Using calibre on multiple computers

[PeterT]

Why not use the sleep command to wait for a predetermined time period rather than a while loop?

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by sheepdog

...
sleep 15
...

instead of your for loops.

Oh. PeterT made the same suggestion. Though there probably is (or should be) a better way to query the Dropbox software directly instead of waiting some arbitary time. You might also consider using rclone which is similar to rsync but for cloud storage services like Dropbox and OneDrive. I have used rclone for replication against OneDrive. It worked.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I'm pretty sure those who want to do it are going to do it anyway.

But at least they've been warned if they read this thread.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by sheepdog

I certainly agree, that you cannot depend upon Dropbox alone, and you need to backup and check the libraries often. That said, here is a simple-minded script that works on my linux machine to do what was suggested:

deleted the code as I don't want to help anyone corrupt their library

Please make a new script that will use rsync to sync from your active library to your dropbox directory to be able to sync your library without risk of your active library becoming corrupt.

Also, please delete your existing script or others will use it and corrupt their library.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please make a new script that will use rsync to sync from your active library to your dropbox directory to be able to sync your library without risk of your active library becoming corrupt.

rclone is the superior tool. It is designed specifically to work with cloud storage providers like Dropbox and OneDrive.

[sheepdog]

Yes, corrected script follows:

#!/bin/bash

dropbox start
dropbox status
echo -n "SYNCING CALIBRE"
wait_time=15
i=0
while [ $i -le $wait_time ]; do
	sleep 1
	echo -n .
	((i++))
done
dropbox stop
echo -n "STOPPING DROPBOX"
i=0
while [ $i -le $wait_time ]; do
	sleep 1
	echo -n .
	((i++))
done
calibre 
echo - n "SYNCING DROPBOX"
i=0
while [ $i -le $wait_time ]; do
	sleep 1
	echo -n .
	((i++))
done
dropbox start
dropbox status
i=0
while [ $i -le $wait_time ]; do
	sleep 1
	echo -n .
	((i++))
done
dropbox stop

The Dropbox does not appear to have a method for querying the sync state. So the script uses an arbitrary wait time.

[PeterT]

Umm.. why not replace

i=0
while [ $i -le $wait_time ]; do
	sleep 1
	echo -n .
	((i++))
done

by

sleep $wait_time

Sure you won't get a snazzy dot being displayed every second but....

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ratinox

rclone is the superior tool. It is designed specifically to work with cloud storage providers like Dropbox and OneDrive.

Does rclone do a one way sync to Dropbox and/or OneDrive?

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Does rclone do a one way sync to Dropbox and/or OneDrive?

From the documentation

rclone sync
Make source and dest identical, modifying destination only.

and yes, it supports DropBox and OneDrive

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by ratinox

rclone is the superior tool. It is designed specifically to work with cloud storage providers like Dropbox and OneDrive.

Thanks for suggesting rclone. It's allowed me easy data backup from my pikapod app to local storage.