Any better way to open multiple files?

MarjaE · 01-21-2018, 03:16 PM

For whatever reason, Calibre doesn't let me open multiple files at the same time. I have to click to open each file.

Unfortunately, Calibre also has the newly-opened filed open to the front. So I have to click on one file, click back into Calibre, click on the next file, click back into Calibre, click on the next file...

If there's some way to keep newly-opened files in the background, should I look for a Calibre setting (haven't found one) or a reading app setting (haven't found on in Clearview)?

Thanks!

BetterRed · 01-21-2018, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarjaE

For whatever reason, Calibre doesn't let me open multiple files at the same time. I have to click to open each file.

Works for me on multiple books, note I always use View specific format and select the format I want (i.e. DOCX, or EPUB or AZW3 etc), so I can't say it works with the normal View whatever format calibre thinks I want

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarjaE

Unfortunately, Calibre also has the newly-opened filed open to the front. So I have to click on one file, click back into Calibre, click on the next file, click back into Calibre, click on the next file...

If there's some way to keep newly-opened files in the background, should I look for a Calibre setting (haven't found one) or a reading app setting (haven't found on in Clearview)?

That the last selected book comes up on top is a probably an operating system feature.

Maybe you could pre-arrange the books in calibre so that they're ordered in the reverse order you want to read them -- so the last book in the selection list is one you want to read first.

BR

Windows 10 Pro 1703, Calibre 3.15

MarjaE · 01-26-2018, 10:36 AM

That wouldn't get around the problem of having to click back into Calibre, after opning each book, to open the next book.

BetterRed · 01-26-2018, 01:34 PM

On Windows there's an option in the ebook-viewer Preferences->Miscellaneous to allow multiple instances, if they are allowed then the books will opened en-masse and be put into what amounts to a LIFO stack. So as you close the book at the top of the stack then next comes into view.

I have no idea if it will work that way on a Mac. In fact I can't guarantee that one of the several Windows enhancement gadgets I run isn't enabling this.

BR

DNSB · 01-27-2018, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarjaE

That wouldn't get around the problem of having to click back into Calibre, after opning each book, to open the next book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

On Windows there's an option in the ebook-viewer Preferences->Miscellaneous to allow multiple instances, if they are allowed then the books will opened en-masse and be put into what amounts to a LIFO stack. So as you close the book at the top of the stack then next comes into view.

I have no idea if it will work that way on a Mac. In fact I can't guarantee that one of the several Windows enhancement gadgets I run isn't enabling this.

BR

When I looked at the preferences for calibre's ebook-viewer in a Mac OS X High Sierra VM, the checkmark by "Allow only a single book to be viewed at a time" was not checked. I selected and opened 3 books and that worked as expected. When I closed a book, the next book did not pop into view but I could see it on the desktop and click to switch.

MarjaE · 02-02-2018, 08:23 AM

I use Clearview instead of Calibre's ebook viewer. I find it easier to read, and easier to page through, and I don't get migraines from the default settings. I used to use Scarlett, but it couldn't read certain epubs, and it couldn't search certain others.

I kinda assumed most users would use their preferred ebook and/or pdf viewers.

And Clearview has no trouble with multiple books. It's just Calibre won't let me open multiple books without clicking through an extra menu, which may not be available if my mouse isn't.

BetterRed · 02-02-2018, 03:08 PM

@MarjaE - On Windows I use the PDF-XChange viewer for PDFs, I have it configured to open multiple files, each one opened is presented in a tab, as in a browser's tabs.

If I select four books in calibre and then use the View specific format option to view the PDF formats then that's what I get... each of the four books is opened in a separate tab in PDF-Xchange. They appear in the same left-to-right order as the books appear in the book list, with last one (right most) as the current tab.

So... it looks like your situation might be specific to OSX. How does Clearview present multiple open books... as artefacts on the desktop, or as tabs or similar within its own window.

Aside : be nice if a future version of the calibre ebook-viewer presented multiple open books as a separate tabs.

BR

HarryT · 02-04-2018, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Aside : be nice if a future version of the calibre ebook-viewer presented multiple open books as a separate tabs.

Please make that an option, if such a change is made! Personally I prefer to have separate windows that I can arrange side by side.

