Environment variable for libraries?

Stevex · 03-06-2017, 06:15 PM

Is there any way to have an environment variable as part of a library path?
I tried doing this manually and Calibre opens the library all right but then saves the path with the variable replaced by its text.
Thanks, Steve

BetterRed · 03-06-2017, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

Is there any way to have an environment variable as part of a library path?
I tried doing this manually and Calibre opens the library all right but then saves the path with the variable replaced by its text.

@Stevex - on Windows you could use a symlink and change its target as and when needed. The only way I know how to change a symlink's target directly is with Hermann Shinagl's Link Shell Extension (LSE), I don't think it can be done from the command line.

Otherwise, you could delete the existing symlink and create a new symlink referring to a different target with the same symlink name as the one you just deleted. Or use file rename to shuffle between predefined symlinks.

But - why do you want something like this, calibre can access multiple libraries easy enough.

BR

Stevex · 03-06-2017, 07:27 PM

I want to use %onedrive%
I access my libraries in the cloud from 3 or 4 pcs and in every pc the %onedrive% is different, so i always have to reselect the library path
It's no big deal just an irritation
I can use %onedrive% for the config but not for the libraries

gbm · 03-06-2017, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

I want to use %onedrive%
I access my libraries in the cloud from 3 or 4 pcs and in every pc the %onedrive% is different, so i always have to reselect the library path
It's no big deal just an irritation
I can use %onedrive% for the config but not for the libraries

Have you read the FAQ's?

I am getting errors with my calibre library on a networked drive/NAS?

bernie

Stevex · 03-06-2017, 08:42 PM

Bernie im not getting any errors it works just fine!!!

BetterRed · 03-06-2017, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

I want to use %onedrive%
I access my libraries in the cloud from 3 or 4 pcs and in every pc the %onedrive% is different, so i always have to reselect the library path
It's no big deal just an irritation
I can use %onedrive% for the config but not for the libraries

Understood - fyi, I tweaked the thread title from library to libraries, it could be germane to an EnvVar solution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

Bernie im not getting any errors it works just fine!!!

You could run into problems if you were updating the same library from multiple PC's concurrently.

BR

kovidgoyal · 03-06-2017, 10:56 PM

Just a create a custom calibre shortcut on each pc that runs calibre with

calibre.exe --with-library %onedrive%\whatever

Stevex · 03-07-2017, 08:32 AM

Kovid
Works great!
Might still be nice to have this work one day "inside calibre" but this works just fine for now.
Thank you.
Steve

Stevex · 03-07-2017, 08:34 AM

Ps if there are version conflicts onedrive creates files suffixed by the pc name.
This can happen obviously.

theducks · 03-07-2017, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

Ps if there are version conflicts onedrive creates files suffixed by the pc name.
This can happen obviously.

and that alone will break the link between Calibre and the file

Why is it so hard to understand there are limits to any design? With Calibre, changing the filename in ANY way causes a mismatch with the DB. This was/is the problem with GoogleDrive.
It is not an issue of IF (it will), but WHEN (pick a time where you don't have time to recover

).

Stevex · 03-07-2017, 11:07 AM

@theducks
I have been using this fine for a couple of months. Honestly, you are making problems where they dont exist.
You would not break the link in this situation, because there is one copy of the file with the latest timestamp and another backup copy with the pcname suffix, so you have the decision to use this one.
I have never had a problem with any epub file (but of course this can happen) but i do frequently get multiple copies of files in the config library. This is when I start a pc and go into calibre quickly before ondrive had a chance to do its thing.
I get standard settings and all the same plugins and libraries wherever I am so I can also plug in my kobo and go, for example. If i update the kobo utils plugin it's updated everywhere, my laptop, my desktops in uk and germany, etc.
Obviously it equires a very small modicum of care but honestly it works so well and easy I dontknow why several people just seem to like to criticise

theducks · 03-07-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

@theducks
I have been using this fine for a couple of months. Honestly, you are making problems where they dont exist.
You would not break the link in this situation, because there is one copy of the file with the latest timestamp and another backup copy with the pcname suffix, so you have the decision to use this one.
I have never had a problem with any epub file (but of course this can happen) but i do frequently get multiple copies of files in the config library. This is when I start a pc and go into calibre quickly before ondrive had a chance to do its thing.
I get standard settings and all the same plugins and libraries wherever I am so I can also plug in my kobo and go, for example. If i update the kobo utils plugin it's updated everywhere, my laptop, my desktops in uk and germany, etc.
Obviously it equires a very small modicum of care but honestly it works so well and easy I dontknow why several people just seem to like to criticise

