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#1 |
Zealot
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Multiple Libraries v Virtual Libraries
I have a few questions on multiple libraries v virtual libraries that I would appreciate any input on. I know there are many different opinions and preferences but I’m interested to know why you choose to manage your library a certain way etc…
I use both multiple libraries and virtual libraries, although thinking of really only using multiple libraries. I don't need to search between the different libraries. I'm probably not using virtual libraries to their fullest potential, but I can look at that later. 1. Do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries? 2. How do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries? Multiple libraries - Do you use them to manage different types of libraries? I.e Books, Comics, Manuals, Journals etc...or for different reasons - To review etc... Virtual libraries - How do you use virtual libraries? Why? List some examples. The manual lists the following examples. Books added to calibre in the last day:: date:>1daysago Books added to calibre in the last month:: date:>30daysago Books with a rating of 5 stars:: rating:5 Books with a rating of at least 4 stars:: rating:>=4 Books with no rating:: rating:false Periodicals downloaded by the Fetch News function in calibre:: tags:=News and author:=calibre Books with no tags:: tags:false Books with no covers:: cover:false 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using multiple libraries or virtual libraries?
Multiple libraries Strengths
Weaknesses
Virtual libraries Strengths
Sorry...lots of questions...but very keen to hear everyone’s thoughts. Inukami |
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#2 | |
null operator (he/him)
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Last edited by BetterRed; 10-28-2018 at 07:37 AM. |
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#3 |
hopeless n00b
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1. Do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries?
Both. 2. How do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries? Multiple libraries - Do you use them to manage different types of libraries? I.e Books, Comics, Manuals, Journals etc...or for different reasons - To review etc... I use separate libraries for commercial books and fanfiction. Actually, I even use separate Calibre Portable installs because I use different tweaks for the two (author sort is the biggie). When I'm planning on making significant changes to the library metadata and/or structure, I'll work on a separate full copy that would either replace my current library or get scrapped. Because of the way Calibre handles conversion, I also have a duplicate library where I keep my tweaked ePubs. Basically, I want to keep the originals but use tweaked ePubs for conversion but Calibre doesn't allow that so separate libraries was the way to go. Virtual libraries - How do you use virtual libraries? Why? List some examples. I use virtual libraries to isolate recently downloaded books that require metadata processing and cleanup. I have a VL for books with tag _new_ and the rest (cover check, etc), I just handle via saved searches. On my fanfiction library, I also use VLs to separate by fandoms/crossover. 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using multiple libraries or virtual libraries?
Multiple libraries Strengths
Weaknesses
Virtual libraries Strengths
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#4 |
Grand Sorcerer
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I don't use virtual libraries. My books (more than 10 000) are categorized by various tags and custom column entries. To restrict my current view to a select group I use saved searches, of which I have several.
I do have a couple of different libraries. My main one and the one I use for sending books to my Kindles (all the books in that library are in azw3 format). The books in the Send-to-Kindle library are in the main library too, just not always in azw3. Strictly speaking I don't need a separate library for sending books to device, of course, but I've found it's easier to manage books currently on my Kindles this way. I use Calibre Companion, but not very often, because I very rarely read books on my phone. |
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#5 | |
Well trained by Cats
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Quote:
Answers inline |
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#6 | |
null operator (he/him)
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Quote:
Per-Library Tweak for Calibre Global Tweak for Author Sort Method Per-Library Tweak for Adding Books for 'read file metadata' from either file contents or file name Per-Library Tweak for Book Automatic Adding Directory I toyed with multiple instances of Portable for a while, but I found the lack of ability to quickly switch between libraries and the need to maintain the same settings/customisations plugins etc in the different configurations far too much of a nuisance. The per library tweaks in JobSpy solved some of that. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 10-28-2018 at 05:45 PM. |
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#7 |
Guru
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I have a separate library for fanfiction but mostly I use virtual libraries to organize my books. I have virtual libraries for my paper books, ebooks, children's books, adult books, fiction, nonfiction, public domain/creative commons, .... etc. etc. as well as the not infrequent temporary virtual library to fit a short term need.
