Chapter 3. Library Management
Chapter 3. Library Management
3.1 Importing books
All three entry points live in the “Books” menu (same dropdown as the toolbar “Import” button):
| Method | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Import Books | Multi-select e-book files in the system file picker (pdf/epub/mobi/azw3/prc/md/markdown/txt/chm) |
| Import Folder | Pick a folder; all e-book files inside are scanned recursively |
| Import Comics | Pick a comic folder; the whole folder becomes one book (see Chapter 5) |
- The file picker filters by extension case-insensitively
(
Java.CHM,Readme.ChMare all selectable). - Importing runs on a background thread with progress in the status bar; a summary dialog appears and the book list refreshes when done.
- De-duplication is by file path: re-importing only refreshes metadata, never creates duplicate entries.
- Title/author are extracted on import (EPUB OPF, MOBI EXTH records) and a cover is generated (PDF page 1, embedded EPUB/MOBI image, first comic page, or a generated title cover for md/txt/chm).
- Deleting a book removes only the library record and cover cache — never the source file on disk (its notes and marks are removed too).
3.2 Three views
Switch via the “View” menu or Ctrl+1/2/3:
- Card View: cover + title + author + progress in a grid.
- List View: compact rows, good for large libraries.
- Cover View: large cover wall.
3.3 Sorting
The toolbar “Sort” dropdown: Recently Read / Title / Added Time / Reading Time / Author / Progress, each ascending or descending.
3.4 Search
The search box at the toolbar’s right end filters by title or author live (case-insensitive); clearing it restores the full list. An empty result shows a “No matching books found.” hint.
3.5 Shelves
At the bottom of the left menu:
- New Shelf: enter a name (duplicates are rejected with “Shelf name already exists.”).
- Manage: rename, delete, and drag handles to reorder shelves.
- Deleting a shelf moves its books back to “All Books”; books are never deleted.
- Books imported while in a shelf view are filed into that shelf.
Two ways to put books on a shelf:
- Drag & drop: hold a card and drop it on a target shelf (hover highlight; multi-selection can be dragged together).
- Cut & paste: select, “Edit → Cut” (Ctrl+X), switch to the target shelf, “Edit → Paste” (Ctrl+V).
3.6 Multi-select and batch organizing
- The toolbar multi-select button enters multi-select mode: click to toggle selection, or drag a rubber band; “Edit → Select All” (Ctrl+A) selects everything in the current view.
- Double-click still opens a book directly (in multi-select mode, double-clicking the only selected book opens it too).
- Batch actions (favorite, add to shelf, delete, cut & paste, drag) automatically leave multi-select mode when done.
3.7 Context menu and details
Right-click a card or list row:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Favorite / Unfavorite | Toggle the star |
| Add to Shelf | Submenu lists all shelves; click to move |
| Delete | Confirmation dialog (danger button); batch delete has its own prompt |
| Edit | Change title, author, note |
| Details | Cover, title, publisher, file size, added time, format, note (comic size is the recursive folder total) |
| Open Containing Folder | Reveals the source file in the system file manager |
3.8 Favorites, notes and marks views
The left menu’s “Favorites”, “My Notes” and “My Marks” list those items; clicking a note/mark entry opens the owning book and jumps back to the recorded position.