iiab/roles/calibre-web/README.rst

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==================
Calibre-Web README
==================

Calibre-Web provides a clean interface for browsing, reading and downloading
e-books using a `Calibre <https://calibre-ebook.com/whats-new>`_ database.
Teachers can upload e-books, adjust e-book metadata, and create custom e-book
collections ("bookshelves"): https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web#about

This Ansible role installs Calibre-Web, as a modern alternative to Calibre, for
your Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB).

*NOTE: Calibre-Web takes advantage of Calibre's own*
`/usr/bin/ebook-convert <https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/generated/en/ebook-convert.html>`_
*program if that's installed — so consider also installing Calibre during your
IIAB installation — if you tolerate the weighty ~1 GB (of graphical OS
libraries) that Calibre mandates!*

Please note Calibre-Web's Ansible playbook is
``/opt/iiab/iiab/roles/calibre-web`` whereas its Ansible variables
``calibreweb_*`` do **not** include the dash, per Ansible recommendations.

Using It
--------

After installation, try out Calibre-Web at http://box/books (or box.lan/books).

Typically students access it without a password (to read and download books)
whereas teachers add books using an administrative account, as follows::

  Username: Admin
  Password: changeme

If the default configuration is not found, the Calibre-Web server creates a
new settings file with calibre-web's own default administrative account::

  Username: admin
  Password: admin123

Backend
-------

You can manage the backend Calibre-Web server with these systemd commands::

  systemctl enable calibre-web
  systemctl restart calibre-web
  systemctl status calibre-web
  systemctl stop calibre-web

Errors and warnings can be seen if you run::

  journalctl -u calibre-web

Log verbosity level can be
`adjusted <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/wiki/Configuration#logfile-configuration>`_
within Calibre-Web's **Configuration > Basic Configuration > Logfile
Configuration** (details below).

Configuration
-------------

To configure Calibre-Web browse to http://box/books then click **Guest** to log
in as user **Admin** (default passwords above!)

Then click the leftmost **Admin** button to administer — considering all 3
**Configuration** buttons further below.

These critical settings are stored in::

  /library/calibre-web/config/app.db

Whereas your e-book metadata is stored in a Calibre-style database::

  /library/calibre-web/metadata.db

See also::

  /library/calibre-web/metadata_db_prefs_backup.json

Finally, take note of Calibre-Web's `FAQ <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/wiki/FAQ>`_ and official docs on its `Runtime Configuration Options <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/wiki/Configuration>`_ and `Command Line Interface <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/wiki/Command-Line-Interface>`_.

Back Up Everything
------------------

Please back up the entire folder ``/library/calibre-web`` before upgrading —
as it contains your Calibre-Web content **and** settings!

Upgrading
---------

Reinstalling Calibre-Web automatically upgrades to the latest version if your
Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB) is online.

But first: back up your content **and** settings, as explained above.

**Also move your /library/calibre-web/config/app.db AND/OR
/library/calibre-web/metadata.db out of the way — if you're sure you want to
fully reset your Calibre-Web settings (to install defaults) AND/OR remove all
e-book metadata!  Then run**::

  cd /opt/iiab/iiab
  ./runrole --reinstall calibre-web

Or, if you just want to upgrade Calibre-Web code alone, prior to proceeding
manually::

  cd /usr/local/calibre-web-py3
  git pull

This older way *is no longer recommended*::

  cd /opt/iiab/iiab
  ./iiab-install --reinstall    # OR: ./iiab-configure

Known Issues
------------

* |ss| Trying to access an empty public bookshelf causes a system error. |se| |nbsp|  Appears fixed as of 2018-09-12: `janeczku/calibre-web#620 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/620>`_

* |ss| As of August 2018, it's sometimes impossible to set the language of an
  e-book: `#1040 <https://github.com/iiab/iiab/issues/1040>`_, `janeczku/calibre-web#593 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/593>`_ |se| |nbsp|  Appears fixed as of 2018-09-12: `janeczku/calibre-web#620 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/620>`_

* |ss| As of August 2018, Calibre-Web doesn't yet include Calibre's e-book
  conversion functionality (e.g. Calibre 3.27.1 [released 2018-07-06] allows
  teachers to convert between PDF, EPUB, TXT etc — to permit reading on a
  wider array client devices and client software). |se| |nbsp|  Fixed by
  `janeczku/calibre-web#609 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/609>`_
  in early September 2018.

* |ss| This new Calibre-Web feature (which depends on Calibre's ebook-converter 
  program) needs to be manually configured as of 2018-09-12:
  `janeczku/calibre-web#624 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/624>`_
  |se| |nbsp|  Fixed by `#1127 <https://github.com/iiab/iiab/pull/1127>`_ on 2018-09-12.

  To manually enable the converting of e-books (automated above, should no
  longer be necessary!) log in to http://box/books as Admin/changeme (etc) then
  click Admin -> Basic Configuration -> External binaries.  Then change these
  2 settings:

  * Change radio button "No converter" to "Use calibre's ebook converter"
  * In textfield "Path to convertertool" type in: ``/usr/bin/ebook-convert``
  
  Then:
  
  * Submit
  * Verify that "ebook-convert" appears on Calibre-Web's "About" page at http://box/books/stats
  * Test it by clicking any e-book -> Edit metadata -> Convert book format

* |ss| http://192.168.0.x:8083 does not work, as a result of `iptables <https://github.com/iiab/iiab/blob/master/roles/network/templates/gateway/iiab-gen-iptables#L93>`_,
  even when ``services_externally_visible: true``.  This is fixable, but perhaps
  it's not a priority, as URL's like {http://192.168.0.x/books,
  http://10.8.0.x/books, http://127.0.0.1/books and http://box/books} all work. |se| |nbsp|  Marked as "wontfix" on 2018-09-12: `#1050 <https://github.com/iiab/iiab/issues/1050>`_

* |ss| Calibre-Web does not currently use version numbers, so glitches may
  occasionally arise, when upstream developers change its master branch without
  warning. |se|
  
* |ss| Imagemagick policy prevents generating thumbnails for PDF's during upload: `#1530 <https://github.com/iiab/iiab/issues/1530>`_ `janeczku/calibre-web#827 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/827>`_ |se|

* |ss| Upload of not supported file formats gives no feedback to the user: `janeczku/calibre-web#828 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues/828>`_ |se| |nbsp|  Fixed by `361a124 <https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/commit/361a1243d732116e6f520fabbaae017068b86037>`_ on 2019-02-27.

* *Please assist us in reporting serious issues here:*
  https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web/issues