The word is WARN not criticize.
The DB stores the path
eg

Code:

"C:\Users\ME\MainLib\Alex P. Berg\Red Hot Steele (13011)\Red Hot Steele - Alex P. Berg.azw3"

The colored part is what Google Drive confuses because Calibre uses that as an INDEX
if any part of that changes (OUTSIDE OF CALIBRE), the linkage is broken

If the second PC has a different path to the cloud, the DB now has the wrong path for any other PC

Shadow a Library is fine.
Accessing directly is FRAGILE or Can make it BROKEN
We don't make recommendations that cause either .

Stevex · 03-07-2017, 07:50 PM

Fair enough
Obviously its caveat emptor and i do keep local offline backups
But anyway: Onedrive doesnt change any of that
It just prefixe the local path c:\users\username\onedrive\... or suchlike depending on os
It wont mess anything else
If you change a local file before the cloud version is synced it lets you know and makes the mentioned backup and sends a notification

DoctorOhh · 03-11-2017, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Code:

"C:\Users\ME\MainLib\Alex P. Berg\Red Hot Steele (13011)\Red Hot Steele - Alex P. Berg.azw3"

The colored part is what Google Drive confuses because Calibre uses that as an INDEX
if any part of that changes (OUTSIDE OF CALIBRE), the linkage is broken

Why give a lesson on Google drive when the poster is using One drive?

theducks · 03-11-2017, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

Why give a lesson on Google drive when the poster is using One drive?

Because he started out with GD and may have edited his last post?

03-06-2017, 06:15 PM	#1
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Environment variable for libraries? Is there any way to have an environment variable as part of a library path? I tried doing this manually and Calibre opens the library all right but then saves the path with the variable replaced by its text. Thanks, Steve

03-07-2017, 11:07 AM	#11
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	@theducks I have been using this fine for a couple of months. Honestly, you are making problems where they dont exist. You would not break the link in this situation, because there is one copy of the file with the latest timestamp and another backup copy with the pcname suffix, so you have the decision to use this one. I have never had a problem with any epub file (but of course this can happen) but i do frequently get multiple copies of files in the config library. This is when I start a pc and go into calibre quickly before ondrive had a chance to do its thing. I get standard settings and all the same plugins and libraries wherever I am so I can also plug in my kobo and go, for example. If i update the kobo utils plugin it's updated everywhere, my laptop, my desktops in uk and germany, etc. Obviously it equires a very small modicum of care but honestly it works so well and easy I dontknow why several people just seem to like to criticise Last edited by Stevex; 03-07-2017 at 11:10 AM.

03-07-2017, 07:50 PM	#13
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Fair enough Obviously its caveat emptor and i do keep local offline backups But anyway: Onedrive doesnt change any of that It just prefixe the local path c:\users\username\onedrive\... or suchlike depending on os It wont mess anything else If you change a local file before the cloud version is synced it lets you know and makes the mentioned backup and sends a notification Last edited by Stevex; 03-07-2017 at 07:53 PM.

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03-06-2017, 07:27 PM	#3
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	I want to use %onedrive% I access my libraries in the cloud from 3 or 4 pcs and in every pc the %onedrive% is different, so i always have to reselect the library path It's no big deal just an irritation I can use %onedrive% for the config but not for the libraries

03-06-2017, 08:42 PM	#5
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Bernie im not getting any errors it works just fine!!!

03-06-2017, 10:56 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,856 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Just a create a custom calibre shortcut on each pc that runs calibre with calibre.exe --with-library %onedrive%\whatever

03-07-2017, 08:32 AM	#8
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Kovid Works great! Might still be nice to have this work one day "inside calibre" but this works just fine for now. Thank you. Steve

03-07-2017, 08:34 AM	#9
Stevex Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 15318 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Ps if there are version conflicts onedrive creates files suffixed by the pc name. This can happen obviously.

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