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Author Topic: An Introduction to Calibre  (Read 101649 times)

Offline jessadia

An Introduction to Calibre
« on: April 16, 2012, 09:10 AM »
I recently came to a conclusion that maybe the reason members are requesting PDF (or various eBook formats) instead of converting themselves with Calibre is because they might not know how to use Calibre, so I have decided to make a tutorial to all things Calibre. In this post I will teach you, step-by-step, the basics to Calibre- and a few added bonuses. I will not be posting any DRM Removal techniques or tips so if that is what you are looking for, read no further....

You may be asking: What is Calibre?

To answer your question, Calibre is a free downloadable program used to convert eBooks from one format to another. It supports 15 different input/output formats (click spoiler for a full list) and can do a multitude of various other tasks, such as: change font sizes, allow you to upload or change covers, smarten punctuation, remove DRM through plugins (will not be talking about further), upload books direct to eReaders via wifi, and can even be used as an eReader for your PC.

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.

The first thing you want to do if you do not have Calibre is download it. You can download it here You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login- free. Calibre will prompt you automatically when an update is available, if you choose not to update at that time but wish to do so later you can check along the bottom bar- this shows your current version and whether or not an update is available.


How to convert using Calibre:

To convert, simply click the "Add Books" icon on the top left- this will open a "select books" window. Locate the book/books-8406 you wish to upload (you can select more than one by holding CTRL + clicking on each book), then click "open".

Next highlight the book you would like to convert (again, can hold CTRL + click multiple books for quicker converting if you have more than one book you'd like to convert). You can either click the "convert ebooks" icon along the top bar or right click and scroll down- select convert individually, a new window will open for converting. Take a moment to become familiar with this window:

Notice that along the left bar there is a list of icons:
Metadata- this is where the basic information for the ebook is located, such as author name, book title, cover image, publisher info, tags, and description.
Look&Feel- here you can adjust font sizes, remove or add spacing between paragraphs, and smarten punctuation
Heuristic Processing- this is for the more 'advanced' user: here you can look for and fix common patterns in the ebook (such as remove the dreaded: converted by ambertext, etc lines)
Page Setup- with this you can adjust the pages to better suit your specific eReader, along with adjusting margins
Structure Detection- used to remove 'fake' margins, insert page breaks, detect chapters or even add the metadata (tags/description) into the beginning of the book
Table of Contents- here you can set up or delete Table of Contents in your ebook
Search and Replace- again, this is for 'advanced' users: used to search and replace 'regular expressions' throughout the ebook (you could search for expressions like: UN-CORRECTED EPROOF, NOT FOR SALE and replace with blank text)
format Output- used to further adjust your output ebook format: allows you to select no default cover, not split page breaks, etc
debug- advanced users: allows you to place a debug output info into a specified folder

If all you want to do is convert from one format to another, simply select to convert the ebook, choose your output format from the drop down menu on the upper right hand side and, on the Metadata page, click OK. Back on the calibre home screen you will notice a bar in the bottom right hand processing your request, when finished right click the ebook, select save to disk and choose an option then enter a destination (it will once again process and then open a new window where the book is saved). *You can select to save both formats (input & output) or simply the output. If you have your eReader attached to your PC you can also send the converted copy directly there by selecting 'send to' and then your device.


To Add/Change a Book Cover:

Select to convert the book, on the Metadata page you will notice a large box in the middle of the screen (this shows the current cover)- if you like the cover change nothing, if you would like to insert your own cover there is a long white box beneath the picture entitled Change cover image- click the icon at the end, select a cover image and click ok.


To Change Text Size:

Select to convert ebook, click the Look&Feel icon (paint bucket), the third line down will say Font size key- click the icon at the end of the white bar to open the new window. Scroll to near the bottom and under Output Document you will notice a base font size- use the arrows to adjust the font size. PDF is traditionally an 8pt font, when converting to PDF for easier to read font select between 10-12 pt depending on preference (size used by most eReaders) select ok.


