03-06-2024, 04:52 AM | #1 |
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virtual copy
Greetings to everyone!
I'm a relatively new user of Calibre. I want to use it as my ebook management tool to manage my library. My ebooks are scattered across several external storage (hard disks). When I try to add a book to Calibre, it usually copies a book to it's default library location. This will essentially double my copies of the book and it's a waste of space. How can I configure it that it will just "point" my book to specific location (external storage disk) and only the metadata is stored in the default Calibre library? My Calibre library is installed on my PC. TIA for your help! |
03-06-2024, 05:10 AM | #2 |
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You can't "point" Calibre to a nonexistent file - Calibre doesn't operate with virtual files. What you can do is delete all formats from your library after the files with their metadata have been copied over (right-click on the Remove icon -> Remove all formats from selected books); this leaves only metadata in your library. But that means you'll have no way to open the books from inside Calibre, as the files don't exist in the library.
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03-06-2024, 06:24 AM | #3 |
the rook, bossing Never.
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The copies in Calibre are really a database. Pretend it is just a database.
You can regard the originals as originals or backups. It's not a lot of storage. |
03-06-2024, 06:48 AM | #4 |
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Thank you for your replies. Technically it's not empty but it's being "pointed" to the original location of the book. What I want to achieve is a database of all my books that's scattered across several hard drives. It's quite expensive to buy a new hard drive to "combine" all. In other applications like video editing apps, the library is "virtual pointer" to specific location of the file. Once you really need to use the file, you can just "mount" the specific storage medium or hard drive. The library is just the metadata that is being managed and pointing to the various locations of the files.
Anyway, thanks for the idea of just deleting the books in the library and just retaining the metadata. I guess, I'll just add in the "tags" the file location. |
03-06-2024, 07:05 AM | #5 | |
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Quote:
Alternatively, use the GetFileName plugin to automatically put the book's path into a custom column. |
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03-06-2024, 07:10 AM | #6 |
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Thanks! It's a better idea! Now, I can fully enjoy Calibre! Thank you all!!!
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03-06-2024, 07:16 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
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03-06-2024, 08:07 AM | #8 | |
the rook, bossing Never.
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Quote:
Serious video libraries for palyout systems do include a copy of the video. A video editing app, is not a true video library. One without the files is like a lending /rental library for physical tapes or disks. Calibre isn't that kind of library. Unless you have more ebooks than can be read in a life time storage is no an issue. Of course scanned PDFs can be big, but they are not real ebooks and still tiny compared to video. Calibre manages the metadata and the content. Even my 2002 (22 year old) laptop still has enough space for 7,000 ebooks, though I don't use it now as it's XP and it won't even boot if any drive is more than 120 G Byte. Unless you've a very budget PC or Chromebook, the entry level for laptop storage was 512 G Byte over 7 years ago. Last edited by Quoth; 03-06-2024 at 08:10 AM. |
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03-06-2024, 02:31 PM | #9 | |
null operator (he/him)
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AFAIK that is the only Add books action that will add the actual LNK file, all other Add books actions, including drag-n-drop into Book details, will add the shortcut target. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 03-06-2024 at 05:08 PM. |
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03-06-2024, 09:54 PM | #10 | |
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03-07-2024, 12:58 AM | #11 |
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I hate to bring up the nasty bits but are all those ebooks that you and your group are planning on hosting either no longer in copyright or are licensed as freely distributable? If not, see copyright infringement and ebook piracy.
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03-07-2024, 01:37 AM | #12 | ||
the rook, bossing Never.
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Quote:
Quote:
2TB is about 500,000 to 2,000,000 ebooks depending on format. Even if legitimate, Calibre is not the tool to share that on the Internet. |
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