Advice with Book managing in Calibre

Jo69 · 03-24-2017, 07:14 AM

I have 1,000 books in Calibre which I would like to manage better.
Last time it got to 1,000 I removed half of them I saved them in an Archive folder on my pc.
That worked quite well for a while as less to browse. However after a time I found sometimes I was downloading the same books again.
As read a lot and couldn't remember the titles. lol.
Any suggestions of another solution would be great.

What do you do?

gbm · 03-24-2017, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

I have 1,000 books in Calibre which I would like to manage better.
Last time it got to 1,000 I removed half of them I saved them in an Archive folder on my pc.
That worked quite well for a while as less to browse. However after a time I found sometimes I was downloading the same books again.
As read a lot and couldn't remember the titles. lol.
Any suggestions of another solution would be great.

What do you do?

Virtual libraries. I have mine based on a custom column.
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/vir...tual-libraries

bernie

pdurrant · 03-24-2017, 10:08 AM

I have about 5,000 books in my calibre library. I have a custom column that I use to note whether I've read the book or not.

And yes, check out virtual libraries.

peaceridge · 03-24-2017, 11:17 AM

While I do use virtual libraries, I found backing up my huge collection to sd card is really slow. So, I put books I'm not likely to read again into an Archival library. I move them there without deleting from my Current library. Then in the Current library, I add "Archived" to the tag and delete all the formats. So, their names are in the Current library, but the books are actually in the Archived one. This lets me know if I have the book just by looking at the Current library. Hope this explains my reasoning.

Sirtel · 03-24-2017, 01:02 PM

I keep all my books in Calibre, and I have several thousand. I don't use virtual libraries, they're all in one pot, so to speak. There is a custom column showing which Kindle the book is on, if any, and a column with reading information. If I'm about to buy/download a book and I'm not sure whether I already have it or not, I just search for title or author in my library. Searching is almost instantaneous, regardless of the total number of books in the library.

AnemicOak · 03-24-2017, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I have about 5,000 books in my calibre library. I have a custom column that I use to note whether I've read the book or not.

This is how I have mine. In addition I have it so the row text color changes to red for read books.

Terisa de morgan · 03-24-2017, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaceridge

While I do use virtual libraries, I found backing up my huge collection to sd card is really slow. So, I put books I'm not likely to read again into an Archival library. I move them there without deleting from my Current library. Then in the Current library, I add "Archived" to the tag and delete all the formats. So, their names are in the Current library, but the books are actually in the Archived one. This lets me know if I have the book just by looking at the Current library. Hope this explains my reasoning.

Thank you for the idea 💡

drjenkins · 03-24-2017, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaceridge

I found backing up my huge collection to sd card is really slow.

I use a synchronizing tool to back up my library, so only changed books are copied.

I use SynchronizeIt! just because I bought it years ago and I'm used to it. There are plenty of free file synchronizers around.
Comparison of file synchronization software

peaceridge · 03-24-2017, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjenkins

I use a synchronizing tool to back up my library, so only changed books are copied.

I use SynchronizeIt! just because I bought it years ago and I'm used to it. There are plenty of free file synchronizers around.
Comparison of file synchronization software

Thanks, I'll give them a look.

BetterRed · 03-24-2017, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjenkins

I use a synchronizing tool to back up my library, so only changed books are copied.

I use SynchronizeIt! just because I bought it years ago and I'm used to it. There are plenty of free file synchronizers around.
Comparison of file synchronization software

- except I use GoodSync, for the same reason.

BR

Jo69 · 03-25-2017, 05:55 AM

Wow thanks all

Such a lot of great ideas.
I'm finding it hard to search Calibre to check what I have
Because even though it highlights my requested book its always at the bottom to scroll
Used to show at the top.

Think will go with AnemicOak's answer.
Just need instructions of how to do it

Jo69 · 03-25-2017, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I keep all my books in Calibre, and I have several thousand. I don't use virtual libraries, they're all in one pot, so to speak. There is a custom column showing which Kindle the book is on, if any, and a column with reading information. If I'm about to buy/download a book and I'm not sure whether I already have it or not, I just search for title or author in my library. Searching is almost instantaneous, regardless of the total number of books in the library.

How come my searches are not instantaneous? lol

Ravensknight · 03-25-2017, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

How come my searches are not instantaneous? lol

What operating system are you using? And what are the specs on your hardware? I don't know that that would make much of a difference, but it might.

gbm · 03-25-2017, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

Wow thanks all

Such a lot of great ideas.
I'm finding it hard to search Calibre to check what I have
Because even though it highlights my requested book its always at the bottom to scroll
Used to show at the top.

Think will go with AnemicOak's answer.
Just need instructions of how to do it

See this sticky.

bernie

milady133 · 03-25-2017, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

I'm finding it hard to search Calibre to check what I have
Because even though it highlights my requested book its always at the bottom to scroll
Used to show at the top.

How are you searching? When I search for books Calibre shows up only the books that match my search, the rest of the books are filtered or of view until I delete the search

03-24-2017, 07:14 AM	#1
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	Advice with Book managing in Calibre I have 1,000 books in Calibre which I would like to manage better. Last time it got to 1,000 I removed half of them I saved them in an Archive folder on my pc. That worked quite well for a while as less to browse. However after a time I found sometimes I was downloading the same books again. As read a lot and couldn't remember the titles. lol. Any suggestions of another solution would be great. What do you do?

03-25-2017, 05:55 AM	#11
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	Wow thanks all Such a lot of great ideas. I'm finding it hard to search Calibre to check what I have Because even though it highlights my requested book its always at the bottom to scroll Used to show at the top. Think will go with AnemicOak's answer. Just need instructions of how to do it Last edited by Jo69; 03-25-2017 at 05:59 AM.

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03-24-2017, 10:08 AM	#3
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,909 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	I have about 5,000 books in my calibre library. I have a custom column that I use to note whether I've read the book or not. And yes, check out virtual libraries.

03-24-2017, 11:17 AM	#4
peaceridge Wizard Posts: 1,019 Karma: 4407864 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Kobo Aura1, Nexus7.2, Galaxy Tab A 8.4, Ipad Air & Mini 6	While I do use virtual libraries, I found backing up my huge collection to sd card is really slow. So, I put books I'm not likely to read again into an Archival library. I move them there without deleting from my Current library. Then in the Current library, I add "Archived" to the tag and delete all the formats. So, their names are in the Current library, but the books are actually in the Archived one. This lets me know if I have the book just by looking at the Current library. Hope this explains my reasoning.

03-24-2017, 01:02 PM	#5
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,434 Karma: 238916691 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I keep all my books in Calibre, and I have several thousand. I don't use virtual libraries, they're all in one pot, so to speak. There is a custom column showing which Kindle the book is on, if any, and a column with reading information. If I'm about to buy/download a book and I'm not sure whether I already have it or not, I just search for title or author in my library. Searching is almost instantaneous, regardless of the total number of books in the library.

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