Using one Calibre Library (via Dropbox) on Multiple Computers

PocketGoddess · 02-18-2011, 11:15 AM

The title pretty much says it all. I'm going "to the cloud" as much as possible because I'm using multiple computers and want my content to be synced automatically between them. It's 2011, and I'm not going to email files to myself anymore, or try and remember to put things on a USB drive, etc.

So I moved my Calibre library to Dropbox, and everything is working flawlessly so far on my Vaio laptop. I also have a MacBook Air, and I want to use Calibre on it as well, pointing it to my Dropbox for the files.

Will this work well? It seems that Calibre reads the library "on the fly" each time I open the app, instead of relying on a separate database like iTunes.

Are there any hidden "gotchas" I need to know about before moving forward with the installation and use of Calibre on another computer?

Any and all help and advice is much appreciated.

Manichean · 02-18-2011, 11:51 AM

You need to keep (at least) two things in mind: You can only use one Calibre instance at a time, and you'll need to let Dropbox fully sync before starting Calibre on another computer. Also, depending on the combination of your OSes, there may be issues concerning capitalization in folder and file names.

PocketGoddess · 02-18-2011, 11:54 AM

Thanks!

That's excellent info.

I'll never use two Calibres at once, because the Vaio is at the office and the MBA is at home/on the road.

Capitalization is an issue I hadn't even considered, so that's good to know. I'm still having fits on the Mac due to text encoding issues!

Of course I don't plan to do any real work in Calibre on the MBA, I will mainly use it as a reader to access my books and will plan to only add things to my library on the Vaio, to avoid any potential issues.

Utopia · 02-18-2011, 12:51 PM

Hi. I'm new here but a few days ago, I also had the same question about using Calibre on 2 different machines.

At the time, I looked through the forums and found the following thread, which was extremely helpful:

How to Duplicate My Calibre Library on Multiple Computers?

I posted this link because I thought it might be useful to you or others who might have overlooked it.

Thanks to that thread, I've been running Calibre successfully from my Macbook and IMac using Dropbox and am aware of what might cause potential issues (i.e. case sensitivity in Dropbox, running more than 1 calibre instance simultaneously, etc.)

DoctorOhh · 02-18-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

Also, depending on the combination of your OSes, there may be issues concerning capitalization in folder and file names.

I think the case problem between OSes is no longer an issue and was fixed with the below feature.

From the calibre's What's new page.

Release: 0.7.14 [13 Aug, 2010]

New Features

Calibre library: When the case of title or author is changed, automatically rename the folders to reflect the new case, even on case insensitive filesystems

Manichean · 02-19-2011, 03:56 AM

I see, I missed that.

kovidgoyal · 02-19-2011, 11:51 AM

That change mitigates the problem, but it does not completely fix it. If you have multiple books by the same author and you change the case of the author name for one of the books on a case insensitive filesystem, then on a case sensitive filesystem, calibre will lose track of the other books.

apastuszak · 02-19-2011, 05:58 PM

I'm running this configuration now, and though the library shows up perfectly, some settings need to be set on each computer, such as my isbndb access key, and the folder structure for syncing to my wife's nook. I'm using it across Windows, Mac and Linux.

DoctorOhh · 02-19-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That change mitigates the problem, but it does not completely fix it. If you have multiple books by the same author and you change the case of the author name for one of the books on a case insensitive filesystem, then on a case sensitive filesystem, calibre will lose track of the other books.

Thanks for the clarification, so this is still a concern. If I ever mix OSes I'll keep it in mind.

Utopia · 02-19-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apastuszak

I'm running this configuration now, and though the library shows up perfectly, some settings need to be set on each computer, such as my isbndb access key, and the folder structure for syncing to my wife's nook. I'm using it across Windows, Mac and Linux.

What is an isbndb access key and what does it do? I'm wondering if it's a setting that I should be aware of...

Utopia · 02-19-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That change mitigates the problem, but it does not completely fix it. If you have multiple books by the same author and you change the case of the author name for one of the books on a case insensitive filesystem, then on a case sensitive filesystem, calibre will lose track of the other books.

It took me a while to understand how this "what-if" scenario would apply (since there's been a fix), but I think I get it now. Thanks for the extra bit of info.

Lady Fitzgerald · 02-19-2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopia

What is an isbndb access key and what does it do? I'm wondering if it's a setting that I should be aware of...

If you want to download metadata based on the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) number of the book, calibre goes to a site called IBSNdb (the db means database) which needs a key before it will let calibre in to look up the metadata. I couldn't find in the manual how to get it but you can go to ISBNdb and open an account to get a key. Note that the key is not the same as the password you used for the account.

