Help me with organizing and viewing covers

[DawnDawn88]

I have calibre 4.11.2 and I use Windows 10 home 64-bit.

Here is what I'm doing I like to read my ebooks on my laptop and I plan to keep doing it that way mostly since it makes it easier to read for me then on tablets. But I will be updating my tablet a bit to make reading ebooks a bit more easier. But for now I am using my laptop.

So here is what I want to do I want to know if its possible to view details on file explorer in the "Details Panel" for ebooks once there selected rather then opening the ereader to view information. Plus is there a way to view the cover art for the ebook on file explorer as well. Plus is there a way to better organize the ebooks. I normally get ebooks from amazon the free ones or ones I pay for or even download from free ebook sites and convert them to pdf. But once I save the converted files to pdf and save them into a folder each book gets 3 file types and then I also get the 3 files in a folder named after the writer and not in the ebook title name.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions but other have used this program a lot more then I have so here goes the questions listed below.

(1) Can I view actual information in the file explorer rather then opening the ereader each time I want to know more information about a ebook?

(2) Is it possible to view ebook (PDF) files cover art in file explorer?

(3) Is it at all possible to to save a converted ebook (PDF) file in a folder name the books title rather then the authors name?

(4) Is it possible to save ebooks with specific keyword or tags so I can hover over the ebook file to help with organizing the ebooks.


Example of 1 when I click on and select a ebook file to view its full name I would like to be able to see cover art and other details in file explorer.

Example 2 same as 1 but including cover art if possible.

Example 3 when I save multiple converted pdf files to a folder on the hard drive all I see are folders named after the author not the actual ebook title. And I never download a book based on the author just the titles. So I would like to organize by title not author.

Example 4 I would like to have some assistance with organizing the ebook files if possible. example if there are any cookbooks I would like them place in a folder called cookbooks but if the title contains the word "Cookbook(s)" - "Recipe(s)" - "Cook(ing)". I would like these marked some how so that I could get help with organizing them. Or if its at all possible to organize by specific words I would like to do that if possible.

Now here is the reason why I'm asking I don't know much about how to use the program and don't even know if I'm asking this in the correct location. All I know is that I keep hearing about how amazing this program is and was wondering if this is at all possible to do with the program or if I need to organize all the ebooks myself one by one.

If someone already knows how to do this or if there is a tutorial on how to do any of these things please point me in the correct direction I would be greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU!

[theducks]

Is this a Calibre question?
You seem to be wanting to do this from the OS (Windows?)

Calibre is a LIBRARIAN (that does other stuff as well)

[stumped]

Originally Posted by theducks

Calibre is a LIBRARIAN (that does other stuff as well)

Yes, its a librarian, as stated, which does stuff its way. You have no say in how folders are organised, what files are called etc. Just like a physical library- you can't expect to walk in and tell the librarian how to organise the books

If you can't accept that, look for a different program.
If you can, then just add books and relax, let the "Librarian" do its thing. It has all the tagging, search, export facilities you will ever need. just dont expect to poke around inside.

there's probably a sticky or FAQ that explains all that, in more detail, and youtube will have many tutorials

[theducks]

Originally Posted by stumped

Yes, its a librarian, as stated, which does stuff its way. You have no say in how folders are organised, what files are called etc. Just like a physical library- you can't expect to walk in and tell the librarian how to organise the books

If you can't accept that, look for a different program.
If you can, then just add books and relax, let the "Librarian" do its thing. It has all the tagging, search, export facilities you will ever need. just dont expect to poke around inside.

there's probably a sticky or FAQ that explains all that, in more detail, and youtube will have many tutorials

Right. Just like my Public Library down the street.
I don't tell them where or how to put the shelves. Calibre puts the books its way for similar reason: how to know where they go.
Could have thing been different? Maybe a long time ago. There are too many lines of code. To many users of the existing structure. There comes a time where the term 'Cast in Concrete' applies. Any major change to the underlayment is a recipe for epic disaster (AFAIK Custom columns is the DB structure change in 10Y)

OP
Start with the FAQ at the download site. It has things that just might save you grief later .
Always ASK here before trying fixes. Do it wrong and recovery can be a nightmare.

