Managing several libraries (local, Dropbox'ed, on NAS)

[FlyGoneCrazy]

Hey!

I have a dilemma - at the time I have three libraries:
- popular books (calibre local + Dropbox)
- all epubs (calibre local + Dropbox)
- all pdfs (on NAS not in calibre)

I want to add all pdf's in to separate library in calibre. I can't store them on Dropbox, due to size - 250GB.

I found that there is a way separate books from database, but the question is what will happen with other two libraries? Will I be able to switch between them easily from calibre GUI? or this environment variable will redirect all three libraries to different location, what is definitely not my intention.

Thank you for ideas, challenges and questions in advance.

[theducks]

Simple answer: YES

Create/Switch makes or connects to(lost) existing libraries. Calibre remembers these connections until you Delete (really, just removes the link. The libraries remain on your HD)

the Last 10 accessed , will appear on the quick switch list.
I have 4. (Main, Intake, Juvenal (grandkid friendly and isolated from adult content) , magazines)

[FlyGoneCrazy]

Originally Posted by theducks

Calibre remembers these connections until you Delete (really, just removes the link. The libraries remain on your HD)

Do I understand correct that all libraries in such case are located in the same place, e.g. local drive. That means that I'll be unable to leave two of them on local drive, and one that is huge (pdf) to split (db on local, books on NAS) through environment variables?

Thanks!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by FlyGoneCrazy

Do I understand correct that all libraries in such case are located in the same place, e.g. local drive. That means that I'll be unable to leave two of them on local drive, and one that is huge (pdf) to split (db on local, books on NAS) through environment variables?

Thanks!

@FlyGoneCrazy - on a server, you could use symlinks instead. The metadata.db file in the server located library would be a symlink to a calibre database stored in a local shared directory.

Not sure if that's doable on a NAS, I have a feeling it may work on some and not others.

BR

[FlyGoneCrazy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@FlyGoneCrazy - on a server, you could use symlinks instead. The metadata.db file in the server located library would be a symlink to a calibre database stored in a local shared directory.

Not sure if that's doable on a NAS, I have a feeling it may work on some and not others.

BR

This might be problematic, as there will be several workstations accessing this library and I was thinking to sync db through Dropbox.

On the other hand what is interesting for me - where calibre store info about last 10 (or x) libraries accessed? Maybe there's a way to split db and books there, in this particular config file? If tried to find this config file, but without success.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by FlyGoneCrazy

Maybe there's a way to split db and books there, in this particular config file? If tried to find this config file, but without success.

There is a unique metadata.db file for each library.

[FlyGoneCrazy]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

There is a unique metadata.db file for each library.

I know and this is a challenge, as I want to separate only one metadata.db from books. Others will remain in the same structure as calibre writes them down.