Calibre eBook Manager: A User's Guide
Managing Your Digital eBook Library with Calibre
Are you accumulating a growing collection of eBooks and struggling to keep them organized? “Open Book: Managing Your eBooks With Calibre” is a complimentary resource designed to address this very challenge.
Authored by Lachlan Roy, this guide details the most effective software solutions available for handling your eBook library, specifically those without DRM protection.
Calibre: The eBook Management Solution
This resource focuses on Calibre, a versatile and powerful eBook management program. It will show you how to efficiently manage, convert, and transfer your eBooks.
Alongside Calibre, the guide explores a range of complementary programs to enhance your eBook experience.
The Shift to Digital Books
Similar to the transitions seen in music and movie distribution, books are increasingly being sold and consumed in digital formats.
The proliferation of eReaders available demonstrates the growing popularity of digital reading.
This guide primarily concentrates on open eBooks, meaning those that are not restricted by Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Removing DRM for Greater Flexibility
A dedicated section is included that explains how to remove DRM from eBooks purchased for the Amazon Kindle.
Therefore, this guide is particularly valuable for Kindle owners who wish to unlock their files and enjoy reading on a variety of devices.
Gain the freedom to read your purchased eBooks on any platform you choose!
Table of Contents
This document provides an overview of managing eBooks, with a focus on the Calibre software.
We will explore the fundamentals of eBooks and delve into advanced techniques for organization and conversion.
§1–Introduction
The proliferation of digital reading has led to a surge in the popularity of eBooks.
Managing a large eBook library can quickly become complex, necessitating dedicated software solutions.
§2–eBooks: An Introduction
An eBook, or electronic book, is a book publication made available in digital form.
eBooks can be read on dedicated e-readers, tablets, smartphones, or computers.
Common eBook formats include EPUB, MOBI, and PDF, each with its own characteristics and compatibility.
EPUB is a widely supported, reflowable format, while MOBI is primarily associated with Amazon's Kindle devices.
PDF files, though versatile, often lack the reflowable text features of other eBook formats.
§3–Enter Calibre
Calibre is a powerful, free, and open-source eBook management software.
It allows users to organize, convert, and read eBooks with ease.
Key features of Calibre include:
- Library Management: Cataloging eBooks with metadata such as title, author, and tags.
- Format Conversion: Converting between various eBook formats.
- eBook Reader: A built-in reader for viewing eBooks.
- Metadata Editing: Correcting and enhancing eBook metadata.
- News Fetching: Downloading news feeds and converting them into eBooks.
Adding eBooks to Calibre is straightforward; simply import files from your computer.
The software automatically retrieves metadata whenever possible, streamlining the organization process.
Conversion between formats is achieved through Calibre's conversion tool, offering extensive customization options.
§4–Advanced Tips
Utilize Calibre's tagging system to categorize eBooks effectively.
Tags allow for flexible organization beyond traditional folder structures.
Explore the "Look & Feel" section in Calibre to customize the reading experience.
Adjust font sizes, styles, and margins to suit your preferences.
Consider using Calibre's plugins to extend its functionality.
Numerous plugins are available for tasks such as automated metadata downloading and advanced conversion options.
Regularly back up your Calibre library to prevent data loss.
Backups ensure that your eBook collection remains safe and accessible.
1. Introduction
Perhaps you are newly acquainted with eBooks and seeking further details, or a seasoned digital reader aiming to streamline your extensive collection – this resource is designed to offer valuable insights.
It might be unexpected, but the concept of eBooks isn't new. Project Gutenberg, a digital text archive, originated in 1971. Committed to providing eBooks in universally compatible formats, Gutenberg’s library remains accessible on contemporary devices. Widespread familiarity with electronic libraries, however, emerged with the introduction of devices like Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad, which significantly enhanced the reading experience.
These newer devices offer both improved usability and greater portability compared to the computers of the 1970s. Unfortunately, many texts acquired through these platforms are not openly accessible.
Transferring a book purchased for a Kindle to a Kobo eReader, for instance, is often restricted due to a technology called Digital Rights Management (DRM), which will be explained in greater detail. This guide focuses on locating, organizing, and reading open-format books, with only a brief discussion of DRM-protected content.
Fortunately, a program named Calibre simplifies the process of reading open books across various eReaders, including Kindle, iPhone, and Kobo devices.
If you're intrigued, continue reading. Even those with existing Kindle libraries may find value in the information regarding DRM removal, which will be briefly covered.
