Why would anyone dislike Calibre....

[Worldwalker]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

He already explained how he uses the save template, that is accessing them from calibre.

It appears that I missed his other post(s), then. All I saw was the one that seemed to be yet another person who still wanted to use the filesystem for his metadata, which we seem to go through about once very two weeks. Could you give me a link to what I missed?

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

It appears that I missed his other post(s), then. All I saw was the one that seemed to be yet another person who still wanted to use the filesystem for his metadata, which we seem to go through about once very two weeks. Could you give me a link to what I missed?

While I freely admit I may be the one who misread things he described his use of the save template to access his books in the same post you quoted.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

While I freely admit I may be the one who misread things he described his use of the save template to access his books in the same post you quoted.

Hopefully N13L5 can clarify for us, but I also read the post as indicating that because Calibre's own file structure was 'useless', N13L5 was using a save template to export the files into a separate file structure (copy of the books) which made more sense.

In other words the metadata in Calibre was being used to manipulate the imported files and make external copies, rather than being used simply to explore the database within Calibre.

Graham

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Graham

Hopefully N13L5 can clarify for us, but I also read the post as indicating that because Calibre's own file structure was 'useless', N13L5 was using a save template to export the files into a separate file structure (copy of the books) which made more sense.

But that's the point isn't it. He isn't manipulating things in calibre's file structure but using the tools built into calibre to satisfy his needs. Exactly what we always try to get people to recognize and use.

Originally Posted by Graham

In other words the metadata in Calibre was being used to manipulate the imported files and make external copies, rather than being used simply to explore the database within Calibre.

Kudos to him for using calibre's GUI to satisfy what he is looking for and not whining that the tools don't exist to meet his needs.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Kudos to him for using calibre's GUI to satisfy what he is looking for and not whining that the tools don't exist to meet his needs.

Absolutely, as N13L5 said in the same post:

Originally Posted by N13L5

Its not optimal use of Calibre's facilities, but at least I can sort the books into folders that allow me to quickly find what I'm looking for

We're just exploring why N13L5 feels that (repeatedly) exporting from Calibre to a fixed file structure makes it easier to find data than by simply using Calibre. The key question was asked above: whether this export was for a particular reading device, or simply to create an alternate folder structure on the Calibre machine.

Graham

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Graham

We're just exploring why N13L5 feels that (repeatedly) exporting from Calibre to a fixed file structure makes it easier to find data than by simply using Calibre.

In that case Kudos to you too, because frankly, as long as he is using the tools calibre provides and isn't spreading false information, I'm just not interested in why he's doing it.

Have a good day!

[N13L5]

oh hai!

sorry I hadn't looked at this post earlier...

I will explain:

On my PC, I do use Calibre to access my books, except for books I open constantly, I make desktop shortcuts for those, by looking up the author in calibre and then finding the book in the folder...

On my phone's crummy Symbian OS, I have to use a directory structure to find stuff period.

The only reason I mentioned accessing books from windows explorer is when I want to quickly copy a single book to my phone or laptop or make a desktop shortcut without starting up Calibre.

Calibre is similar to iTunes in that way, which also renames your files and sorts them into directories. I have no problem with that, I just seem to remember musician's names better than book author's names

I'm very happy with Calibre's facilities, this was really about missing a subject field so I don't have to misuse "series" to allow me to sort books the way I want inside Calibre.

the fields we have are:
Series, (would normally only be used for trilogies and such, right?)
Author, (good for finding your favorite fiction, but not how-to books)
Title, (may or may not contain your search phrase)
Publisher, (little use for searching)
Date (useful for sorting search results)

maybe Calibre intends me to just use the tags field for "Subject"...?
that feels too fuzzy to me, I do use tags, but I'd just like one solid subject.

(I think I can do that with the new update, if I didn't misread it)


Regarding the answer mentioning searching for "Pyt" to get my Python books:
"Pyt" would have to be part of the book title to really find all books I want sorted under Python, which is often not the case. Putting "Python" into series and making it the first column works the way I like it.

Its just not what series is meant to be used for and when I do have a trilogy or series, I can't use it for that, since I'm already misusing it as subject.

[toddos]

You could use tags, or you could use a custom column. Either would work, though each is slightly different. If you used tags, the best way to view "All Python books" would be to use the tag browser. However if you used a custom column, you could search for all books with "Python" in that custom column.

[N13L5]

Originally Posted by toddos

You could use tags, or you could use a custom column. Either would work, though each is slightly different. If you used tags, the best way to view "All Python books" would be to use the tag browser. However if you used a custom column, you could search for all books with "Python" in that custom column.

Yes, since the latest Calibre update, it seems to me that would work.
Before, custom columns weren't really tied in as they are now, so to have Calibre make folders from my custom "subject" column wouldn't have worked before, hence my use of Series.

Part of why I don't find the tags sufficient is because they don't work well in the column view: There might be over a dozen tags for any given book, and if i'd expand that column enough to see all the tags, it will take the entire width fo the screen.

Also, you can't reasonably create folder names from tags, at least that would make for ridiculously long folder names.

So a subject field is needed either way, tag use or not

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by N13L5

maybe Calibre intends me to just use the tags field for "Subject"...?
that feels too fuzzy to me, I do use tags, but I'd just like one solid subject.

(I think I can do that with the new update, if I didn't misread it)

Yes, you can. With the custom fields you can do whatever you want, basically. You can use those fields anywhere you can use the "default" fields.

For instance, on my Mini, I want my books in a folder structure, starting with the letters of the alphabet. But I don't want 26 base folders (A till Z), but rather 6 (A-E, F-J, etc.). I managed to do that, using the custom fields and functions ... (agreed, it did take a few extra fields, but it works!)

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

For instance, on my Mini, I want my books in a folder structure, starting with the letters of the alphabet. But I don't want 26 base folders (A till Z), but rather 6 (A-E, F-J, etc.). I managed to do that, using the custom fields and functions ... (agreed, it did take a few extra fields, but it works!)

It would be interesting to see how you did this.

Using a thread with the name this one has is probably inappropriate. I will start a thread for 'interesting' templates. Could you post your technique there?