[Device Plugin] iOS reader applications

[mkalman]

Does anyone have the patience for an old man to help update my library on Marvin (on iPad running 8.0.2) from Calibre? I use the latest iTunes and OSX 10.9 on a mac laptop. I was able to load the iOS applications plugin and the Marvin XD but I see no place on Calibre that recognizes my iPad or how to connect wirelessly or otherwise with the Marvin App.

[ChristopherTD]

FWIW, I also still get the Malformed Database message when connecting iPad Air (iOS 8.02) to Calibre 2.5 with the 1.4.4 IOSRA plugin under OS/X 10.9.5

[Montana Harper]

Originally Posted by mkalman

Does anyone have the patience for an old man to help update my library on Marvin (on iPad running 8.0.2) from Calibre? I use the latest iTunes and OSX 10.9 on a mac laptop. I was able to load the iOS applications plugin and the Marvin XD but I see no place on Calibre that recognizes my iPad or how to connect wirelessly or otherwise with the Marvin App.

I can try to help you. I currently don't have a fully working setup, but I'll do as much from memory as I can. This is for connecting via a cable between your computer and your device.

First, you need to check your settings for MarvinXD and iOSR:

Preferences > Change Calibre Behavior > Plugins

search for iOS

when you find iOS reader applications (1.4.4), choose the "Customize plugin" button at the bottom. Make sure that in the window that pops up, under the "General options" tab, "Preferred iOS reader application" is set to Marvin.

in the "Marvin options" tab, make sure the settings are the way you want them, and then click "OK."

Now, search for Marvin XD, and click on "Customize plugin" and set up any custom columns you want.

Once you've clicked okay, then click the green "Apply" checkmark at the top of the Preferences menu. You'll probably have to restart Calibre at this point.

Once Calibre is back up, connect your device and start up the Calibre connector on it. After a few moments, you should get a few new icons in your main toolbar.

If you don't:

Preferences > Change Calibre behavior > Toolbar

Click on the "Click to choose toolbar or menu to customize" bar near the top, and select "The main toolbar when a device is connected" from the dropdown menu.

Find Marvin XD, which *should* be in the list to the left (Available actions). Highlight it and click on the right arrow in between the two columns to move it over onto the "connected" toolbar. You also need "Send to device" in the right-hand list, if it's not already. When you're done, click the "Apply" checkmark again, disconnect your device, and restart Calibre if you're told to.

Repeat the previous attempt to connect.

If you still can't get the Marvin icon to appear on your toolbar after that, I have no clue what to do.

If this doesn't work and you want to try connecting wirelessly, let me know and I'll walk you through that.

[acowan0886]

I cannot customize the iOS reader application plug-in. No the device is not plugged in.

ImportError:No module named PYQt4.

I never had problems with this until I installed the latest Calibre.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by acowan0886

I cannot customize the iOS reader application plug-in. No the device is not plugged in.

ImportError:No module named PYQt4.

I never had problems with this until I installed the latest Calibre.

Did you update the plugin to the latest version? If so, this might help:

Originally Posted by Philantrop

Go to Preferences | Advanced | Plugins | Device Interface plugins, select iOS reader applications.
Click Remove plugin.
Click Apply.
Go to Preferences | Advanced | Miscellaneous, click Open calibre configuration directory.
Open the plugins folder.
Delete iOS reader applications.json.
Delete the iOS_reader_applications_resources folder.
Restart calibre.

Then try installing the plugin(s) again.

[mkalman]

Originally Posted by Montana Harper

That screen is all you'll see on your device. Everything else has to be done from the Calibre end of things. Once you have the connector showing ready on your device, do you have the MarvinXD button on your menu bar in Calibre?

(I recommend also using the Reading List plugin, which allows you to queue items to be sync'd to your device later.)