[dwig]

The "zen of calibre" has, at its core, the philosophy that you should let calibre do things for you. Also, it's sort of like the Wizard of Oz in that you should "ignore the man behind the curtain" (e.g. look at the files themselves using macOS Finder, Windows File Explorer, etc). Let calibre display things for you, making changes in Layout options and using Preferences to adjust how things are displayed as necessary.

You can get functionality similar to what you describe by using calibre's core Library Manager, possibly with a few tweaks. By clicking on the "Layout" button on the right size of the bottom bar you can enable/disable various display options. I suggest you turn on Book Details which will display the cover and various details of the currently selected book in a panel at the right. You can control what details are shown using Preferences. You can have the main book display, either the default list mode or the Cover Grid, default to sorting by whatever column you wish. It defaults to Title, but you can change it.

BTW, PDF files do not have true "covers". Most ebook apps, calibre included, will treat the first page of the PDF as if it were a cover.

[theducks]

If you have multiple Monitors: I suggest The I(nfo) pane instead of Details. (Leaves more room for the spreadsheet)

[DawnDawn88]

I don't mean to sound stupid I just asked a few questions to see if it had already been done by others or to see if it was even possible.

I don't really use this program much I just use it to convert ebooks to pdf and then I open each ebook file once converted and move the pdf to a new folder called "Ebook" but there is no information on the pdf files it just shows the file icon and the name. I was wondering if there was a way to organize these specific files by opening them in the calibre program and then saving select ebooks to select with specific words from the title. Rather then going to the file explorer and organizing everything in there I was wondering if calbre could be used in a way to organize the files a bit differently.

But if it can't be done oh well.

I'M NOT SAYING I WISH TO TELL THEM HOW TO ORGANIZE ANYTHING I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT ALREADY COULD OR NOT. SINCE I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE PROGRAM I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

I don't mean to sound rude or anything but that's all I was really wanting to know.

[stumped]

Look into templates . Calibre uses them for various things like save to disc and they can be customised.
That may help.

It's in the manual.
The calibre template language. The calibre template language is used in various places. It is used to control the folder structure and file name when saving files from the calibre library to the disk or e-book reader. It is also used to define “virtual” columns that contain data from other columns and so on.
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com › t...
The calibre template language — calibre 4.12.0 documentation - calibre User Manual

[BetterRed]

@DawnDawn88 - my suggestion is to watch the Video Tutorials

As a general rule I don't like or recommend 'instructional' videos, but these are an exception, I watched the main one in segments - pausing at the end of each to try to use the feature just described - rewind/repeat if I didn't get it.

I also recommend skimming the calibre User Manual introductory page and Table of Contents, and the "Graphical User Interface" section. That will introduce you to the 'calibre terminology'.

I couldn't see anything in your first post that you can't do readily in calibre - once you get to know the basics.

BR

[Horus68]

Originally Posted by DawnDawn88

If someone already knows how to do this or if there is a tutorial on how to do any of these things please point me in the correct direction I would be greatly appreciated.

You should not post so different questions on the same post but lets go on...

(1) Can I view actual information in the file explorer rather then opening the ereader each time I want to know more information about a ebook?
Only part of it (file details for PDF) or tags in Windows explorer

(2) Is it possible to view ebook (PDF) files cover art in file explorer?
Yes (not a Calibre issue, its PDF thumbnail previews on windows) I use Windows 10. My default PDF program is PDF-XChange Viewer
For Acrobat: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/usin...-explorer.html


(3) Is it at all possible to to save a converted ebook (PDF) file in a folder name the books title rather then the authors name?
Yes. You need to use the "Save to disk" button in Calibre and it will create a copy of the file in your choosen folder.
Go to "Preferences / Save to disk/ Template" and create a template with the file structure you need

