How to share bookmarks among network computers?

hrmcrm · 01-04-2014, 03:18 PM

How can I share bookmarks among network computers?

Our e-books (mobi) are on a network storage drive, and I sometimes read the same book from different computers. The bookmarks stay on each machine, so when I switch machines, I lose my place. Is there a way to store the bookmark file or data in a common spot and link to it from each computer?

Thanks,
Howard

kovidgoyal · 01-04-2014, 09:22 PM

If you use epub the bookmarks are stored inside the file itself. So simply convert your books to epub and read that format instead of mobi.

hrmcrm · 01-05-2014, 02:07 PM

Thanks, Kovid. Almost all our e-books are mobi, so I was hoping for a bookmark file that could be shared. Since that is not the case, I'll convert to epub as you suggest when I start a book. The conversion is quick and easy, so it will work fine.
Best regards,
Howard

kovidgoyal · 01-05-2014, 09:29 PM

You can put the entire calibre config directory on your network share, if you want. That will have other sideeffects, however.

hrmcrm · 01-06-2014, 11:16 PM

Some of the network computers run Windows, some Linux. The calibre program directories and files look quite different on different operating systems. I think I better not try cross-connecting anything more than the library.

The various operating systems seem to share the library without problem. They even seem to know the actual sequence of books viewed.

I tested epub bookmarks switching from Linux to Windows, and that worked fine. (It took all of 14 seconds to convert mobi to epub.) I'll stay with using epub files.
Thanks,
Howard

eschwartz · 01-06-2014, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrmcrm

Some of the network computers run Windows, some Linux. The calibre program directories and files look quite different on different operating systems. I think I better not try cross-connecting anything more than the library.

The various operating systems seem to share the library without problem. They even seem to know the actual sequence of books viewed.

I tested epub bookmarks switching from Linux to Windows, and that worked fine. (It took all of 14 seconds to convert mobi to epub.) I'll stay with using epub files.
Thanks,
Howard

Lucky you -- the whole thing seems rather hit-and-miss. Possibly based on Hex's Phase of the Moon Generator (from Terry Pratchett's Interesting Times) and other highly technical reasons, it will either work or not work. I had a linux library I opened in Windows, and everything worked perfectly -- except plugboards didn't have any effect, a fact I found out after sending several hundred books to a few different devices. Sometimes the db can't find the books, since Windows isn't case sensitive for filenames, etc.

Use with care. There is no guarantee that cross-OS usage will work or continue working.

theducks · 01-07-2014, 12:05 PM

hrmcrm

You have a ticking time bomb.
It will blow up. The question is only when. (Hint: Usually when you are in a rush)

hrmcrm · 01-10-2014, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

hrmcrm
You have a ticking time bomb.

After reading other threads about network shares, this does indeed seem fraught with peril. I'll leave the network library alone as the backup archive.

I'll try moving the epub file onto the computer for reading, then putting the file with the latest bookmark on the network storage outside the calibre library, and pick up that version onto whatever computer I happen to use next.

I have one computer with two hard drives, both of which dual-boot Windows (same version) and Linux (different versions of the same distribution). This machine has one calibre library on one Windows partition. For about a year, I have accessed that one library from all of the four operating systems, and have had no problems. The clock on the time bomb must be set to somewhere in the future. Time will tell.
Regards,
Howard

Adoby · 01-10-2014, 03:54 PM

The bomb may have gone off, already. You may have entries in the library that lack any format, but you haven't noticed it yet. The missing formats most likely are there, but not found due to subtle differences in how the filename and path is read in different filesystems. With luck the file maintenance tools can fix most or all of the errors.

01-04-2014, 03:18 PM	#1
hrmcrm Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Francisco Device: Kindle Touch	How to share bookmarks among network computers? How can I share bookmarks among network computers? Our e-books (mobi) are on a network storage drive, and I sometimes read the same book from different computers. The bookmarks stay on each machine, so when I switch machines, I lose my place. Is there a way to store the bookmark file or data in a common spot and link to it from each computer? Thanks, Howard

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[WIP] Samba share on the Kobo Glo (windows network share)	joris_	Kobo Developer's Corner	1	07-11-2013 12:44 PM
Which port will Calibre connect to a network share?	awj	Devices	3	03-02-2013 10:14 AM
using shared network drive on 2 computers	elricks	Library Management	13	12-21-2011 07:07 AM
library via network share	Keltari	Calibre	2	08-26-2011 07:25 PM
Access rooted Nook Color storage as network share	KryptoNyte	Nook Developer's Corner	1	12-29-2010 10:03 AM

01-04-2014, 09:22 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If you use epub the bookmarks are stored inside the file itself. So simply convert your books to epub and read that format instead of mobi.

01-05-2014, 02:07 PM	#3
hrmcrm Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Francisco Device: Kindle Touch	Thanks, Kovid. Almost all our e-books are mobi, so I was hoping for a bookmark file that could be shared. Since that is not the case, I'll convert to epub as you suggest when I start a book. The conversion is quick and easy, so it will work fine. Best regards, Howard

01-05-2014, 09:29 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You can put the entire calibre config directory on your network share, if you want. That will have other sideeffects, however.

01-06-2014, 11:16 PM	#5
hrmcrm Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Francisco Device: Kindle Touch	Some of the network computers run Windows, some Linux. The calibre program directories and files look quite different on different operating systems. I think I better not try cross-connecting anything more than the library. The various operating systems seem to share the library without problem. They even seem to know the actual sequence of books viewed. I tested epub bookmarks switching from Linux to Windows, and that worked fine. (It took all of 14 seconds to convert mobi to epub.) I'll stay with using epub files. Thanks, Howard

01-07-2014, 12:05 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,800 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	hrmcrm You have a ticking time bomb. It will blow up. The question is only when. (Hint: Usually when you are in a rush)

01-10-2014, 03:54 PM	#9
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	The bomb may have gone off, already. You may have entries in the library that lack any format, but you haven't noticed it yet. The missing formats most likely are there, but not found due to subtle differences in how the filename and path is read in different filesystems. With luck the file maintenance tools can fix most or all of the errors.

Advert

Advert