CALIBRE: quick switch library limit of 8?

[bigjaba]

Hello,

I'm an happy user of Calibre software which is a VERY good piece of software.

Since a few days, I was building various libraries (1 per Letter).

Unfortunately, I'm now UNABLE to switch to some past created libraries as the quick switch only shows 8 libraries in the right pane.
Taking one, it shows some others ....but I'm unable to see all those I created (10 currently).

Am I doing something wrong? Can you help me?????

Thank you very much in advance for your help

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by bigjaba

Hello,

I'm an happy user of Calibre software which is a VERY good piece of software.

Since a few days, I was building various libraries (1 per Letter).

Unfortunately, I'm now UNABLE to switch to some past created libraries as the quick switch only shows 8 libraries in the right pane.
Taking one, it shows some others ....but I'm unable to see all those I created (10 currently).

Am I doing something wrong? Can you help me?????

Thank you very much in advance for your help

Technically you're not doing anything 'wrong', but there is a limit on the number of libraries calibre supports - I think its 20ish, with 8 in the quick switch list.

But you are doing something which is questionable in the sense of 'why would you want to do that'.

By segmenting your books into multiple libraries based on 'letter' you are denying yourself access a lot of calibres capabilities, especially grouping and searching etc.

If you are thinking it will be more efficient then that's probably not true. I have a library with 20,000+ books and I believe there are others with more than 50,000. Calibre does not interrogate the book folders as such, the data about the books (the metadata) is stored in a database file, for which there is one per library.

BR

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by bigjaba

Unfortunately, I'm now UNABLE to switch to some past created libraries as the quick switch only shows 8 libraries in the right pane.

The quick switch is simply a history of recent libraries accessed. The fact that you don't see a library does not prevent you from switching to it. Like any recent documents list, not seeing a document doesn't mean it can't be opened.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Technically you're not doing anything 'wrong', but there is a limit on the number of libraries calibre supports - I think its 20ish, with 8 in the quick switch list.

There is no limit on the amount of libraries you can access. The only limit is you can only open 1 library at a time.

The quick list used to have a limit of 25 why the OP is seeing only 8 may be a recent change or a bug.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

By segmenting your books into multiple libraries based on 'letter' you are denying yourself access a lot of calibres capabilities, especially grouping and searching etc.

You are correct, multiple libraries does limit calibre's capabilities. There are many excellent reasons someone might want to have multiple libraries, but having multiple libraries based on the alphabet isn't close to an excellent reason. However if someone prefers multiple libraries based on the alphabet I have no objection to it.

[kovidgoyal]

The quick switch list is most definitely noty limited to 8 libraries, the OP is probably referring to the list at the bottom of the main menu rather than in the actual quick switch menu.

[bigjaba]

Thank you all of you for your valuable information.
I understand that it is unwise to do as I intended and I will merge the various libraries into one.

The remaining question is: HOW DO I ACCESS the libraries NOT shown?
I confirm that in the menu of library at the bottom we see only 5 BUT choosing the quick swith the right pane shows only 8 libraries....I need to access the other to merge them.

How is this possible?

Thank you for your prompt help...

[transmitthis]

I have the same annoyance.

I only have 7 library's, and their are valid reasons I have this many.

Only 5 will show up in the list "right clicking on Library icon, All 7 will show up in the "quick switch" sub menu though.

Issue is
1 I use portable Calibre, so have to select a lib after opening the program (if only I could set one to open by default)

2 The library I want to access, is usally not in the list, so I have to go to the submenu = annoying

Resolution - make the librarys in the list populate in order of usage - or/and, have an option to pin (ala windows jumplists) one or two to that list. Or even make the list user populated.

[jgaiser]

Current "Quick Switch" menu - 23 libraries.

Suggestion - If your library is *not* showing up in the "Quick Switch" menu, Click on "Switch/create library". Make sure "Use previous existing library" is clicked. Put path to your library in "New Location".

I've never had to do this. Any new libraries I create always show up in the "Quick switch" list.

[BetterRed]

This may help Preferences->Tweak - Sort the list of libraries alphabetically

ID: many_libraries

The list of libraries in the Copy to Library and Quick Switch menus are
normally sorted by most used. However, if there are more than a certain
number of such libraries, the sorting becomes alphabetic. You can set that
number here. The default is ten libraries.

BR

[bigjaba]

Thanks to all for the comments and advices.

I worked it out ...with 2 libraries ( my wife, don't wish to see all science fiction books which I like ...) ....thanks for this excellent software.....