(4) Is it possible to save ebooks with specific keyword or tags so I can hover over the ebook file to help with organizing the ebooks.
Yes. Use the "Create catalogue" button.
But you should prefer to work inside Calibre: Start with a "Right click" over a book, choose "similar books /Tags" (or use saved searches, or just ordering rows).
But you will end up opting for "Virtual libraries" in Calibre

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by stumped

Yes, its a librarian, as stated, which does stuff its way. You have no say in how folders are organised, what files are called etc. Just like a physical library- you can't expect to walk in and tell the librarian how to organise the books

If you can't accept that, look for a different program.
If you can, then just add books and relax, let the "Librarian" do its thing. It has all the tagging, search, export facilities you will ever need. just dont expect to poke around inside.

there's probably a sticky or FAQ that explains all that, in more detail, and youtube will have many tutorials

Yes you can look for a different program. But you will not find a program even 1/2 as good.

[DawnDawn88]

Originally Posted by Horus68

You should not post so different questions on the same post but lets go on...

(1) Can I view actual information in the file explorer rather then opening the ereader each time I want to know more information about a ebook?
Only part of it (file details for PDF) or tags in Windows explorer

(2) Is it possible to view ebook (PDF) files cover art in file explorer?
Yes (not a Calibre issue, its PDF thumbnail previews on windows) I use Windows 10. My default PDF program is PDF-XChange Viewer
For Acrobat: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/usin...-explorer.html


(3) Is it at all possible to to save a converted ebook (PDF) file in a folder name the books title rather then the authors name?
Yes. You need to use the "Save to disk" button in Calibre and it will create a copy of the file in your choosen folder.
Go to "Preferences / Save to disk/ Template" and create a template with the file structure you need

(4) Is it possible to save ebooks with specific keyword or tags so I can hover over the ebook file to help with organizing the ebooks.
Yes. Use the "Create catalogue" button.
But you should prefer to work inside Calibre: Start with a "Right click" over a book, choose "similar books /Tags" (or use saved searches, or just ordering rows).
But you will end up opting for "Virtual libraries" in Calibre

Okay first of all I did tinker with the settings in windows 10 home so I could change my folder icons. And I turned of thumbnails so now I guess I will need to turn them back on. Once I do hopefully I can see cover art rather then just the google chrome icon. Its not to easy to see the books especially books with longer titles. Its nice to see the cover art and be able to see what your clicking on before you click on it.

I will read through the tips you left me once I turn back on thumbnails. Thank you for the help I just didn't know if these could be done or not and if it was to be done in the program or in plugins that needed to be downloaded.

thank you for the help.

[stumped]

pdf covers
something I no longer really use so out of curiosity i looked on my current PC which has Edge as the default PDF app, and which has never been tweaked to get covers to work on theis PC. there are no nice thumbnails in explorer, just the generic icon
from memory ADOBE was a better choice for cover images - but they keep changing the software, In win 10 there was/is some app that also needed adobe AIR, and which replaced/updated the various acrobat versions. I don't recall how well/ badly that did covers, because once W10 installs started to default to edge for PDF, I went with that.
I used to have a lot of PDF music books and at one time i had proper cover images showing for all of those, but I don't remember how much tweaking I had to do to get to that

[Horus68]

PDF cover: you need to verify your folder options
https://www.quora.com/Why-isnt-my-Wi...-for-PDF-files

and to have a PDF Preview Handler
https://www.intowindows.com/enable-t...file-explorer/

Edge for PDF? Not for me! To change:
https://windowsreport.com/pdf-thumbn...er-windows-10/

[stumped]

Originally Posted by Horus68

Edge for PDF? Not for me! To change:
https://windowsreport.com/pdf-thumbn...er-windows-10/

I gave up the fight. Windows resets it to edge at every opportunity. Plus I never liked Adobe products much. It's nice not to have flash etc installed, with its endless updates and security issues.

Edge is fine for the occasional user manual or spec sheet. I don't collect any reading material in pdf.
I use Google's free pdf reader on tablets.