I am seeking advice regarding my ebook collection on a Linux system, which is stored on an external drive and sorted into categories. However, there are still many unsorted ebooks. I have tried using Calibre for organization, but it creates duplicate files during import on my main drive where I don’t want to keep any media. I would like to:

  • Use Calibre’s automatic organization (tags, etc.) without duplicating files
  • Maintain my existing folder structure while using Calibre
  • Automatically sort the remaining ebooks into my existing categories/folder structure

I am considering the use of symlinks to maintain the existing folder structure if there is a simple way to automate the process due to my very large collection.

Regarding automatic sorting by category, I am looking for a solution that doesn’t require manual organization or a significant time investment. I’m wondering if there’s a way to extract metadata based on file hashes or any other method that doesn’t involve manual work. Most of the files should have title and author metadata, but some won’t.

Has anyone encountered a similar problem and found a solution? I would appreciate any suggestions for tools, scripts, or workflows that might help. Thank you in advance for any advice!

  • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    3 months ago

    Yeah, I’ve tried, both for actual files and for tracking my reading across multiple platforms, and nothing really seems to fit my needs, especially when I want to actually read them on an Android ereader. Anything I choose seems to have a lot of manual effort, frequently, or just a dumpster fire of an actual reading experience.

    I feel like I’m eventually going to have to make my own, which is fine, I guess, but I’m definitely not comfortable actually managing a community project or just building up the codebase or documentation to the level someone else would be enthusiastic to use as a jumping off point to manage themselves, so it will probably just stay a personal project that ends up not helping anyone else solve the same problems I have.

    • rand_alpha19@moist.catsweat.com
      0·
      3 months ago

      Have you tried Kavita? I use it to read comics and e-books on my Android tablet and my Kindle Paperwhite. It also uses OPDS so it has compatibility with some reading apps too, like KOReader, FB Reader, Mihon/Tachiyomi, Moon+ Reader, etc.

      Website

      Demo - Username: demouser Password: Demouser64

      • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        3 months ago

        I’m aware of it and explored it a little, but the folder structure requirements are the opposite of what I’m interested in. I want to dump everything in one place and use the UX of my reader to manually build series, adjust metadata, and do everything else.

        Most of the benefits of it are really only useful in its browser based reader, which is also a dealbreaker, and it doesn’t really add anything to Moon Reader because OPDS integration doesn’t actually sync anything, which is the whole reason I’d want a dedicated server over just having everything in a cloud drive.

        It’s cool if it works for you, but it doesn’t really solve any of the problems I want solved.

        • rand_alpha19@moist.catsweat.com
          0·
          3 months ago

          Hm, well, hopefully my other comment helps you then. I don’t think there’s an automated tool for this — though a shell script might do the trick, or at least get you most of the way, if you have basic scripting knowledge.

          • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
            0·
            3 months ago

            I don’t want anything automated. I just want to be able to do it manually with a database that handles all of the metadata and organization and literally no folders but the top level one containing every file. Calibre’s insistence on me either having incorrect author information or splitting everything with multiple authors into unique folders for every combination is most of the reason I can’t stand it. The actual bulk editing tools are good. The end result of a mess of folders isn’t.

            I’m not OK with folders, especially nested folders.

            • rand_alpha19@moist.catsweat.com
              0·
              3 months ago

              Okay? My other comment might help you then, you can change in the preferences whether to put your library in nested folders or not.

              If all else fails, make a post on the MobileRead forums; there are lots of nice and knowledgeable book people there with tons of Calibre experience.

              I’m not trying to get you to do something you don’t want to, so your wall of text doesn’t really make sense to be directed at me. I didn’t make Calibre.