Calibre Catalogue, how do you use it (if at all)?

[paola]

I have recently discovered te Catalogue function of Calibre: what it does is to create a file (epub in my case) which lists all the books and organises them based on various tags - I attach an example (these files are in a directory "trialcatalogue" on my laptop, as a subdirectory of "calibre" that is thsu listed as teh "author" of this epub).

At the moment there is a bug so that for the new models (well, surely for PB903) you cannot create the catalogue while your device is connected to the pc, but you can send this file to the device.

It is rather neat, but of course the great thing would be if one could click on the name of the desired book-document and actually open it in the device. I asked if there was a way to do so in the Calibre forum, but apparently doing such a thing is device dependent. I have no idea of how to do it but I thought I should relay the problem here in case somebody has already solved it!

[mtravellerh]

Originally Posted by paolamanzini

I have recently discovered te Catalogue function of Calibre: what it does is to create a file (epub in my case) which lists all the books and organises them based on various tags - I attach an example (these files are in a directory "trialcatalogue" on my laptop, as a subdirectory of "calibre" that is thsu listed as teh "author" of this epub).

At the moment there is a bug so that for the new models (well, surely for PB903) you cannot create the catalogue while your device is connected to the pc, but you can send this file to the device.

It is rather neat, but of course the great thing would be if one could click on the name of the desired book-document and actually open it in the device. I asked if there was a way to do so in the Calibre forum, but apparently doing such a thing is device dependent. I have no idea of how to do it but I thought I should relay the problem here in case somebody has already solved it!

So I will not promise this feature as I would be killed again if not realized, but I gave the guys the code for Opds (that's the norm the Calibre catalogue is based on) and the guys are working the OPDS in the browser. This way it would be able to access the Calibre cstalogue and download the books wirelessly. That way you could administer the bulk of your books on your desktop and just download and use the books that you want or need on the spot.

I am already using this method with Aldiko and my IQ. (I have 15.000 epubs on my desktop )

[paola]

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

So I will not promise this feature as I would be killed again if not realized, but I gave the guys the code for Opds (that's the norm the Calibre catalogue is based on) and the guys are working the OPDS in the browser. This way it would be able to access the Calibre cstalogue and download the books wirelessly. That way you could administer the bulk of your books on your desktop and just download and use the books that you want or need on the spot.

I am already using this method with Aldiko and my IQ. (I have 15.000 epubs on my desktop )

thanks mtravellerh: so hopefully in a future firmware update?

[hiaig]

After reading a number of threads here and elsewhere, I was able to integrate my calibre library and dropbox so that I can now download books from my calibre library onto my IQ wirelessly from anywhere using either a browser or aldiko.

Cheers

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

I am already using this method with Aldiko and my IQ. (I have 15.000 epubs on my desktop )

I use it to directly access the free Library at BAEN Webscriptions and my purchased books from them. It's really useful.
But OPDS access really should be implemented in the Bookshelf app (for the connected readers) rather than the browser. Mind you, the browser is better than nothing, but still...

(Yes, we're a demanding bunch, aren't we?)

[paola]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Bookshelf app

sorry fjtorres, is this something jsut for android?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by paolamanzini

sorry fjtorres, is this something jsut for android?

OPDS is an open spec supported by a lot of apps on multiple platforms.
The bookshelf I'm referring to is the PB app/function that lets you browse the reader's file system and the favorites folder.
What I'm suggesting is integrating a "folder" containing links to custom online catalogs similar to the way the PB360 integrates the ebook folders from the built-in flash and the SD card into a unified list.
Probably wishful thinking.
(I just figure it can't hurt to ask.)

[paola]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

OPDS is an open spec supported by a lot of apps on multiple platforms.
The bookshelf I'm referring to is the PB app/function that lets you browse the reader's file system and the favorites folder.
What I'm suggesting is integrating a "folder" containing links to custom online catalogs similar to the way the PB360 integrates the ebook folders from the built-in flash and the SD card into a unified list.
Probably wishful thinking.
(I just figure it can't hurt to ask.)

Ah, maybe I am getting it: in a way, a folder on the device is simply a set of links to the various books/documents. So with what you are suggesting one could even connect wirelessly to the pc's calibre library and download the desired books, am I getting this right?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by paolamanzini

Ah, maybe I am getting it: in a way, a folder on the device is simply a set of links to the various books/documents. So with what you are suggesting one could even connect wirelessly to the pc's calibre library and download the desired books, am I getting this right?

Yes.
That is how Aldiko (on Android) and Stanza (on iOS) do it; you pick the Catalog you want and it connects you to the site's published book list *inside the app*. Selecting a title pops up a pane that shows you a thumbnail and the full description/summary/comments associated with it. Plus the option to download the file. Except for the download pop-up it is like finding and opening a local link.

The chief advantage is integrating the web-hosted content with the local storage without having to bounce between apps.

Here's a step-by-step guide showing how to use dropbox and calibre to feed Stanza on iOS using OPDS catalogs.
http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2010...-opds-dropbox/
You can also access books directly from *your* PC instead, if you choose to.

BTW, OPDS is not the only way to do this kind of stuff; Calibre will also export straight to any browser. Or you can set up your own web page or FTP site and download the books that way. A friend of mine uses his router's FTP function to export his home PC's ebook folders to his Kindle. (With strong security, of course. )

Some time this summer I hope to find the time to take a crack at it myself. There's a lot of value in wifi Readers beyond directly connecting to a storefront.

[paola]

Fjtorres: THANKS!
I still have a lot of fog to cut through (I am a useless windows user ), but will study your link (and find out about stanza: the first time I heard the word "Android" was on this forum!), sooner or later I'll get there.

Thanks a lot!

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by paolamanzini

Fjtorres: THANKS!
I still have a lot of fog to cut through (I am a useless windows user ), but will study your link (and find out about stanza: the first time I heard the word "Android" was on this forum!), sooner or later I'll get there.

Thanks a lot!

You're welcome.
I'm just trying to justify my existence.

[hiaig]

For Android, calibre + dropbox work perfectly through a browser and through Aldiko.

calibre2opds actually create catalogues in the following opds/trook/stanza/aldiko.

While opds works through the browser, but I still cannot get moon+ reader to download from the catalogue.

Cheers

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by hiaig

For Android, calibre + dropbox work perfectly through a browser and through Aldiko.

calibre2opds actually create catalogues in the following opds/trook/stanza/aldiko.

While opds works through the browser, but I still cannot get moon+ reader to download from the catalogue.

Cheers

I have a similar issue with FbreaderJ.
It times out before reading the full listing.
Works fine with Aldiko 1.x.
That's life on the bleeding edge, I suppose.

[paola]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Here's a step-by-step guide showing how to use dropbox and calibre to feed Stanza on iOS using OPDS catalogs.
http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2010...-opds-dropbox/

mindboggling - and even I could do it! Cannot thank you enough

Originally Posted by fjtorres

You can also access books directly from *your* PC instead, if you choose to.

this I still have to figure out, but for the moment what I have is pretty amazing

[jshzh]

I am a bit afraid to use Calibre. It slows down my computer significantly. Not sure why.