How Do I Rename Files?

[cassieking]

When I convert a book in Calibre, it names the file with the Title of the book then a dash then the author. I really want to have the author name first and the title second. Seems like an easy thing to do but I can't figure it out. Not talking about the metadata, just the actual file Calibre creates. Please help this newbie....

[HarryT]

Calibre questions belong in the Calibre forum, to where I am now moving this.

[PeterT]

The names within the calibre library are not changeable. See Want to change the folder structure of the Calibre library? for a bit of detail on the folder names.

[cassieking]

Thats crazy, not to be able to have Calibre create a filename with the author name first. Guess I won't be using Calibre then...

[PeterT]

Sigh.... If you read a bit you will see that limitation is ONLY present within the database itself; when you transfer the contents to an eReader you CAN modify the name used (look at discussions of PLUGBOARDS for instance).

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by cassieking

Thats crazy, not to be able to have Calibre create a filename with the author name first. Guess I won't be using Calibre then...

You don't have to keep the book files in the calibre library, it can used as catalogue with the book files saved elsewhere. The Save to Disk (and Send to Device) settings in Preferences provide a lot flexibility in the naming of folders and book files that are exported from calibre. Once exported the format files can be removed from the library.

Many of calibre features are available at the command line, some don't rely on the existence of a library e.g. format conversion. See http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cli/cli-index.html

The book viewer and book editor can also be used independently of having a library.

BR

[cassieking]

Yes, that is exactly what I want to do, save my files outside of Calibre. I looked at the settings for Save to Disk and no matter how I set things I can not seem to control the book file names. Thats all I want to do.

[cassieking]

More Info from previous reply:
This is the default in Save to Disk Settings: {author_sort}/{title}/{title} - {authors}

I changed it to: {author_sort}/{title}/{authors} - {title}

But it didn't change the file name

[HarryT]

Did you do a "Save to Disk"?

Calibre's library is a "black box". What you get to control is how Calibre names files when it exports them from the library, using either "Save to Disk" or "Send to Device". You cannot control (and nor do you need to) how books are stored within the library.

[BetterRed]

@cassieking

If you can't see Save to disk in the Main toolbar or in the Context menu then you can put in there with the Preferences->Toolbars - or you can simply press 'S'

BR

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by cassieking

More Info from previous reply:
This is the default in Save to Disk Settings: {author_sort}/{title}/{title} - {authors}

I changed it to: {author_sort}/{title}/{authors} - {title}

But it didn't change the file name

Save to disk is a way to export books from the calibre library. It does not have any affect on the books within the calibre library. The file structure within the calibre library is not user configurable.