mass-importing ebooks in multiple formats?

[Sabardeyn]

In an unrelated question, I asked Kovid about compacting the database in order to re-number. He informed me that you would never want to re-use the numbers as it could be a major problem.

What you're asking is a similar question and ultimately would get a similar answer. While you could program calibre to perform the operation, it would do so by merging all of the books under one number. All of the merged books would be marked as deleted but the numbering could not be re-used.

The only way around this issue entirely is to have perfect input data to create a perfect calibre library.

I've tried - it is way too difficult, time consuming and frustrating.

[guyanonymous]

How so?

This, ultimately, would be copying several formats from separate (books) to one book only.

Basically skipping the drag/drop into the Edit window.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Sabardeyn

What you're asking is a similar question and ultimately would get a similar answer. While you could program calibre to perform the operation, it would do so by merging all of the books under one number. All of the merged books would be marked as deleted but the numbering could not be re-used.

The only way around this issue entirely is to have perfect input data to create a perfect calibre library.

The numbering of the folders is of no consequence to the ability to merge books formats/folders into one folder. Check this thread for someone working toward this goal one step at a time.

I agree with you though cleaning up your folders prior to import would be the ideal. Booksorter went a long way toward giving me a start on cleaning up my folders outside of Calibre. Although those folders still require significant effort if they are ever to be fully organized, but that is what search is for.

I have been adding books to Calibre that I may actually read at some point. Calibre now holds over 1100 ebooks (over 300 from MobileRead) all formatted the way I want and in epub format.

[Sabardeyn]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

The numbering of the folders is of no consequence to the ability to merge books formats/folders into one folder.

Yep, I know that.

I meant to inform the original speakers that their might be very little overhead reduction to doing this. While it will definitely help the user's library and calibre's data, it will not do much to reduce the size of the files, etc. It is a "best practice" even if it has little impact to calibre's functionality.