Calibre DRM Help:

 If you need help with or have questions about DRM Removal please visit this thread You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

If you have any questions or anything to add, please feel free to post. I do not encourage discussion about DRM Removal and will delete all posts immediately referring to it.





GoodReads Sync Plugin mini-tutorial
*Credit to Geckogirl



There is a plugin for calibre( not by calibre) called goodreads sync that allows you to connect your good reads account with your calibre 

I work out of Windows 7 so my instructions are based on that, older versions of Windows are pretty much the same, but some of the locations may be different. for Mac users the instructions are basically the same, just not sure where everything is located.

1. open a web browser page, click internet options ( under the tools tab) choose programs tab, and make sure internet explorer is checked as you default web browser. close all open web pages.

2. Open calibre, in the bottom right it will tell you if there is an update for your calibre. 
If there is, update before continuing.

Close Calibre,  and go to this link

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choose your platform, choose download, choose run

the newest version will install ( this will not harm or change anything in your calibre library)

when finished reboot your pc

2. Open calibre, choose preferences, choose plugins ( green puzzle piece) choose get new plugins ( yellow puzzle piece). choose drop down not installed. choose goodreads sync and install ( there is another plugin called goodreads just ignore it) you will be asked where you want it ( menu bar, menu bar when device is connected etc) I choose secondary menu bar so it shows up whether my ereader is connected or not.

** it might tell you this plugin is a security risk and ask you if you still want to restart it, just click yes, i have run it through my norton and it is virus free, it only says security risk because info is being sent online between your pc and a web page.

3. restart calibre

4. you should see the goodreads icon, click on it and choose customize plugin, it will ask you for a user name, it does not matter what this user name is, i used my goodreads user name. this will bring you to a new window.

5 in the upper right corner choose authorized plugin ( Please make sure you do not have an open web browser) This should bring up a goodreads web page that asks you to allow or deny. choose allow.

Thats it, you can now sync books back and forth. goodreads does have a limit so it is suggested no more than 50 books at a time, and it might still ask you to do less.

***

click a book, click link to goodreads, if it doesnt come up click search goodreads( i've only seen issues with authors whose names are initials. for example C. T. Adams won't come up, goodreads lists it as C.T. adams with no space between. ) you can copy and paste the web addy into the box on calibre and it will sync. click ok to go to next book or be done linking

click goodreads icon, click on add to shelf choose one shelf, or choose multiple shelves by holding down the ctrl key for example own, to read or own, favorite depending on what shelves you have set up on goodreads.



Some helpful links:

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« Last Edit: May 14, 2012, 06:10 PM by Frenchtoast97 »
 
The following users thanked this post: Loopy, ereaderuser, ellawareye1, boomersusie, ladyvos, scoleo730, Brenda

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Offline Gus

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2012, 12:24 PM »
Hello Jessadia !
Thanks for the tips ! I do actually have Calibre and have been using it as my own personal library and also to convert books, but I didn't know I could change font size, remove margins, spaces or whatever else you said it can do. The truth is I just never bothered to check : I could download almost any books and read them, that was all I was asking for.
But now I realize my "library" can really become just what I really want it to be, and that's fantastic !  :'(
Thank you so much...  ;D ;D ;D ;D
 

Offline summeranne

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2012, 10:46 PM »
Thanks for this! I just purchased my first ereader tonight after giving myself serious eyestrain reading books on my phone.

Can anyone explain in layman's terms how I would use the Search & Replace feature to remove recurring text?  I don't want to do anything crazy, just remove things like "Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login)".  My brain might just be fried from finals, but I'm not making heads or tales out of the Calibre help on the topic... it just seems like it could be explained simpler.
 

Offline Infinitely Bookish

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Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2012, 09:05 AM »
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Thanks for this! I just purchased my first ereader tonight after giving myself serious eyestrain reading books on my phone.

