Help with Calibre Portable and Linux - Page 2

bambuko · 02-02-2015, 11:41 AM

I am learning - thank you

BTW, why was it missing from the original .sh ? and should it be updated?
or... was this problem particular and unique to me and linux that I am using?

eschwartz · 02-02-2015, 11:45 AM

I think the problem is it was ported inefficiently from a Windows batch file. It also tests for the presence of an overridden metadata.db using "-d" (if exists and is directory).

bambuko · 02-02-2015, 11:55 AM

I guess the people likely to use it, simply modify it without fuss?

however "inefficiently" it was ported (and I am totally not qualified to judge it) - at least it works and provides me with Calibre Portable for linux, whereas there is no such beast officially...

eschwartz · 02-02-2015, 02:26 PM

I guess they do.

Dunno how popular doing so is, though...

I say inefficient because I suspect whoever wrote it is more used to Windows/batch than linux/bash -- fair enough, I suffer the opposite problem.

Personally, I would have calibre installed to the respective computers and simply portablize the config_dir and library folders.

bambuko · 02-02-2015, 02:36 PM

This is the only script available as far as I know and not being able to create better one I use it gratefully (thank you itimpi)

I guess what you are suggesting (i.e. "... I would have calibre installed to the respective computers and simply portablize the config_dir and library folders...") is possible as well, but I like the idea of truly portable usb drive with all my books and calibre, that can be plugged into any linux machine and play while I am away from base.

eschwartz · 02-02-2015, 07:38 PM

True... but I only use calibre portable even on Windows, since I cannot install stuff on the occasional Windows computers I use.

Then again, I also don't bother with portableizing calibre's library folders across linux computers (though it is backed up on the flashdrive

) in favor of doing it with Dropbox and similar solutions.

... And just for fun, I gave a shot at updating it.

I added a few tricks like offering a list of directories to check for (it should use the first directory that exists) and updated to proper bash-isms.

https://github.com/eli-schwartz/cali...re-portable.sh

bambuko · 02-03-2015, 05:44 AM

Thank you!

eschwartz · 02-03-2015, 08:55 AM

After you have the chance to play around with it, tell me what you think.

bambuko · 02-03-2015, 09:36 AM

I would like to try local metadata database with books stored on a network share, but I must first concentrate on my other problem and that involves learning a fair bit for myself as well

so a lot on my old head at the moment

I will definitely report back.

bambuko · 02-03-2015, 04:01 PM

My "other problem" is taking time, so I had a quick go trying your script.
First set it up with calibre in /opt and library on NAS drive - no problem at all.
The only thing that confused me slightly was metada directory - but that's probably me being thick and slow.
Need to try harder.
And of course with another calibre on usb hdd in portable mode - easy - everything runs sweetly.

eschwartz · 02-03-2015, 04:08 PM

That is just for overriding the location of metadata.db -- it was in the original script so I left it in. Unless you create it it is ignored, so why not?

It allows you to store the metadata.db on the local HDD/SSD for faster performance.

http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cust...ment-variables

Quote:

CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH - allows you to specify the full path to metadata.db. Using this variable you can have metadata.db be in a location other than the library folder. Useful if your library folder is on a networked drive that does not support file locking.

bambuko · 02-03-2015, 04:52 PM

Don't underestimate capacity of ignorant newb to be confused

I know what I am hoping to achieve with this specified location of metadata.db, just don't know how to do it

(sorry) - clearly senior moment...
I have moved metadata.db from original library location to local directory as specified in the script and it all seems to be happy!

BTW interesting thing:
when installed, calibre creates /opt/calibre directory
unless I change it to /opt/Calibre the message I get when trying to run it - there is no calibre file or directory (or something to that effect)

eschwartz · 02-03-2015, 06:09 PM

You can move the metadata.db from LIBRARY_DIR into CalibreMetadata/ -- that should do it.

You are supposed to copy the contents of /opt/calibre into the BIN_DIR, of course.

On second thought, that is a good point, all these titlecased directories are copied verbatim from the batch script, where it is customary to title/uppercase things I believe.

...

OK, fixed. Now it will even print out the command to install the binaries in the right portable location (only if it couldn't find any).

bambuko · 02-03-2015, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

...You are supposed to copy the contents of /opt/calibre into the BIN_DIR, of course.

...

I thought it was taken care during installation process by symlinking all "the needful" from /opt to /usr/bin, like so:

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

...OK, fixed. Now it will even print out the command to install the binaries in the right portable location (only if it couldn't find any).