I prefer virtual libraries because my categories overlap and I do not want to have to search more then one library to find all books fitting a particular category. I don't use a lot of custom columns and those I use are applied to the majority of my books regardless of type |
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#8 | |
hopeless n00b
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Quote:
To be honest, I haven't run the Calibre Portable install for my normal book library in years. I only run Calibre GUI when I need to clean up metadata and do conversions for new acquisitions and I haven't purchased new "normal" books since, hmm, around 2014? Anyway, the library is accessible to my reading devices at any given time via calibre-php-server or Dropbox. I'll probably add the libraries into one Calibre Portable install if/when the need arises. Right now, I'm more concerned with organizing and normalizing tags for my AO3 library (which I've just let accumulate on Marvin and/or Dropbox since 2014). That said, while Job Spy's per library tweaks eliminates the need for separate Calibre Portable instances, it still requires the use of separate libraries. Can't use it for a single library that just make use of virtual libraries. |
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#9 |
Zealot
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Thanks for everyone's detailed responses.
After reading the various response, I decided to separate my libraries which is working better for me know. Most of you seemed to imply that separate libraries work better for different publication types (i.e Books v Comics), and this seems to apply to my case as well. Thanks Inukami |
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#10 |
Addict
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I tried out Virtual Libraries and that seems to help with my problem of having my husband wade through my journal articles and curriculum to find stuff that he would like. I recently cleaned up my library with tags so it is easy to create the virtual library and use it via the Calibre web server.
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#11 |
Chalut o/
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1. Do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries? 2. How do you use multiple libraries or/and virtual libraries?
Multiple libraries 2 physical libraries with several virtual libraries inside : One for eBooks (is my main and the reference for others), the second for Comics and Mangas. A third 3 for non-French eBooks (because I'm), but rarely used (storage/archive). Sometimes, I create a 4th physical libraries, for books coming from multiple sources and on which I will have to do a lot of sorting work, editing metadata, or even completely rework the ePubs. This physical libraries is temporary and the books will be added in the main libraries once the work is finished. But it takes a lot of books for such a method to be used (like Perry Rhodan's complete serie... 373 books in France) Virtual libraries In my main library, the books are structured around 2 axes
3 utilities, metadata not checked, not in one of the 4 main category and books to be rework. And with a little trick, I created 2 virtual libraries that when I plug in my e-redear, Calibre check the books on it and list me at a glance the books added or deleted them. 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using multiple libraries or virtual libraries?
Multiple physical libraries Strengths
Virtual libraries Strengths
Weaknesses
You marked as an advantage for Multiple physical libraries, the ability to choose and display several different columns depending on the libraries. Maybe. But in this case I present to you View Manager, a plugin that allows you to save, sort and modify the order of the displayed columns. And even to sort your libraries if necessary. EDIT : S***, thank for the necropost, harriska2 ![]() Last edited by un_pogaz; 09-24-2019 at 08:02 AM. |
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#12 |
Wizard
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I have 2 physical libraries set up much like you. One for Manga and comics [I call it archived&comics] and a Current one. I also keep my archival books on the archived&comics library. In my Current library, I tag them Archived, move them to the archived library, and then remove specific formats from the books on the Current library, but leave the book title in the Current library. If I need it, I get it from the archived. This allows me to keep a list of all my books on the Current library, but it is smaller data-wise and more quickly backed up.
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#13 | |
Addict
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Quote:
One of these days, I'll hand-edit the ePubs, and gets them down to something more reasonable. (Why on earth is an ePub 2 GB in size? Or a PDF 5 GB in size? I can understand CBZ and CBRs coming in at that size, because they are essentially photo-galleries in an archive file format.) Keep all of you ebooks under 100 MB in size, and you won't notice a speed difference. I'm almost at the point of splitting a couple of books of poetry into the individual poems, because the number of items doesn't appear to affect the speed of Calibre, and hunting for specific poems within books can be aggravating. |
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#14 |
Well trained by Cats
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Calibres speed is mostly governed by the size of Metadata.db and RAM
Loads of custom fields, long winded comments will make the DB bigger. The actual size of the book only matters when converting, editing, viewing and embedding metadata. Do run the first phase of Library Maintenance if you have done some major pruning / renaming. Those entries are only inactive until the house is cleaned ![]() |
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calibre, multiple libraries, virtual libraries |
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