When you open the Edit Metadata screen, there is a place at the top where you can put the key. Put in the key then put the IBSN into the appropriate field and click Fetch Metadata From Server. Calibre will then ignore all the other fields and got to ISBNdb to fetch the books meta. If there is no entry in the ISBN field, then calibre will go to the default source, apparently Amazon now, for metadata.

ISBNdb does not always have complete metadata but, generally, it does better than most other sources.

Utopia · 02-20-2011, 12:30 AM

Ahhh. Thanks, Lady Fitzgerald, for explaining that. So clearly, too.

Much appreciated!

Lady Fitzgerald · 02-20-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopia

Ahhh. Thanks, Lady Fitzgerald, for explaining that. So clearly, too.

Much appreciated!

No problem. I'll send you a bill at the end of the month.

Manichean · 02-20-2011, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apastuszak

I'm running this configuration now, and though the library shows up perfectly, some settings need to be set on each computer, such as my isbndb access key, and the folder structure for syncing to my wife's nook. I'm using it across Windows, Mac and Linux.

That's because the configuration directory is not shared.

02-18-2011, 11:15 AM	#1
PocketGoddess Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 654648 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Paperwhite, KSO, Nook, iPad	Using one Calibre Library (via Dropbox) on Multiple Computers The title pretty much says it all. I'm going "to the cloud" as much as possible because I'm using multiple computers and want my content to be synced automatically between them. It's 2011, and I'm not going to email files to myself anymore, or try and remember to put things on a USB drive, etc. So I moved my Calibre library to Dropbox, and everything is working flawlessly so far on my Vaio laptop. I also have a MacBook Air, and I want to use Calibre on it as well, pointing it to my Dropbox for the files. Will this work well? It seems that Calibre reads the library "on the fly" each time I open the app, instead of relying on a separate database like iTunes. Are there any hidden "gotchas" I need to know about before moving forward with the installation and use of Calibre on another computer? Any and all help and advice is much appreciated.

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02-18-2011, 11:51 AM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	You need to keep (at least) two things in mind: You can only use one Calibre instance at a time, and you'll need to let Dropbox fully sync before starting Calibre on another computer. Also, depending on the combination of your OSes, there may be issues concerning capitalization in folder and file names.

02-18-2011, 11:54 AM	#3
PocketGoddess Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 654648 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Paperwhite, KSO, Nook, iPad	Thanks! That's excellent info. I'll never use two Calibres at once, because the Vaio is at the office and the MBA is at home/on the road. Capitalization is an issue I hadn't even considered, so that's good to know. I'm still having fits on the Mac due to text encoding issues! Of course I don't plan to do any real work in Calibre on the MBA, I will mainly use it as a reader to access my books and will plan to only add things to my library on the Vaio, to avoid any potential issues.

02-18-2011, 12:51 PM	#4
Utopia Member Posts: 18 Karma: 592 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA Device: Iphone 3Gs, Kindle 3	Hi. I'm new here but a few days ago, I also had the same question about using Calibre on 2 different machines. At the time, I looked through the forums and found the following thread, which was extremely helpful: How to Duplicate My Calibre Library on Multiple Computers? I posted this link because I thought it might be useful to you or others who might have overlooked it. Thanks to that thread, I've been running Calibre successfully from my Macbook and IMac using Dropbox and am aware of what might cause potential issues (i.e. case sensitivity in Dropbox, running more than 1 calibre instance simultaneously, etc.)

02-19-2011, 03:56 AM	#6
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	I see, I missed that.

02-19-2011, 11:51 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,395 Karma: 23798586 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	That change mitigates the problem, but it does not completely fix it. If you have multiple books by the same author and you change the case of the author name for one of the books on a case insensitive filesystem, then on a case sensitive filesystem, calibre will lose track of the other books.

02-19-2011, 05:58 PM	#8
apastuszak Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 125599 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bensalem, PA Device: Kindle Scribe, Nook Glowlight 4, Apple iPad Pro 12.9"	I'm running this configuration now, and though the library shows up perfectly, some settings need to be set on each computer, such as my isbndb access key, and the folder structure for syncing to my wife's nook. I'm using it across Windows, Mac and Linux.

02-20-2011, 12:30 AM	#13
Utopia Member Posts: 18 Karma: 592 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA Device: Iphone 3Gs, Kindle 3	Ahhh. Thanks, Lady Fitzgerald, for explaining that. So clearly, too. Much appreciated!

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