Suggest Useful Library Management Practices to me

Findingaway · 07-03-2023, 11:06 AM

Hello all,

I'm in the process of re-working my calibre content from one laptop to another.

For now I've decided to work with the few newer-to-me books I have on the new laptop and I would like to set up a good process.

I'm taking the time to learn how to work and customize the CALM plugin.

My thought is to

have an Intake library
extract ISBN's in the Intake library
download metadata in the Intake library
run CALM with Intake as the source library
when happy with the contents of the target CALM library, move and rename it to become the new Main library
delete the CALM library
delete books from the Intake library
each subsequent new CALM library would be a source for "add books to library" for the main library

Is that a good flow?

Then when I better have a handle on library management in Calibre I can add in my multiple calibre libraries on my old laptop.

TIA for any input!

Sirtel · 07-03-2023, 01:44 PM

I have no Intake library and frankly, don't know why one would need it. I have my main library where I edit the metadata and the css/html of any new books, plus a small subset library for books I send to my ereaders. The reason for the second library is mostly because Kobos want the authors to be FN LN, whereas I want them to be LN, FN. Yes, I could use a metadata plugboard, but it's easier to manage ereaders with a smaller library, as my main library is huge. So I use the subset library for interacting with my Kobos and the main library for everything else. I don't need or want an intake library.

ownedbycats · 07-03-2023, 02:32 PM

I use a virtual library rather than an outright separate library for intake purposes. However, I do like to keep the original copies of some books in a backup library.

Findingaway · 07-03-2023, 02:57 PM

@ownedbycats, do you do the virtual library by date? That's the method that comes to mind when you say that. That might work and be cleaner.

Sirtel · 07-03-2023, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I use a virtual library rather than an outright separate library for intake purposes. However, I do like to keep the original copies of some books in a backup library.

I keep the originals in a Dropbox folder not connected to Calibre.

theducks · 07-03-2023, 04:35 PM

The intake Library (actual) reduces deadwood records in the tables.

When you delete things, the record entry just gets marked obsolete (Each column represents more than 1 'table' a record is a line entry in a table.

When you run Library maintenance, the first thing it does is Vacuum (repacks the tables)
So an Intake just reduces the need to Vacuum

ownedbycats · 07-03-2023, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Findingaway

@ownedbycats, do you do the virtual library by date? That's the method that comes to mind when you say that. That might work and be cleaner.

I'm not going to go into all the details of setting it up, but I use a custom Cleanup saved search which is heavily nested:

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A simpler version:

Go to Preferences > Adding Books > Adding Actions > Tags To Apply and add something like '[Cleanup]' or '[New Book]'. Then search for that tag and make a VL based on that.

Findingaway · 07-03-2023, 05:21 PM

@ownedbycats Thank you!

MSWallack · 07-05-2023, 11:21 AM

I have a custom checkbox column called "MetaFix" which I check after I've cleaned the metadata for a book to my satisfaction. I have a saved search to show me only books where MetaFix is false so that I can quickly get to the books for which I need to clean the metadata.

07-03-2023, 11:06 AM	#1
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	Suggest Useful Library Management Practices to me Hello all, I'm in the process of re-working my calibre content from one laptop to another. For now I've decided to work with the few newer-to-me books I have on the new laptop and I would like to set up a good process. I'm taking the time to learn how to work and customize the CALM plugin. My thought is to have an Intake library extract ISBN's in the Intake library download metadata in the Intake library run CALM with Intake as the source library when happy with the contents of the target CALM library, move and rename it to become the new Main library delete the CALM library delete books from the Intake library each subsequent new CALM library would be a source for "add books to library" for the main library Is that a good flow? Then when I better have a handle on library management in Calibre I can add in my multiple calibre libraries on my old laptop. TIA for any input!

07-03-2023, 01:44 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,002 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I have no Intake library and frankly, don't know why one would need it. I have my main library where I edit the metadata and the css/html of any new books, plus a small subset library for books I send to my ereaders. The reason for the second library is mostly because Kobos want the authors to be FN LN, whereas I want them to be LN, FN. Yes, I could use a metadata plugboard, but it's easier to manage ereaders with a smaller library, as my main library is huge. So I use the subset library for interacting with my Kobos and the main library for everything else. I don't need or want an intake library. Last edited by Sirtel; 07-03-2023 at 01:51 PM.

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07-03-2023, 02:32 PM	#3
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,363 Karma: 79528341 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	I use a virtual library rather than an outright separate library for intake purposes. However, I do like to keep the original copies of some books in a backup library.

07-03-2023, 02:57 PM	#4
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	@ownedbycats, do you do the virtual library by date? That's the method that comes to mind when you say that. That might work and be cleaner.

07-03-2023, 04:35 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,270 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The intake Library (actual) reduces deadwood records in the tables. When you delete things, the record entry just gets marked obsolete (Each column represents more than 1 'table' a record is a line entry in a table. When you run Library maintenance, the first thing it does is Vacuum (repacks the tables) So an Intake just reduces the need to Vacuum

07-03-2023, 05:21 PM	#8
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	@ownedbycats Thank you!

07-05-2023, 11:21 AM	#9
MSWallack Right, Except When Wrong Posts: 364 Karma: 4323767 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indianapolis Device: Kindle Oasis 3 (sometimes iPad Mini).	I have a custom checkbox column called "MetaFix" which I check after I've cleaned the metadata for a book to my satisfaction. I have a saved search to show me only books where MetaFix is false so that I can quickly get to the books for which I need to clean the metadata.