Thanks. I am seeing the calibre connector screen showing ready but not the Marvin XD button or anything like it on the Calibre. The plugin is abled. On the reader the calibre connector screen moves around from time to time... but that is all

[chookie2]

I am finding that each time I close Calibre it is uninstalling IOSRA. Here is the latest message when I tried to reinstall.
calibre, version 2.5.0
ERROR: Install Plugin Failed: A problem occurred while installing this plugin. This plugin will now be uninstalled. Please post the error message in details below into the forum thread for this plugin and restart Calibre.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\plugin_updater.py", line 712, in _install_clicked
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 383, in add_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 550, in initialize_plugin
InvalidPlugin: Initialization of plugin Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 544, in initialize_plugin
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 910, in initialize
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 1239, in _get_connected_device_info
InitialConnectionError: Unable to connect to iDevice
failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 544, in initialize_plugin
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 910, in initialize
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 1239, in _get_connected_device_info
InitialConnectionError: Unable to connect to iDevice

[stanhere]

Originally Posted by chookie2

I am finding that each time I close Calibre it is uninstalling IOSRA. Here is the latest message when I tried to reinstall.
calibre, version 2.5.0
ERROR: Install Plugin Failed: A problem occurred while installing this plugin. This plugin will now be uninstalled. Please post the error message in details below into the forum thread for this plugin and restart Calibre.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\plugin_updater.py", line 712, in _install_clicked
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 383, in add_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 550, in initialize_plugin
InvalidPlugin: Initialization of plugin Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 544, in initialize_plugin
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 910, in initialize
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 1239, in _get_connected_device_info
InitialConnectionError: Unable to connect to iDevice
failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 544, in initialize_plugin
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 910, in initialize
File "calibre_plugins.ios_reader_apps.__init__", line 1239, in _get_connected_device_info
InitialConnectionError: Unable to connect to iDevice

Yes, Exactly! ...... Ditto here ........ Add me to this 'Out-of-Commision' Queue.

I shouldn't have updated from iOS 7.x to 8.02 so quickly!

[mgarman14]

so quick update - Still getting the same error as before with both my iPad and iPad mini. Even after reinstalling calibre and plug ins, and reseting my network settings.

But oddly, the brand new iPhone 6 plus works without a problem. All are running iOS 8.0.2

[chookie2]

Doesn't matter how many times I uninstall and reinstall Calibre & Marvin XD it loses the connection to IOSRA and tells me cannot connect to device and Marvin is not coming up, it was fine before the update. Am just hoping someone is working on a fix or I will opt back ibooks and just read what I have on the ipad but it denies me the chance to add to series ..and that is a real pain. GRRR

[Marcy]

.....

[Marcy]

.....

[Marcy]

Originally Posted by Marcy

So, I updated calibre to 1.48 and updated the Marvin plug-in. But now the plug-in doesn't appear on my toolbar, even though in preferences it shows it as being selected to be there. Any suggestions?

Addendum: And I gave in and updated to 2.5.0. I'm told I need to install iOS reader applications to get Marvin XD to install.

I've installed it. But Marvin XD doesn't appear, even though it appears in my plugin list as active.

Addendum 2: I've uninstalled and reinstalled everything. I've upgraded. I get endless windows now popping up saying iOS reader application "Unable to connect to iDevice." In the time it took me to type this short paragraph, 28 of those windows popped up. And now that I closed those 28 more keep appearing at an alarming rate.

[ChristopherTD]

Hi Marcy
The state with this plugin is a little troubled at the moment. The Calibre 2.X update required plugins to be slightly reworked to behave correctly, and the IOSRA and Marvin XD plugins were patched to work that way.

Unfortunately something in that transition meant that some, but not all, OS/X users encountered errors when connecting. This problem is still to be resolved.

To make matters more confusing Apple's update to iOS 8 seems to have introduced new problems, this time for all users, OS/X or Windows.

All of these are being looked into, but it may be a while before the situation settles down. In the meantime, alas, the Calibre/Marvin XD path is unavailable.

[stanhere]

To anyone new landing in this thread with iPad / Calibre comm problems ......ChristopherTD's post #209 above precisely outlines what's now at issue that encompasses Apple's iOS8.x, Goval's Calibre & Krueger's two key, Apple-Marvin PlugIns.

Let's hope that Kovid Goyal, Wulf Krueger & Apple work efficiently to solve a knotty problem, soon!