As stated, this guide caters to a diverse audience, so let's begin!
2. eBooks: An Introduction
2.1 Understanding eBooks
It's highly probable you've encountered eBooks in some form, perhaps without even recognizing them as such.
Indeed, you are currently engaging with one now.
Essentially, eBooks are digital books, offering all the content of a traditional printed book in an accessible, electronic format. Their presentation can differ significantly – ranging from a simple text version of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace to visually rich iBook editions like Apple’s Winnie-the-Pooh. eBooks can prioritize the quality of the writing or serve as aesthetically pleasing creations.
They closely mirror paper books, but are distributed through digital channels.
2.2 Locating eBooks
A growing number of bookstores now feature online shops, allowing you to purchase eBooks alongside their physical counterparts. These platforms generally provide the most current titles, and the eBooks acquired are not restricted to a single device – you retain complete freedom in their usage.
If you possess an eReader – a device specifically designed for eBook consumption – it likely includes a corresponding eBook store that seamlessly synchronizes with your device.
Numerous free eBooks are also available! For classic literature, Project Gutenberg is an invaluable resource, offering a vast collection of public domain works. Other sources for free eBooks include Google’s bookstore (currently available only in the US). You can also discover free eBook resources through dedicated reading blogs, such as those focusing on social media and blogging.
Downloading copyrighted material via bittorrent is illegal, and authors rely on book sales as their primary income source!
2.3 Digital Rights Management (DRM)
eBooks purchased from online retailers typically incorporate some form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) to deter unauthorized file sharing. This is analogous to the limitations previously placed on songs purchased from iTunes, restricting playback to a limited number of authorized computers.
DRM not only prevents eBook distribution but also restricts your ability to utilize the file as you see fit. This can tie you to specific hardware from the vendor you purchased the book from – for example, books from Sony’s Reader Store are generally compatible only with Sony Reader devices, which is not an ideal situation.
While DRM removal is possible, it is often a complex process.
2.4 eBook Formats and Compatible Devices
eBooks can be presented in various formats, similar to how the same song can be encoded as an mp3 or m4a file. Several common eBook formats are important to understand.
• Plain text (.txt) – This is the most fundamental eBook format, containing only the textual content. It lacks headings, formatting options like bold or italics, colors, or images. However, its simplicity offers advantages, including a minimal file size and broad compatibility across virtually all devices, making it ideal for archiving extensive information.
• Rich Text (.rtf) – This format builds upon plain text by introducing formatting features such as tables, text styling, and images. While easily editable on computers and readable by many devices, it isn’t optimized for eReaders. This means that while a Kindle can display an .rtf file, adjusting the text size may be difficult.
• EPUB (.epub) – EPUB superseded the Open eBook format in 2007 and has become the industry standard for eBooks. It’s specifically designed for optimal compatibility across a wide range of devices and ensures proper text reflowing – adapting the display to different screen sizes and text sizes. Most eReader software and hardware support EPUB files (with the notable exception of Kindle).
• Portable Document Format (.pdf) – This is the format you are currently viewing! PDF files are based on an established standard dating back to 1993. Most computers and many eReader devices can open PDFs without requiring additional software. While suitable for document sharing where compatibility is a concern, they are less ideal for eBooks due to limited text reflowing capabilities. PDF pages are often displayed as images, necessitating zooming and panning for comfortable reading.
• Mobipocket (.prc/.mobi) – This format is based on the older Open eBook format, now largely replaced by EPUB. However, it remains relatively popular. .prc/.mobi files are commonly found through the Mobipocket web store.
• Kindle eBook (.azw) – Any book downloaded from the Amazon store to a Kindle device or the Kindle app is an azw file. It is functionally very similar to a mobipocket eBook, utilizing a slightly different indexing system.
3. Enter Calibre
3.1 What Is Calibre?
Calibre is a powerful application designed for managing your digital eBook collection. Consider it a personalized, automated library system; you import your eBook files, and it intelligently organizes them, enabling quick searches and a range of useful functions.
In essence, Calibre functions much like iTunes for eBooks. The program efficiently sorts your books, provides easy access, and simplifies the transfer of eBooks to various reading devices.
Notably, Calibre is a cross-platform application, offering versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux. This broad compatibility ensures you can utilize Calibre regardless of your operating system, and maintain consistency across different computers.
It’s worth noting that the developer prefers the spelling ‘Calibre’ (lowercase), and this is the convention used throughout this guide.
