Acces calibre library using other devices.

EowynCarter · 05-21-2019, 12:29 PM

I've been trying to find a proper way to store my books.

Here's the thing. Say I have calibre on my desktop, pointing to the library on the nas. (how would calibre react to the nas being down anyway?)

Now, say that with an other devices (laptop, phone, tablet) I want to get a book directly from the NAS.

What would be the way to do that without having to deal with the messy folder structure? (in case it matter, nas is a synology 218+).

And I forgot, I would need to be able to add a book from my android device (with or without drm)

ilovejedd · 05-21-2019, 12:51 PM

Calibre will simply tell you that the library is missing and give you some options on what you want to do (e.g. remove library, etc). My suggestion, don't store directly on NAS. Store locally either on internal drive or external USB hard drive. Then just use something like FreeFileSync to update the copy on the NAS. HDDs are really cheap now.
You have multiple options a few of which are:
1. install Calibre on your NAS and use the built-in content server to browse your books
2. install COPS on your NAS (I think it's more lightweight) and use that to browse your books
3. use save to disk to export books to a simpler directory structure (e.g. {author_sort}/{series}{series_index:|| - }{title} - {author})
#3 option above makes for easier navigation via file manager if you need to access files/folders directly. If you're willing to forgo direct file access and ignore what's under the hood, using Calibre content server or COPS gives you robust browse and search options.
Adding books, I do via Dropbox. I set up a watched auto-add Dropbox folder for books in Calibre. Then I just upload to that Dropbox folder using my mobile devices.

theducks · 05-21-2019, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

I've been trying to find a proper way to store my books.

Here's the thing. Say I have calibre on my desktop, pointing to the library on the nas. (how would calibre react to the nas being down anyway?)

Now, say that with an other devices (laptop, phone, tablet) I want to get a book directly from the NAS.

What would be the way to do that without having to deal with the messy folder structure? (in case it matter, nas is a synology 218+)

Calibre is NOT NAS (or network share) friendly. It is in the FAQ, and has been mentioned many times here (usually when it fails with damage)

The Content Server works with just about anything with a decent browser. There is no problem having a ONE WAY shadow onto a NAS, just not having the Library syncing when running Calibre.
(And, yes there are folk who run Calibre with their Library on a NAS. It is a ticking time bomb with no idea when it will fail)
Some browser have issues dealing with security and opening up a pinhole in your router (for outside access) will have the same issues as with calibres content server access. Be careful

EowynCarter · 05-21-2019, 01:20 PM

I don't wanna duplicate the library (I do that, I get some out of sync issue at some point, and it make me dependant on the computer that runs Calibre to do most things)

If not for the drm part I would be quite content with just using my OS's folder browser. But drm make this should be easy thing a mess.

ilovejedd · 05-21-2019, 02:11 PM

You can automate the sync process. I have RealTimeSync (included with FreeFileSync) setup to monitor my Calibre Library folder and copy changed files to a folder on Dropbox (with a 1 minute delay). This keeps my cloud backup/copy up to date without the pesky write conflicts.

It wouldn't really make you dependent on the computer with Calibre especially if you use external HDD instead of internal. Keeping copies on both computer and NAS just means you have another backup in case one of them fails.

Mind, you don't have to use Calibre for library management if you don't want to. You could just use it for intake to remove DRM. Then export using Save to disk and delete processed books from Calibre.

05-21-2019, 12:29 PM	#1
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,336 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Acces calibre library using other devices. I've been trying to find a proper way to store my books. Here's the thing. Say I have calibre on my desktop, pointing to the library on the nas. (how would calibre react to the nas being down anyway?) Now, say that with an other devices (laptop, phone, tablet) I want to get a book directly from the NAS. What would be the way to do that without having to deal with the messy folder structure? (in case it matter, nas is a synology 218+). And I forgot, I would need to be able to add a book from my android device (with or without drm) Last edited by EowynCarter; 05-21-2019 at 12:47 PM.

05-21-2019, 12:51 PM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	Calibre will simply tell you that the library is missing and give you some options on what you want to do (e.g. remove library, etc). My suggestion, don't store directly on NAS. Store locally either on internal drive or external USB hard drive. Then just use something like FreeFileSync to update the copy on the NAS. HDDs are really cheap now. You have multiple options a few of which are: install Calibre on your NAS and use the built-in content server to browse your books install COPS on your NAS (I think it's more lightweight) and use that to browse your books use save to disk to export books to a simpler directory structure (e.g. {author_sort}/{series}{series_index:\|\| - }{title} - {author}) #3 option above makes for easier navigation via file manager if you need to access files/folders directly. If you're willing to forgo direct file access and ignore what's under the hood, using Calibre content server or COPS gives you robust browse and search options. Adding books, I do via Dropbox. I set up a watched auto-add Dropbox folder for books in Calibre. Then I just upload to that Dropbox folder using my mobile devices. Last edited by ilovejedd; 05-21-2019 at 12:55 PM.

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05-21-2019, 01:20 PM	#4
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,336 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	I don't wanna duplicate the library (I do that, I get some out of sync issue at some point, and it make me dependant on the computer that runs Calibre to do most things) If not for the drm part I would be quite content with just using my OS's folder browser. But drm make this should be easy thing a mess.

05-21-2019, 02:11 PM	#5
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	You can automate the sync process. I have RealTimeSync (included with FreeFileSync) setup to monitor my Calibre Library folder and copy changed files to a folder on Dropbox (with a 1 minute delay). This keeps my cloud backup/copy up to date without the pesky write conflicts. It wouldn't really make you dependent on the computer with Calibre especially if you use external HDD instead of internal. Keeping copies on both computer and NAS just means you have another backup in case one of them fails. Mind, you don't have to use Calibre for library management if you don't want to. You could just use it for intake to remove DRM. Then export using Save to disk and delete processed books from Calibre.

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