it's madness and also no ereader needs it except maybe something totally ancient that won't read kindle or epub files anyway, only text, and that won't cope with very many files.

chillybang · 08-29-2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uli

3. Try Action Chains...

I tried Action Chains, but run into a pair of issues, where I still forced to do manual actions...

1. I can't select the correct event to run the action - I want to run action always if any action is doen on library (book added, book deleted, book edited),

2. I'm still forced to manually select a folder, where the action then "saves all EPUB into single folder".

Do you probably know ways to automatize these manual interventions?

uli · 09-01-2021, 11:46 AM

You won't see a prompt with the auto_connect_to_folder tweak (Preference > Tweaks > Specify a folder calibre should connect to at startup) and have "Send to Device > Send to Main Memory" for the Action Chain. Assuming no other device.

Once you have most of the books synced performance might be acceptable.

JSWolf · 09-01-2021, 02:18 PM

Get your library out of Google Drive and never ever use any cloud service for your Calibre library. If you've not yet corrupted your Calibre library, you ae very very lucly

theducks · 09-01-2021, 02:28 PM

Google drive is the worst cloud as it changes folder and file names and Calibre relies on the ones IT MADE to stay as is.
All clouds/NAS/ Shares are iffy as thing must happen in a sequence and any hiccups break linkages,

Calibre is NOT a client-server app (there is an FAQ about networking on the Help site)

Quoth · 09-01-2021, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillybang

2. I'm still forced to manually select a folder, where the action then "saves all EPUB into single folder"

Don't do that. No ereader needs it.

theducks · 09-01-2021, 03:40 PM

Save To Templates are mostly for older reader that do not have a 'bookshelf' app built in that uses internal metadata.

The Metadata Plugboard is the way to fudge into standard metadata (sent to device), that would not normally be supported.
eg {series_index}-{title} -> Title (= 02 - mystery_title)

08-24-2021, 09:53 AM	#1
chillybang Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2021 Device: samsung s8	Automatic export of Calibre library possible? My Calibre library is placed in a Google Drive. The issue I face with any Android reader: if there is a (rare) possibility to connect a cloud, reader newertheless can't read books from Calibre library placed in the cloud - because Calibre library has a nested structure and no reader can add book files from nested folders. Is there any possibility to export flatten version of the Calibre library automatically, after a library status was changed (book added, book deleted) or scheduled? Or, asked differently: how do you deal with this issue?

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08-24-2021, 11:29 AM	#2
uli Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	A few ideas: 0. Move calibre library out of Google Drive 1. Add "Connected Folder", Toolbar find "Share using Web server, Email, Special Device, etc" 2. On the Connected Folder that shows up on the toolbar, "Configure this device" set the Save Template remove {author_sort}/ to make a flat structure. 3. Try Action Chains and/or Reading List add-on to trigger a sync.

08-24-2021, 11:36 AM	#3
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,089 Karma: 105211945 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	1) Google drive shouldn't be used except for temporary use of backups and transfers. Ideally get your own hosting. 2) The main copy of Calibre library shouldn't be on the internet or google drive, drop box or one drive 3) Almost all ereaders can read nested directories (folders), but almost all need to use a browser and download a copy, not use a cloud drive directly. Also ereaders only "add" books by download, if the on device browser works. The proper way to add books is to use the ereader as a perpheral device on a host. Nesting isn't an issue for the host or peripheral gadget except on a few prehistoric gadgets. So there is no need to "flatten" the Calibre filestructure, though it's possible to select all or some ebooks in Calibre and "attach" storage location and using a template export all the books in one go with no nesting. This is a really bad idea. So, yes what you want is a possible EXPORT of everything at once (calibre itself has to use what it uses and should be on a local drive), but it's madness and also no ereader needs it except maybe something totally ancient that won't read kindle or epub files anyway, only text, and that won't cope with very many files.

09-01-2021, 11:46 AM	#5
uli Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	You won't see a prompt with the auto_connect_to_folder tweak (Preference > Tweaks > Specify a folder calibre should connect to at startup) and have "Send to Device > Send to Main Memory" for the Action Chain. Assuming no other device. Once you have most of the books synced performance might be acceptable.

09-01-2021, 02:18 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,786 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Get your library out of Google Drive and never ever use any cloud service for your Calibre library. If you've not yet corrupted your Calibre library, you ae very very lucly

09-01-2021, 02:28 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,068 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Google drive is the worst cloud as it changes folder and file names and Calibre relies on the ones IT MADE to stay as is. All clouds/NAS/ Shares are iffy as thing must happen in a sequence and any hiccups break linkages, Calibre is NOT a client-server app (there is an FAQ about networking on the Help site)

09-01-2021, 03:40 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,068 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Save To Templates are mostly for older reader that do not have a 'bookshelf' app built in that uses internal metadata. The Metadata Plugboard is the way to fudge into standard metadata (sent to device), that would not normally be supported. eg {series_index}-{title} -> Title (= 02 - mystery_title)