A crucial point to remember is that Calibre is compatible only with eBooks that lack Digital Rights Management (DRM). Books purchased from stores like Apple’s iBookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Store, or Sony’s Reader Store will initially be unusable in Calibre. However, workarounds exist, though they may fall into a legal grey area, and details are provided later in this manual.
3.2 What Can It Do?
eBook Library Management
Calibre serves as a comprehensive, automated personal library. Upon adding books, you can sort them by title, author, series, publication date, publisher, or even the date added or file size. Furthermore, you can edit this information to correct inaccuracies or add missing details.
Beyond this, Calibre allows you to add custom tags to eBooks, enabling filtering and organization based on your specific criteria. You can also assign ratings to remember particularly enjoyable books.
eBook Format Conversion
Numerous eBook formats exist, and compatibility varies between devices. Calibre excels at converting between virtually any (non-DRM) format, allowing you to create multiple versions for different devices without needing additional software.
Syncing to eReaders
Calibre natively recognizes many popular eReaders, allowing you to select which eBooks to transfer to each device without relying on separate applications.
The built-in content server feature enables wireless access to your Calibre library directly from your eReader, provided the device has wireless capabilities.
Grabbing the News
Calibre can automatically download the latest articles from almost any news source and compile them into a single eBook. This is ideal for reading news on your eReader or creating personal offline archives.
Hosting Your eBook Collection
The integrated content server creates a web-accessible list of your books, allowing access from any computer or device on your local network.
With port forwarding configured, you can even access your digital library from anywhere in the world with an internet connection – any book, anytime, anywhere!
3.3 How To Get It
Obtaining Calibre is remarkably straightforward. Simply click this link or visit http://www.calibre-ebook.com/download to access the download page.
Select your operating system, then click the first available link. As an example, users of macOS will see and click the corresponding link.
Clicking the link initiates the download of the installer file (.exe for Windows, .dmg for macOS). The Linux installation process is more involved, but detailed instructions are available on the Linux download page on Calibre’s website.
3.4 How To Use It
Upon completing the installation, you’ll encounter a welcome window, similar to this:
The default save location is generally suitable, unless you prefer using a Dropbox synchronization option. It typically resides within your user folder (e.g., /Users/).
You’ll then be prompted to identify any connected eBook devices, which simplifies future synchronization. This step is optional.
Finally, you can choose to enable the content server. This is recommended, especially if you intend to access your library remotely.
The wizard concludes, presenting you with an initially empty library, as shown below:
The toolbar at the top provides access to essential functions. From left to right, the icons are labeled ‘Add books’, ‘Edit metadata’, ‘Convert Books’, ‘View’, ‘Fetch news’, ‘Save to disk’, ‘Connect/share’, ‘Remove books’, ‘Help’, and ‘Preferences’.
The icon depicting books provides overall library information, while the heart icon allows donations to support Calibre’s development.
3.5 How To Add Books To Your eBook Library
Adding books to your library is a simple process. Click the large red book icon with a plus sign (top left) and choose the appropriate option.
For most users, “Add books from directories, including subdirectories (Multiple books per directory, assumes every eBook file is a different book)” is the most suitable choice.
Browse to the folder containing your eBooks. For instance, all my books are stored in a “Books” folder within my public directory.
Calibre will then copy all your books to the designated Calibre library folder. You can either delete the original folder (after verifying the copies) or retain it as a backup.
Once the import is complete, the previously empty library will populate with your eBooks.
3.6 How To Add/Edit Metadata
If Calibre sorts books incorrectly due to folder organization, you can easily edit the metadata. Click the large ‘i’ in a blue circle (“edit metadata”) and choose whether to edit a single book or multiple books.
Let’s start with Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
Select Lord of the Flies, click the ‘i’, and then “Edit metadata individually”. This opens the following window:
Correct the Author field from “Golding, William” to “William Golding” and the Author Sort field accordingly. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Editing multiple books simultaneously is more efficient. Select the books by Terry Pratchett.
Select the books, click the ‘i’, and then “Edit metadata in bulk”. The following window appears:
Make the necessary changes and click “OK”. This quickly corrects the naming issue for multiple books.
3.7 How To Convert eBooks
Converting eBooks is a straightforward process. Suppose you have Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash in EPUB format and want to convert it to MOBI for a Kindle.
Click the ‘Convert Books’ icon (book with arrows), then ‘Convert individually’.
The input format is pre-selected. Choose MOBI as the output format, as Kindles support this format.