Can anyone explain in layman's terms how I would use the Search & Replace feature to remove recurring text?  I don't want to do anything crazy, just remove things like "Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login)".  My brain might just be fried from finals, but I'm not making heads or tales out of the Calibre help on the topic... it just seems like it could be explained simpler.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login - Link
 

Offline summeranne

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2012, 04:56 PM »
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Thanks!
 

Offline jessadia

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2012, 05:00 PM »
I just learned the coolest trick ever with Calibre and figured I'd share in case anyone else was in the dark.....

You can email converted books directly to your eReader! Whoo hoo! That is going to save me soooo much unnecessary work! Just convert it, then right click, scroll down to "connect" and then set up your email. Once done, go back into connect, then email.... This will work with ePub, mobi and PDF, you just need to specify which formats when setting up your email.
 

Offline Dinushka

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2012, 12:57 PM »
I had a bad day….wait, a bad week.
Any way, the de-drm files I downloaded to my calibre?
(I had to install all my programs again on my laptop because my home computer crashed)
It does not work. Calibre refuses to insert the plugins from that file. Simply refuses.
So, does anybody have a link to drdrm files that he knows are working?
Click on the THANK YOU button. You know you wanna :)
 

Offline jessadia

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2012, 01:11 PM »
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I had a bad day….wait, a bad week.
Any way, the de-drm files I downloaded to my calibre?
(I had to install all my programs again on my laptop because my home computer crashed)
It does not work. Calibre refuses to insert the plugins from that file. Simply refuses.
So, does anybody have a link to drdrm files that he knows are working?

Check the drm tutorial thread... Links provided ;)
 

Offline Dinushka

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2012, 01:37 PM »
That is where I got them.
But now they….work.
*blushes*

I just restarted my computer and it all went fine.
Not going to ponder what went wrong the first time.
^^
Click on the THANK YOU button. You know you wanna :)
 

Offline jessadia

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2012, 01:38 PM »
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That is where I got them.
But now they….work.
*blushes*

I just restarted my computer and it all went fine.
Not going to ponder what went wrong the first time.
^^

Glad to see you got them working... Sometimes u just need to restart Calibre to do the trick though ;)
 

Offline GG drypen!

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2012, 03:03 PM »
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I just learned the coolest trick ever with Calibre and figured I'd share in case anyone else was in the dark.....

You can email converted books directly to your eReader! Whoo hoo! That is going to save me soooo much unnecessary work! Just convert it, then right click, scroll down to "connect" and then set up your email. Once done, go back into connect, then email.... This will work with ePub, mobi and PDF, you just need to specify which formats when setting up your email.

I had set that up and forgotten about it! Then I started thinking about how much easier it would be to send the books to my father-in-law across the state. A couple of us just tested it (she has the k4pc app) and it worked. She opened k4pc and it was in her archived items.
I haven't had time to see if it works on the B&N app yet.
Just thought I'd let you know.
 

Offline JRue

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2012, 11:17 PM »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
I just learned the coolest trick ever with Calibre and figured I'd share in case anyone else was in the dark.....

You can email converted books directly to your eReader! Whoo hoo! That is going to save me soooo much unnecessary work! Just convert it, then right click, scroll down to "connect" and then set up your email. Once done, go back into connect, then email.... This will work with ePub, mobi and PDF, you just need to specify which formats when setting up your email.

Sorry to be dense, but can you explain how you set up an email account for an eReader.  I get how to transfer to K4PC (on the computer), but not to an eReader device.  Thanks.
 

Offline FinnMac

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2012, 08:02 AM »
I read your tutorial on Calibre, but I'm confused on whether this will work converting files from fanfiction.net. I tried to use You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login but with no luck. I also tried You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and that only downloaded chapter 1. I had no idea I was so technically deficient, but I'd really like to be able to grab a completed fic from time to time without bothering someone else to do it for me. It seems like it should be an easy process.
 

