Possible to have same Calibre library active on 2 devices?

TdeV · 03-27-2015, 04:19 PM

As previously mentioned, I got really tired of being unable to investigate a new book to read on my Nook.

So I bought a Lenovo Yoga 10" tablet which I'm hoping won't be too large to use as a reader. My plan is to use Calibre's search functions on the Lenovo to find my next book to read. Probably that could involve a little data massage because data always needs tweaking.

My destop computer is the best place to do major data massages, metadata updates, etc. because the screens are nice and large and I can open up lots of columns.

Both computers are on the same home network, but there's nothing truly multi-user about Windows networking. I've heard of putting the Calibre database on Dropbox but wonder how secure that is. I'll be using the same database sequentially, not at the same time.

Recommendations?

jgaiser · 03-27-2015, 04:24 PM

Multi-user calibre? Not as this time.
Calibre database on dropbox. Not supported and don't cry when it breaks.

BetterRed · 03-27-2015, 05:29 PM

@TdeV - How about running calibre-server on the desktop, and accessing the library on your lenovo via a browser - has search and rough equivalent of 'tag browser', and you can download books

With appropriate precautions you can access the server over the net - does mean to desktop has to be on all the time.

Assuming it's a windows lenovo you could maintain a copy of library on dropbox via a file synch process, and have the lenovo use calibre to access that library.

BR

theducks · 03-27-2015, 06:04 PM

And the content server has a 'Pick a random book', just like Calibre does.

AFAIK you can't use that quite the same. I have a VL 'Not Read': Random will honor that restriction on the Desktop. In the content server, random is from the Library being served (

You can serve just a VL)

TdeV · 03-27-2015, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@TdeV - How about running calibre-server on the desktop, and accessing the library on your lenovo via a browser - has search and rough equivalent of 'tag browser', and you can download books

With appropriate precautions you can access the server over the net - does mean to desktop has to be on all the time.

Assuming it's a windows lenovo you could maintain a copy of library on dropbox via a file synch process, and have the lenovo use calibre to access that library.

BR

Dont know enough about Calibre server, will need to find out more. Where?
Dont' understand about your remarks with to "file synch process" - you've more to tell me more about it yes?

More I should know yes?

TIA

BetterRed · 03-28-2015, 12:09 AM

@TdeV - here's a good place to start - pretty sure it hasn't changed much ==>> How To Access Your eBook Collection Anywhere in the World

And here's the relevant command line ==>> calibre-server

If you go to the Preferences ->Sharing over the net and click the Start server button, and then the Test Server button - you should be able to see your library in your desktop browser.

Take note of the url (will be an ip address and a port number - eg 10.1.0.2:8080) and enter that into the lenovo browser - if the desktop and lenovo are on the same 'network' then the calibre server page should show. If it doesn't then you may need to tweak your network.

If you like what you see then someone can help with the next step - accessing the calibre-server over the 'net. The principles of that is covered in the How to Geek write up.

BR

MartyTX · 03-28-2015, 08:34 PM

This is my totally simplistic method to maintain a reading list. Calibre is needed on only 1 device; a home network and cloud storage are not required:

- I do all of my searching, tweaking, fine-tuning and decision-making using calibre and the nice large screen and mouse on my desktop.

- I pick 20 good reading candidates in calibre and flag them in a "Read" column with a red "X".

- I do all of my reading using Marvin on my iPad Mini. I use calibre with the iOS-Reader/Marvin-XD plugins to make sure the books are on my iPad Mini.

- After reading a book, I flag it in the "Read" column with a green "checkmark". When my list gets down to 5 books, I add new books to get the list back to 20.

Wash ... Rinse ... Repeat. This procedure makes sure I have an ample supply of "good reads" on my iPad.

eschwartz · 03-29-2015, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TdeV

Dont know enough about Calibre server, will need to find out more. Where?
Dont' understand about your remarks with to "file synch process" - you've more to tell me more about it yes?

More I should know yes?

