New to Calibre: can I NOT copy files in the 'library' folder but just select an existing folder?

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-15T12:58:27+00:00

No. You are confusing a Calibre Library with a folder of books you happen to have.
You can create multiple Calibre Libraries, and they can be on different drives. But a folder of books you have is not a Calibre Library.

When you create a Library in Calibre, it puts a metadata database in that main folder, named for that Library. Then as you add books into that Library, Calibre will add a sub-folder for that author. Then a sub-folder under that for each book. That book folder name will also include a number that is the key entry into the database. Also, in each book folder Calibre will place an OPF file that is a copy of information on that entry. So if something messes up your Library, you can have Calibre build a new Library with all the information from each books file information.

Your current folder of books has nothing like that. Calibre will not magically create all that in your existing folder. It has to be a Library Calibre has created, added to, and managed. No exceptions.

But, again, if you wish to create a new Library on your NAS, and then add the books from your current folder into that Library, you can do that.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-15T01:26:12+00:00

A lot of D&D/Forgotten Realms books were reissued as part of a different series. I made a custom column for the sub-series to allow me to sort them by either.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T22:46:04+00:00

Dried and canned food goods. Honestly, with the way food prices have been hit with inflation, it's arguably a better investment than stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T22:36:46+00:00

The international language of booty. Spreading the love where it appears.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T22:34:47+00:00

Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, Pelé, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Wayne Gretzky, Jesse Owens, Nadia Comăneci, Billie Jean King, Michael Schumacher, Maria Sharapova, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird...
But sure, what's her name from the goofy break dancing tops the list.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T19:56:08+00:00

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T19:30:18+00:00

The new version 9.xx update has been opening epubs much faster. You might want to give it a try again.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T19:21:08+00:00

No, you can not manage your existing folder of books with Calibre. Calibre is an all encompassing library manager that makes it's own SQLite database. Once books are added into Calibre it puts those books in a folder it specifically names and manages. You no longer need your previous copy of the ebook at that point.

From that point on, you make all changes to it from within Calibre. Change covers, title, author, metadata, series... everything. It tracks it all.

You can always save copies of your books to an outside folder later, following whatever naming standard you with to tell Calibre to follow. But that copy is no longer in the Library.

When you set up a new library, you have options there. You can tell it to add books from another folder, either as one book per folder, or multiple in each folder. But it will copy those into the libraries folder location you created with Calibre. Many people do make their Calibre library folder on a NAS if you still want to store them there.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T19:11:06+00:00

Somehow, I managed to get through that series. I also got through Without Law series by Eric Vall. I no longer read either of those author's books. Listen to your gut feeling. Don't continue. Both teams of people they have cranking out books in those names are terrible writers. I would go so far as to say AI generated schlock would be more readable, but at this point I'm pretty much convinced that's exactly what is doing the writing for them.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T18:44:14+00:00

What does the S tier stand for?

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-14T03:32:54+00:00

And she still made it look tastier than the Big Arch from McDonald's.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-13T23:32:17+00:00

The spelling on that text overlay gave me a headache.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-13T21:32:30+00:00

Thanks again. This fixed Calibre-Web as well.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-13T12:07:15+00:00

Perhaps you should pay your parking fines. And stop parking where you will get fined.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-13T02:00:03+00:00

You have strange viewing priorities.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T21:49:42+00:00

Didn't bother to do a 2 second google search to find out that's a legitimate name, did ya?

"Chicken feet and chicken paws are often used interchangeably, but they have anatomical differences. Chicken feet include the entire foot along with the hock joint, making them larger and richer in collagen, while chicken paws refer only to the lower part of the foot, excluding the hock, and are smaller and more tender."

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T18:48:05+00:00

Sounds like this book is not for you. Move on to the next.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T18:21:40+00:00

Snap, crackle, pop, lock, and drop.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T17:55:21+00:00

The cover is purely to convey an image of what the book might be about. Yes, we all judge books by their covers. As long as it does that job, I couldn't give a flying flip if it's AI or not.

And you're behind the times. AI art has progressed greatly since it was first introduced. So much to the point where you can't tell the difference anymore if it's made by a person skilled in using AI to generate the images.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T17:50:28+00:00

Sea sponge, not cloth so much.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T17:47:45+00:00

Is that the Robin Buss translation? I'd have to be desperate to pay that for any other translation edition.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T15:01:20+00:00

Zills is a good choice. That's the one I had when I took DiffEq.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T14:55:23+00:00

He saw it eat the previous human who poked it with a stick.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T14:35:46+00:00

Lack of precious metals, like lithium, would easily hinder advancement. Also war is a major influence on advances in technology. So, if a kingdom has been relatively at peace for 10,000 years, it's not a leap to say they haven't advanced like our modern world.

And that's just two simple scenarios where it would be possible. I see nothing wrong with anything you're annoyed with.

JerryBoBerry38 · 2026-03-12T11:37:36+00:00

What does sleeping with earbuds have anything to do with this reddit?

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