Different Calibre Versions

Rellwood · 06-08-2018, 01:11 PM

I suggested this in Bugs, but I am sure it will be shot down and suggested to find someone to help, if not being told that it is impossible to do.

So, I am going to throw this out and see if it sticks.

Is there a way to set up Calibre so that it has the equivalent of different "versions" or setups on a single user account?

In my mind I would see it as being multiple appdata folders that work with one setup.

It sounds pretty simple, but I am not going to fool myself into thinking it wouldn't be a major undertaking.

The desired goal would be to have a quick switch feature that would allow users to move between the versions, not unlike moving between libraries. The versions would run on the same Calibre program, but independently of each other.

Being able to have different setups, with different preferences, tweaks, plugins, etc. would save from having to create multiple user accounts on the same computer to do the same thing.

DaltonST · 06-08-2018, 02:25 PM

Plug a handful of fast USB drives into a Windows 10 pc's USB hub, install Calibre Portable on each USB separately, put shortcuts to each Calibre on your Desktop, then go from there.

itimpi · 06-08-2018, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaltonST

Plug a handful of fast USB drives into a Windows 10 pc's USB hub, install Calibre Portable on each USB separately, put shortcuts to each Calibre on your Desktop, then go from there.

You can quite happily install Calibre Portable multiple times on the local hard drive to achieve the same result.

BetterRed · 06-08-2018, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itimpi

You can quite happily install Calibre Portable multiple times on the local hard drive to achieve the same result.

@Rellwood - if you want the same libraries to be available in multiple calibre portable installation folders put them in a regular folder, e.g. C:\Users\{username}\Ebooks\, then create symbolic links to them in the calibre portable installation folders.

BR

Divingduck · 06-09-2018, 04:41 AM

calibre portable is for sure the easiest way to do what was requested.

An other way is to work with calibre's environment variables and a start script / batch file for staring calibre:
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/customize.html

Adoby · 06-09-2018, 06:56 AM

Yes. It should be pretty easy to add some commands to the script for starting calibre to copy some configuration files back an forth. Fetch them when starting and saving them (if changed) when calibre quit. And have different scripts for different configurations. And some semaphore system to ensure only one instance of calibre is run.

I changed my calibre start script to make a snapshot copy of my calibre library every time I exit calibre, using rsync. Only changes are saved, so it is usually very fast and takes little room.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=244228

Rellwood · 06-21-2018, 07:44 PM

@all,

I just cam\e back to this posting and was quite happy to see these responses. I totally forgot about Calibre Portable. I have a few extra flash drives that could easily do this.

Thanks!

BetterRed · 06-21-2018, 09:13 PM

@Rellwood - you can install multiple Portables on a regular disk by installing them into different directories.

06-08-2018, 01:11 PM	#1
Rellwood Library Breeder (She/Her) Posts: 1,156 Karma: 1900479 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Fullerton, California Device: Kobo Aura HD (1) PW3 (4) PW3 2019 new edition (1)	Different Calibre Versions I suggested this in Bugs, but I am sure it will be shot down and suggested to find someone to help, if not being told that it is impossible to do. So, I am going to throw this out and see if it sticks. Is there a way to set up Calibre so that it has the equivalent of different "versions" or setups on a single user account? In my mind I would see it as being multiple appdata folders that work with one setup. It sounds pretty simple, but I am not going to fool myself into thinking it wouldn't be a major undertaking. The desired goal would be to have a quick switch feature that would allow users to move between the versions, not unlike moving between libraries. The versions would run on the same Calibre program, but independently of each other. Being able to have different setups, with different preferences, tweaks, plugins, etc. would save from having to create multiple user accounts on the same computer to do the same thing. Last edited by Rellwood; 06-08-2018 at 01:15 PM.

06-09-2018, 06:56 AM	#6
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	Yes. It should be pretty easy to add some commands to the script for starting calibre to copy some configuration files back an forth. Fetch them when starting and saving them (if changed) when calibre quit. And have different scripts for different configurations. And some semaphore system to ensure only one instance of calibre is run. I changed my calibre start script to make a snapshot copy of my calibre library every time I exit calibre, using rsync. Only changes are saved, so it is usually very fast and takes little room. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=244228 Last edited by Adoby; 06-09-2018 at 07:27 AM. Reason: Added link to calibre launcher with snapshot

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Two versions of Calibre on the same comp?	Polyhive	Calibre	11	11-13-2020 12:38 PM
Old versions of calibre	secristrc	Calibre	13	07-20-2013 09:27 PM
Multiple Calibre versions on same PC?	Sylver	Calibre	4	11-15-2011 01:25 PM
A-Z and different Calibre versions	20LEgend	Devices	1	08-25-2011 11:38 AM
Sur Amazon, des versions électroniques plus chères que les versions papier	IreneDelse	Amazon Kindle	8	08-29-2008 08:35 AM

06-08-2018, 02:25 PM	#2
DaltonST Deviser Posts: 2,265 Karma: 2090983 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Texas Device: none	Plug a handful of fast USB drives into a Windows 10 pc's USB hub, install Calibre Portable on each USB separately, put shortcuts to each Calibre on your Desktop, then go from there.

06-09-2018, 04:41 AM	#5
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,161 Karma: 1404241 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	calibre portable is for sure the easiest way to do what was requested. An other way is to work with calibre's environment variables and a start script / batch file for staring calibre: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/customize.html

06-21-2018, 07:44 PM	#7
Rellwood Library Breeder (She/Her) Posts: 1,156 Karma: 1900479 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Fullerton, California Device: Kobo Aura HD (1) PW3 (4) PW3 2019 new edition (1)	@all, I just cam\e back to this posting and was quite happy to see these responses. I totally forgot about Calibre Portable. I have a few extra flash drives that could easily do this. Thanks!

06-21-2018, 09:13 PM	#8
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,568 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@Rellwood - you can install multiple Portables on a regular disk by installing them into different directories.