Application: calibre
Category: Office
License: GNU GPL
Language: Multilingual
Description: calibre Portable is the popular calibre packaged with a PortableApps.com Launcher as a portable app, so you can take your ebook manager with you. It has all the same great features as calibre including library management, format conversion, syncing to ebook reader devices, fetching news from the web and converting it into ebook form, viewing many different ebook formats, giving you access to your book collection over the internet using just a browser/email client and more.
Download calibre Portable 0.6.23 Development Test 1 [23.4MB download / 89.1MB installed]
(MD5: 9ff8898063f8aba3c2c938f3594feff2)
Release Notes:
0.6.23 Development Test 1 (2009-11-14):
- If you haven't upgraded from calibre Portable 0.6.16 yet, please read the notes for 0.6.21 as they apply to all new releases until further notice.
- I have dropped the Data directory restructuring code from the installer. If you're upgrading from 0.6.8 Dev Test 1, a clean install is now required.
- The code that creates the settings and lbrary directories has been reworked and both are now configurable on first run.
- There is now a 'usertype check' in the launcher. If MSVC is not on the system and you aren't logged in as admin (ie: don't have the rights to install it), calibre Portable will warn you and then quit gracefully.
- calibre updated to 0.6.23. No issues.
- I wasn't quick enough for 0.6.22!
0.6.21 Development Test 1 (2009-11-13):
- calibre 0.6.21 requires Microsoft Visual C++ 2008. The redist is included in this package (which is NOT an online installer). The launcher will check to see if it's on the local system. If not, you'll be asked to install it and, on exit, it'll be uninstalled. Just follow the prompts. Requires admin rights.
- As the MSVC installer creates a mess all of it's own, the launcher cleans up after it.
- As a program (MSVC) has been installed (and hopefully uninstalled!), you may find a couple of registry entries related to the MS Installer. I'm considering this "fair use" (same as MUI Cache, Prefetch etc.)
- If you're using "calibrePortable.ini" in the calibrePortable main directory (to redirect the library) the installer will detect it and change the "calibreDirectory" entry to "App\Calibre2". I could have left the directory name as it was but wanted to keep it in sync with the app.
- New files in $TEMP - cal*.tmp. Deleted on exit.
- Languages added since 0.6.16 -
- That's all, folks!
0.6.16 Development Test 1 (2009-10-07):
- calibre updated to 0.6.16. No issues.
0.6.12 Development Test 1 (2009-09-17):
- calibre updated to 0.6.12.
- Automatic language switching is now working (see install notes).
0.6.11 Development Test 1 (2009-09-08):
- calibre updated to 0.6.11. No issues.
0.6.10 Development Test 1 (2009-08-29):
- calibre updated to 0.6.10.
- Launcher now backs up the default local library directory as the location has changed since 0.6.8.
0.6.8 Development Test 2 (2009-08-26):
- Configurable path to your library via "calibrePortable.ini".
(See "Other\Source\Readme.txt" for instructions).
- Added another Qt registry key that was missed in Dev Test 1.
- Restructured Data directory.
0.6.8 Development Test 1 (2009-08-23):
Install Notes:
-
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008:
If you're using calibre Portable on a system without this, you'll need admin rights, as it will be installed and uninstalled automatically. It's included in this package (which is NOT an online installer) and calibre will NOT run without it on the system.
-
Upgrading from 0.6.11 Development Test 1 (or earlier):
Language switching has changed in the app. To get automatic language switching working -
- Install the latest version.
- Remove the "global.py" file by going into the "Data\settings\config" folder and renaming it to "global.py-Backup" (calibre will generate a fresh one).
- Run the latest version. The app language will now follow the platform.
NOTE: The language selection dropdown in preferences will always say "English (UK)" and if you change the language manually here, automatic switching will break. Delete your "global.py" file again to restore it.
If you don't want to remove the file completely (because you have customized settings), just open it in Notepad++ and remove the language line (#27) or edit it to say "language = None".
-
Upgrading from 0.6.8 Dev Test 1:
This now requires a clean install.
Known Issues:
Due to the nature of Qt's use of the registry, if you use any of the apps below at the same time as calibre Portable and don't close them in reverse order, registry keys will be left behind and/or the original (local) keys will be overwritten. To avoid issues, never use them together!
- ConvertAll Portable
- FreeMat Portable
- MuseScore Portable
(Thanks Bart S.)
Notes:
Always use "calibrePortable.ini" to relocate your library. If you use the Preferences dialog in the GUI, results are not guaranteed.
If you don't want to upgrade to the latest version because of the MSVC issue, I'm keeping the download for 0.6.16 available -
Download calibre Portable 0.6.16 Development Test 1 [23.2MB download / 71.6MB installed]
(MD5: dc213f60dfd8eb73cae5e81c947cafd2)
Still no UPX yet. Looks like a complete minefield... :-)
Tested with:
XP Home SP2 (Admin)
Acknowledgments:
Info here, here and here.
Thanks to Patrick for hosting.
I'll test it
I'll install it and let you know the results.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to make this application portable
Updated to dev test 2
See release notes for changes.
Configurable path to library
Thanks for this, I've used Calibre for some time, and I'm happy to have a portable version. Good luck keeping up with Kovid's release schedule.