TIA

calibre-server (simple web server with downloadable catalog of your books) is a good option if all you need to do is download books to the device. If you intend to edit metadata, you will of course need to run the calibre GUI...

It is perfectly safe to do so as long as you do not run two copies of calibre at the same time using the same library, and make sure to sync all changes before and after running calibre.
The simplest way is to simply put your books in Dropbox or similar (not Google Drive, it breaks things major time). Dropbox will sync your library, and all changes will propagate to each computer.
Make sure to sync beforehand, so your library is current.
Do not run Dropbox while calibre is running, or they will fight over the files.
Make sure to sync all changes after you close calibre.

03-27-2015, 04:19 PM	#1
TdeV Dabbler Posts: 67 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Samsung Galaxy Reject:Lenovo 8.1 tablet Old: Colour Nook, HP Touchpad	Possible to have same Calibre library active on 2 devices? As previously mentioned, I got really tired of being unable to investigate a new book to read on my Nook. So I bought a Lenovo Yoga 10" tablet which I'm hoping won't be too large to use as a reader. My plan is to use Calibre's search functions on the Lenovo to find my next book to read. Probably that could involve a little data massage because data always needs tweaking. My destop computer is the best place to do major data massages, metadata updates, etc. because the screens are nice and large and I can open up lots of columns. Both computers are on the same home network, but there's nothing truly multi-user about Windows networking. I've heard of putting the Calibre database on Dropbox but wonder how secure that is. I'll be using the same database sequentially, not at the same time. Recommendations?

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03-27-2015, 04:24 PM	#2
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Multi-user calibre? Not as this time. Calibre database on dropbox. Not supported and don't cry when it breaks.

03-27-2015, 05:29 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,595 Karma: 29709834 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@TdeV - How about running calibre-server on the desktop, and accessing the library on your lenovo via a browser - has search and rough equivalent of 'tag browser', and you can download books With appropriate precautions you can access the server over the net - does mean to desktop has to be on all the time. Assuming it's a windows lenovo you could maintain a copy of library on dropbox via a file synch process, and have the lenovo use calibre to access that library. BR

03-27-2015, 06:04 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,873 Karma: 59840450 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	And the content server has a 'Pick a random book', just like Calibre does. AFAIK you can't use that quite the same. I have a VL 'Not Read': Random will honor that restriction on the Desktop. In the content server, random is from the Library being served ( You can serve just a VL)

03-28-2015, 12:09 AM	#6
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,595 Karma: 29709834 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@TdeV - here's a good place to start - pretty sure it hasn't changed much ==>> How To Access Your eBook Collection Anywhere in the World And here's the relevant command line ==>> calibre-server If you go to the Preferences ->Sharing over the net and click the Start server button, and then the Test Server button - you should be able to see your library in your desktop browser. Take note of the url (will be an ip address and a port number - eg 10.1.0.2:8080) and enter that into the lenovo browser - if the desktop and lenovo are on the same 'network' then the calibre server page should show. If it doesn't then you may need to tweak your network. If you like what you see then someone can help with the next step - accessing the calibre-server over the 'net. The principles of that is covered in the How to Geek write up. BR

03-28-2015, 08:34 PM	#7
MartyTX Dedicated Posts: 441 Karma: 11279376 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX Device: iPad Mini 1 & 4, Nook ST, Dell 11-3000, iPhone 5s	This is my totally simplistic method to maintain a reading list. *Calibre is needed on only 1 device; a home network and cloud storage are not required:* - I do all of my searching, tweaking, fine-tuning and decision-making using calibre and the nice large screen and mouse on my desktop. - I pick 20 good reading candidates in calibre and flag them in a "Read" column with a red "X". - I do all of my reading using Marvin on my iPad Mini. I use calibre with the iOS-Reader/Marvin-XD plugins to make sure the books are on my iPad Mini. - After reading a book, I flag it in the "Read" column with a green "checkmark". When my list gets down to 5 books, I add new books to get the list back to 20. Wash ... Rinse ... Repeat. This procedure makes sure I have an ample supply of "good reads" on my iPad.

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