I am off to have a look at it

eschwartz · 02-03-2015, 06:35 PM

Nope, that is the one that gets installed to the system. The symlinks go in /usr/bin/ which is local to the computer -- so you should end up using the fallback to system path route.

If you want calibre "installed" into the portable directory's BIN_DIR (in addition to just portableizing the CONFIG_DIR and stuff) then you need the install-to-specified-folder command.

02-03-2015, 04:52 PM	#27
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	Don't underestimate capacity of ignorant newb to be confused I know what I am hoping to achieve with this specified location of metadata.db, just don't know how to do it (sorry) - clearly senior moment... I have moved metadata.db from original library location to local directory as specified in the script and it all seems to be happy! BTW interesting thing: when installed, calibre creates /opt/calibre directory unless I change it to /opt/Calibre the message I get when trying to run it - there is no calibre file or directory (or something to that effect) Last edited by bambuko; 02-03-2015 at 05:38 PM.

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02-02-2015, 11:41 AM	#16
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	I am learning - thank you BTW, why was it missing from the original .sh ? and should it be updated? or... was this problem particular and unique to me and linux that I am using?

02-02-2015, 11:45 AM	#17
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I think the problem is it was ported inefficiently from a Windows batch file. It also tests for the presence of an overridden metadata.db using "-d" (if exists and is directory).

02-02-2015, 11:55 AM	#18
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	I guess the people likely to use it, simply modify it without fuss? however "inefficiently" it was ported (and I am totally not qualified to judge it) - at least it works and provides me with Calibre Portable for linux, whereas there is no such beast officially...

02-02-2015, 02:26 PM	#19
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I guess they do. Dunno how popular doing so is, though... I say inefficient because I suspect whoever wrote it is more used to Windows/batch than linux/bash -- fair enough, I suffer the opposite problem. Personally, I would have calibre installed to the respective computers and simply portablize the config_dir and library folders.

02-02-2015, 02:36 PM	#20
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	This is the only script available as far as I know and not being able to create better one I use it gratefully (thank you itimpi) I guess what you are suggesting (i.e. "... I would have calibre installed to the respective computers and simply portablize the config_dir and library folders...") is possible as well, but I like the idea of truly portable usb drive with all my books and calibre, that can be plugged into any linux machine and play while I am away from base.

02-02-2015, 07:38 PM	#21
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	True... but I only use calibre portable even on Windows, since I cannot install stuff on the occasional Windows computers I use. Then again, I also don't bother with portableizing calibre's library folders across linux computers (though it is backed up on the flashdrive ) in favor of doing it with Dropbox and similar solutions. ... And just for fun, I gave a shot at updating it. I added a few tricks like offering a list of directories to check for (it should use the first directory that exists) and updated to proper bash-isms. https://github.com/eli-schwartz/cali...re-portable.sh

02-03-2015, 05:44 AM	#22
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	Thank you!

02-03-2015, 08:55 AM	#23
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	After you have the chance to play around with it, tell me what you think.

02-03-2015, 09:36 AM	#24
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	I would like to try local metadata database with books stored on a network share, but I must first concentrate on my other problem and that involves learning a fair bit for myself as well so a lot on my old head at the moment I will definitely report back.

02-03-2015, 04:01 PM	#25
bambuko Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo mini, Kobo Clara HD	My "other problem" is taking time, so I had a quick go trying your script. First set it up with calibre in /opt and library on NAS drive - no problem at all. The only thing that confused me slightly was metada directory - but that's probably me being thick and slow. Need to try harder. And of course with another calibre on usb hdd in portable mode - easy - everything runs sweetly.

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02-03-2015, 06:09 PM	#28
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You can move the metadata.db from LIBRARY_DIR into CalibreMetadata/ -- that should do it. You are supposed to copy the contents of /opt/calibre into the BIN_DIR, of course. On second thought, that is a good point, all these titlecased directories are copied verbatim from the batch script, where it is customary to title/uppercase things I believe. ... OK, fixed. Now it will even print out the command to install the binaries in the right portable location (only if it couldn't find any).

02-03-2015, 06:35 PM	#30
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Nope, that is the one that gets installed to the system. The symlinks go in /usr/bin/ which is local to the computer -- so you should end up using the fallback to system path route. If you want calibre "installed" into the portable directory's BIN_DIR (in addition to just portableizing the CONFIG_DIR and stuff) then you need the install-to-specified-folder command.