Manage Ebook Collections With Calibre
Calibre is a cross-platform software program for Windows, Mac Os X and Linux that enables you to read and manage ebooks.
Ebooks are finally taking off and entering the mainstream with devices like Amazon's Kindle or Sony's Ebook Reader selling like hot cake.
What's missing is a good software program to manage ebook collections on the PC. Calibre is a multi-platform ebook manager that can display, convert, list and sync ebooks. Program versions are available for the Windows, Linux and Mac OS X operating system. Windows users may run a portable copy of Calibre, or install the program instead.
Calibre
Calibre starts with just an introductory guide added to the virtual library of the program. You can add books in a number of ways that include adding books from single or multiple directories, adding them through their ISBN, from archives, or individually.
You may also add books through the integrated "get books" menu which taps into dozens of paid and free online services. Included are for instance Amazon, Archive.org, Barnes and Nobles, Google Books, Project Gutenberg, or Open Books.
You can run searches by title, author or keyword, and may select one, some or all of the online book search engines to find ebooks that match your query. Results highlight the cover, title and author, the store, sometimes the price, and whether it is DRM protected.
Some online services support direct downloads, while others require that you purchase the book before downloads become available.
Calibre lists all ebooks of the selected library with titles, authors, date the book was added, size, and other information such as your ratings, tags, publication date, or publisher and series.
You can use filters to find items by tags. If you are interested in a particular author, format or rating for instance, you can filter the library so that only the right results are listed.
Missing information can be edited manually, or by looking up information about metadata online to apply it automatically. An option to download covers is available as well.
A double-click on an ebook loads it in the program's ebook viewer. It works similarly to other ebook readers, and comes with nice to have features such as increasing or decreasing the font size, using the table of contents, bookmarking pages, or printing the book.
Calibre supports plenty of ebook formats. These were, at the time of writing (for conversion, and reading)
- Input Formats: CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, DJVU, EPUB, FB2, HTML, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ
- Output Formats: AZW3, EPUB, FB2, OEB, LIT, LRF, MOBI, HTMLZ, PDB, PML, RB, PDF, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ
Other formats, zip and rar for instance, are supported as well. One of Calibre's features is that it lets you convert between formats. You can turn any format listed under input, into any format listed under output using the software.
This works for individual books, but also multiple bulks. In fact, you can convert your whole library of ebooks in one fast operation using Calibre.
The application's core functionality as an ebook management software is to let you manage your ebook collection, tag it with information for easier searching and filtering, convert it if necessary, and add to it using local or online sources.
Calibre may also be used to sync ebooks to devices. All that is needed for that is to connect a device, say an ebook reader or a smartphone, to the computer Calibre is running on, and selecting the program's sync feature afterwards.
You can sync the selected ebooks, and even have them converted before they are pushed to the selected device.
Other features that Calibre supports
- Another interesting feature is the ability to fetch RSS news feeds which are then made available in epub format by default with the option to convert it into a different format.
- Calibe can run a (protected) server application that provides access to the ebook library from all computers with a web browser and Internet connection.
- You can have the program connect to iTunes or a folder, and even set up email based sharing of ebooks.
- Backup and share functionality is available.
Verdict
Calibre is a powerful ebook management software that lets you read, download, share, convert and sync ebooks. The program supports pretty much any format of importance, and ships with plenty of interesting features such as downloading metadata or covers from the Internet, setting up an ebook server, and more.
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thanks for sharing. with Calibre, i can easily manage ebook collectiona. additionally, i want to share Martview with you. Martview si also a fantastic ebook reader that allows you to read PDF files with ease.
my ebook library is is good
thanks for sharing
That is true.
I think that referencer is the best though.
With a bit of upgrading, it would be nice. It does not support any Windows Mobile ActiveSync connection, so you have to copy manually to your device via file manager. Help files are meager. A section on what file formats are readable by what readers would be helpful. Windows UI features are basically Win3.1, so no Vista style shortcuts. Usable, but a bit painful if your device isn’t supported. Not much out there yet, and this is one of the better ones.
Why would you use ISBN to get the cover image??
Can’t you just use the thumbnail image…
I installed it but it freezes for me when I try and import ebooks. I do have loads though.
Looks promising for the future anyway!!