Divingduck · 02-13-2018, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@MarjaEAside : be nice if a future version of the calibre ebook-viewer presented multiple open books as a separate tabs.BR

+1 Yes, this would be a nice extension.

asllearner · 10-25-2018, 12:55 AM

The non single book option no longer seems to be working for me on a mac *when opening the file from the finder*...within calibre I seem to be okay. I have tried turning the option on and off, but no matter what only one instance of the ebook viewer appears. Using the latest calibre and mac version. Any way to make that work?

kovidgoyal · 10-25-2018, 01:44 AM

Did it ever work on macOS. macOS is a bit of a special snowflake, it needs dedicated code for handling for these kinds of things.

asllearner · 10-26-2018, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Did it ever work on macOS. macOS is a bit of a special snowflake, it needs dedicated code for handling for these kinds of things.

recently I got a new computer, upgraded, reinstalled, etc.; when opening quite a few epub from Finder, noticed the behavior -- maybe it was always there and I just never noticed...oh well. Macs, while beautiful "snowflakes" in many respect, are full of such little annoyances (do so wish calibre/mac could do keyboard shortcuts, too)...

kovidgoyal · 10-26-2018, 08:43 PM

Open a ticket for it and I will look into it the next time I am on a mac.

01-21-2018, 03:16 PM	#1
MarjaE Guru Posts: 924 Karma: 53902736 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: multiple	Any better way to open multiple files? For whatever reason, Calibre doesn't let me open multiple files at the same time. I have to click to open each file. Unfortunately, Calibre also has the newly-opened filed open to the front. So I have to click on one file, click back into Calibre, click on the next file, click back into Calibre, click on the next file... If there's some way to keep newly-opened files in the background, should I look for a Calibre setting (haven't found one) or a reading app setting (haven't found on in Clearview)? Thanks!

02-02-2018, 08:23 AM	#6
MarjaE Guru Posts: 924 Karma: 53902736 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: multiple	I use Clearview instead of Calibre's ebook viewer. I find it easier to read, and easier to page through, and I don't get migraines from the default settings. I used to use Scarlett, but it couldn't read certain epubs, and it couldn't search certain others. I kinda assumed most users would use their preferred ebook and/or pdf viewers. And Clearview has no trouble with multiple books. It's just Calibre won't let me open multiple books without clicking through an extra menu, which may not be available if my mouse isn't. Last edited by MarjaE; 02-02-2018 at 08:31 AM.

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01-26-2018, 10:36 AM	#3
MarjaE Guru Posts: 924 Karma: 53902736 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: multiple	That wouldn't get around the problem of having to click back into Calibre, after opning each book, to open the next book.

01-26-2018, 01:34 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,558 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	On Windows there's an option in the ebook-viewer Preferences->Miscellaneous to allow multiple instances, if they are allowed then the books will opened en-masse and be put into what amounts to a LIFO stack. So as you close the book at the top of the stack then next comes into view. I have no idea if it will work that way on a Mac. In fact I can't guarantee that one of the several Windows enhancement gadgets I run isn't enabling this. BR

02-02-2018, 03:08 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,558 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@MarjaE - On Windows I use the PDF-XChange viewer for PDFs, I have it configured to open multiple files, each one opened is presented in a tab, as in a browser's tabs. If I select four books in calibre and then use the View specific format option to view the PDF formats then that's what I get... each of the four books is opened in a separate tab in PDF-Xchange. They appear in the same left-to-right order as the books appear in the book list, with last one (right most) as the current tab. So... it looks like your situation might be specific to OSX. How does Clearview present multiple open books... as artefacts on the desktop, or as tabs or similar within its own window. Aside : be nice if a future version of the calibre ebook-viewer presented multiple open books as a separate tabs. BR

10-25-2018, 12:55 AM	#10
asllearner Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: none	The non single book option no longer seems to be working for me on a mac when opening the file from the finder...within calibre I seem to be okay. I have tried turning the option on and off, but no matter what only one instance of the ebook viewer appears. Using the latest calibre and mac version. Any way to make that work?

10-25-2018, 01:44 AM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,844 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Did it ever work on macOS. macOS is a bit of a special snowflake, it needs dedicated code for handling for these kinds of things.

10-26-2018, 08:43 PM	#13
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,844 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Open a ticket for it and I will look into it the next time I am on a mac.