How do I go about setting a custom path to my library in the calibrePortableSettings.ini file?
The instructions are in
The instructions are in "Other\Source\Readme.txt" but, to summarize...
Copy "Other\Source\calibrePortable.ini" to the same directory as "calibrePortable.exe". Edit it and set your path with the "LibraryDirectory=" entry. For example: "LibraryDirectory=Documents\Library". Note: no drive letter or trailing slash and make sure the directory exists before running calibrePortable.
EDIT: I just realised I had the wrong filename in the release notes above. I had "calibrePortableSettings.ini" instead of "calibrePortable.ini". Sorry for any confusion! Fixed.
Yes, the release schedule. Two today... LOL
No errors so far
I installed calibrePortable Dev Test 2 and all went smoothly. Imported some books, synchronized my Sony PRS-700 and did some searching on the library. All went just fine. It seems nothing is left behind.
Tested on Windows XP SP3 Professional, with Admin rights.
PS: Thanks for the new Data directory structured. Much better now.
That's all good to hear, I'm
That's all good to hear, I'm glad it went according to plan
:-)Thanks for testing and reporting back.Updated to 0.6.10 dev test 1
See release notes for changes.
Updated to 0.6.11 dev test 1
See release notes for changes.
0.6.12
I just had a look at 0.6.12 but it won't start on my machine!
new version 6.12 does not start
Waiting for 0.6.13
:-)Updated to 0.6.12 dev test 1
See release notes for changes.
Just a note
0.6.16 is out
Before anyone comes a running with pitch forks and flame torches please be aware that Prapper has previously noted that he appreciates being informed of updates. Can't find the post right now but believe it's in the thread for Glary Utilities.
Thanks Prapper.
Live to learn. Learn to live. - JWSII
Yep, no problem with a
Yep, no problem with a friendly bump on a update here. Glad someone is using it...
Updated to 0.6.16 dev test 1
See release notes for changes.
0.6.18
I just had a look at calibre 0.6.18 and was disappointed to see that the installer creates an absolute slew of registry entries in HKCR and the app will not start (either standalone or with the current launcher) unless they are present. Bearing this in mind, I've decided not to upgrade to this version.
As the app is updated multiple times a month (sometimes twice a day!) and there are occasionally radical changes to the contents of the app directory, I'll keep an eye on it in the hope that something more workable will appear.
Apologies to all calibre fans.
0.6,18
I'm really sorry to hear that. =( But still, as long as calibre portable 0.6.16 still works, I'm not complaining. =D
-Whistle
Yeah, me too. But, as I said,
Yeah, me too. But, as I said, I'll keep an eye on it.
Another Note
Calibre 0.6.20 is out. Just so you know. ^^
Any changes with the problems, or is it still a no-go?
-Whistle
Same
Still a non-starter (literally).
Have you thought about
Have you thought about emailing the software author to explain the issue?
Live to learn. Learn to live. - JWSII
MSVC 90 and 0.6.20
I'm still looking at this and it seems that it now needs the msvc90 files, that were previously just included in the app directory, to be installed. I've seen the info in the Blender thread here and the commments here but just putting the DLLs and manifest back in the app folder isn't working and just makes calibre crash. I'm not really sure where to go from here so any help would be much appreciated.
Contact software author
Have you thought about contacting the software author? In the past other PA devs have had success with this action and been able to develop the portable version in collaboration with the software author, optimizing portability.
EDIT: Sorry to keep bugging on this but have you considered this?
Live to learn. Learn to live. - JWSII
I got an answer over at the
I got an answer over at the calibre bug tracker. It looks like we are out of luck
I think these are the options, none of which are ideal IMO. In no particular order -
I'm assuming from the lack of input here that there's no other way of getting round this.
What do you reckon?
Manifest
Along with msvcm90.dll, msvcp90.dll and msvcr90.dll there should be a file Microsoft.VC90.CRT.Manifest with this content in it (the manifest was in an older version that I have, 0.5.14, and should ALWAYS be there):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?> <!-- Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. --> <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"> <noInheritable/> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.VC90.CRT" version="9.0.21022.8" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b" /> <file name="msvcr90.dll" /> <file name="msvcp90.dll" /> <file name="msvcm90.dll" /> </assembly>Make sure that that's in App\calibre. Presuming that fixes it, tell 'em to stick it back in. (We had the same issue with Blender, 2.49a they forgot it and so broke all systems without it otherwise installed.)
Christian, developer, moderator
Thanks Chris
I did exactly that and unfortunately it doesn't fix it. That's the same version that's included with the app too.
Is there anything else I could try?
Ask them
OK, now I've actually looked at that bug tracker item... tell 'em they're compiling it wrong, could they please fix it up. It is definitely their fault; either that or there is some other issue, unrelated to VC90.
Christian, developer, moderator
LOL
...and I'm now officially lost
The reason I'm blaming VC90 are the errors in the event log.
Other than that... I don't know.
+1 Note
Hey, 6.21 is out!
Just so you know.
-Whistle
Will install it and give it a
Will install it and give it a run. Sounds like a fun app to have portable
Updated to 0.6.21 dev test 1
See release notes for changes.
Updated to 0.6.23 dev test 1
See release notes for changes.
Blimey, off we go!