Offline jessadia

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2012, 01:00 PM »
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
I read your tutorial on Calibre, but I'm confused on whether this will work converting files from fanfiction.net. I tried to use You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login but with no luck. I also tried You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and that only downloaded chapter 1. I had no idea I was so technically deficient, but I'd really like to be able to grab a completed fic from time to time without bothering someone else to do it for me. It seems like it should be an easy process.

Yes, it will. You will need to download the tools_v5.1 pack and install the ineptepub dedrm tool from the calibre folder - follow the instructions listed in my DRM tutorial You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
 

Offline Keithneusebia

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2012, 12:22 PM »
Is there a quick way to export my entire Calibre library to disk without having to click each book?
 

Offline GG drypen!

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #15 on: December 10, 2012, 12:27 PM »
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Is there a quick way to export my entire Calibre library to disk without having to click each book?

Yes. Make another Library and copy it to there. Makes an excellent backup with metadata and everything. Here's mine. Don't laugh I'm a wee bit ADD after I lost everything when external drive died.  ^-^ But you have to make a new folder for it first. And then you have to create a library at the new location using that same button up top. Thumb drives, external drives, or even lockbox will work better than saving to a disc.

Once you have the new library in place all you have to do is click on the file (or crtl click for multiple books) right click and copy to.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2012, 12:34 PM by drypen »
 
The following users thanked this post: Gus, boomersusie

Offline lou-b

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Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2013, 01:47 PM »
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Yes. Make another Library and copy it to there. Makes an excellent backup with metadata and everything. Here's mine. Don't laugh I'm a wee bit ADD after I lost everything when external drive died.  ^-^ But you have to make a new folder for it first. And then you have to create a library at the new location using that same button up top. Thumb drives, external drives, or even lockbox will work better than saving to a disc.

Once you have the new library in place all you have to do is click on the file (or crtl click for multiple books) right click and copy to.

Thank you sooooo much Dry  :-* you just saved me hours and hours of cutting and pasting now that i am  backing-up my calibre library (finally  ^-^)
BOOKASM: That mind-blowing moment when the books you have been waiting for are released.
 

Offline GG drypen!

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2013, 03:25 PM »
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Thank you sooooo much Dry  :-* you just saved me hours and hours of cutting and pasting now that i am  backing-up my calibre library (finally  ^-^)

Yay! My ADD has proven to be helpful!!
 

Offline sacharissa

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #18 on: February 24, 2013, 06:23 PM »
hi, thank you for the tips, it really helpful cz I also didn't know that I can use calibre to change the margin,lol.. ^-^
I want to ask something though, hope you could help me.. I have a new laptop n I want to copy my ebooks from my calibre library on my old laptop to a new one, how can I do it?
thanks for the help.. :-* :-*
 

Offline GG drypen!

Re: An Introduction to Calibre
« Reply #19 on: February 24, 2013, 07:26 PM »
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hi, thank you for the tips, it really helpful cz I also didn't know that I can use calibre to change the margin,lol.. ^-^
I want to ask something though, hope you could help me.. I have a new laptop n I want to copy my ebooks from my calibre library on my old laptop to a new one, how can I do it?
thanks for the help.. :-* :-*

From Calibre's webpage: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Simply copy the calibre library folder from the old to the new computer. You can find out what the library folder is by clicking the calibre icon in the toolbar. The very first item is the path to the library folder. Now on the new computer, start calibre for the first time. It will run the Welcome Wizard asking you for the location of the calibre library. Point it to the previously copied folder. If the computer you are transferring to already has a calibre installation, then the Welcome wizard wont run. In that case, right-click the calibre icon in the tooolbar and point it to the newly copied directory. You will now have two calibre libraries on your computer and you can switch between them by clicking the calibre icon on the toolbar. Transferring your library in this manner preserver all your metadata, tags, custom columns, etc.

Note that if you are transferring between different types of computers (for example Windows to OS X) then after doing the above you should also right-click the calibre icon on the tool bar, select Library Maintenance and run the Check Library action. It will warn you about any problems in your library, which you should fix by hand.
 
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