You can adjust metadata if needed, then click “OK”. The conversion process begins, indicated by a spinning wheel in the bottom right corner.
Upon completion, select the Snow Crash entry in the library to view the available formats.
Both EPUB and MOBI formats are now available. Clicking each one opens the corresponding version in the built-in reader. Clicking “Click to open” reveals the location of the eBook files.
3.8 How To Sync To Your Device
Syncing books to your device is quick and easy. Simply connect your device while Calibre is running, and it will be detected.
For Apple devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad), iTunes acts as the intermediary. Send eBooks to iTunes and then sync them to iBooks. Alternatively, if direct syncing fails, connect the device’s memory card to your computer and access its folder with Calibre.
Once connected, the interface changes:
Select the books and click “Send to device” to transfer them.
When syncing to iTunes, the books appear under the “Books” tab in the library.
Finally, sync your iDevice to iTunes to complete the transfer.
3.9 How To Download News In eBook Form
Downloading news is simple. Click the “Fetch news” button.
A window appears with a list of news sources, organized by language and country. Select sources and schedule download times.
Save your selections. Calibre will then download the news at the specified times. You can also manually download sources individually or all at once.
The resulting eBook will look similar to this:
3.10 How To Connect To Your Library Without Wires
Calibre’s content server allows wireless access to your library.
Ensure the content server is enabled by clicking the “Connect/share” button. If it says “start”, click it. If it says “stop”, the server is already running.
Find your computer’s local IP address and enter http://your-ip-here:8080 into your device’s browser.
On iPhones, iPod Touches, or iPads, tap ‘epub’ to open the book in iBooks. Other devices will open the book in their default eBook application.
4. Advanced Techniques
4.1 Utilizing Dropbox
Dropbox represents a highly effective application, frequently discussed on our primary website, for which we even provide an unofficial user guide. A post authored by Justin details a method for integrating Dropbox with Calibre, enabling universal access to your entire eBook collection. Further details can be found here!
4.2 The Stanza Application
Stanza is a remarkably useful application designed for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices, simplifying the acquisition and reading of eBooks. Beyond offering access to Project Gutenberg and various eBook retailers, Stanza seamlessly connects with Calibre, providing convenient access to your eBook library without requiring a direct device connection.
To establish a connection, ensure your device and the computer running Calibre are on the same network. Navigating to the ‘Get Books’ section should automatically detect your library; alternatively, you can input the same address used for browser access.
Upon successful connection, an interface will appear. Simply select a book to download it directly to your device and begin reading.
4.3 Addressing DRM Restrictions
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is intended to deter piracy, but it can also create obstacles for legitimate purchasers who wish to utilize their books across different formats without repurchase.
Considering this, methods exist to circumvent DRM and transform files into standard eBooks, allowing for import into Calibre and conversion to the desired format.
However, be aware that these processes are not straightforward and necessitate familiarity with terminal or command-line interfaces.
4.4 Removing Kindle DRM
This process requires ownership of a Kindle device and a purchased eBook from the Kindle Store.
You will also need to have Python installed on your computer and download a suite of scripts known as MobiDeDRM. It is recommended to install the 32-bit version of Python 2.7 for your operating system. MobiDeDRM comprises four scripts: mobidedrm.py, mobidedrm2.py, kindlepid.py, and mobihuff.py. Only the first three scripts will be utilized.
With these prerequisites met, you can proceed. On your Kindle, navigate to the Settings menu and enter ‘411’ using the keypad. This will display an information dialog; record the Kindle’s serial number, a 16-character alphanumeric string, for later use.
Open a terminal or command-line window and execute the following command:
python kindlepid.py XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Replace the Xs with the 16-character serial number obtained previously. This will reveal your Kindle’s 10-character PID, the code required to remove DRM from the eBook.
Subsequently, employ mobidedrm.py along with the 10-character PID generated in the previous step to remove DRM from the AZW file.
python mobidedrm.py book-title.azw book-title.mobi
If successful, the following message will be displayed:
Decrypting. Please wait... done.
The outcome will be a .mobi file, named identically to the Kindle book, which can then be added to your Calibre library and converted to any desired format.
Further Resources
- Calibre: The Leading eBook Management Solution
- Integrating Dropbox & Calibre for Comprehensive eBook Access
- Utilizing Calibre to Download Newspapers or Blogs to Your eBook Reader
- Reading Instapaper Content on Any eBook Reader with Calibre
- Calibre eBook Management: Format Conversion and More
Article Published: June 2011