More documentation for the server

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Kovid Goyal 2017-06-07 21:23:10 +05:30
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@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ The calibre :guilabel:`Content server` allows you to access your calibre
libraries and read books directly in a browser on your favorite mobile phone or
tablet device. As a result, you do not need to install any dedicated book
reading/management apps on your phone. Just use the browser. The server
downloads and stores the book you are reading in an offline cache so that you
downloads and stores the book you are reading in an off-line cache so that you
can read it even when there is no internet connection.
.. contents:: Contents
@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ steps:
``http://127.0.0.1:8080`` in a browser running on the same computer as
the server.
#. Check that your firewall/antivirus is allowing connections to your
#. Check that your firewall/anti-virus is allowing connections to your
computer on the port ``8080`` and to the calibre program. The
easiest way to eliminate the firewall/anti-virus as the source of
problems is to temporarily turn them both off and then try connecting. You
@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ steps:
#. Check that your device and computer are on the same network. This means
they should both be connected to the same wireless router. In particular
neither should be using a cellular or wifi broadband connection.
neither should be using a cellular or WiFi broadband connection.
#. If you have non-standard networking setup, it might be that the IP
address shown on the :guilabel:`Connect/share` menu is incorrect.
@ -141,6 +141,72 @@ is as follows.
an existing https setup.
The server interface
-----------------------
The server interface is a simplified version of the main calibre interface,
optimised for use with touch screens. The home screen shows you books
you are currently reading as well as allowing to choose a calibre library you
want to browse. The server in calibre 3 gives you access to all your libraries,
not just a single one, as before.
The book list
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The server book list is a simple grid of covers. Tap on a cover to see the
detailed metadata for a book, or to read the book. If you prefer a more
detailed list, you can change the default view by clicking the three vertical
dots in the top right corner.
Sorting and searching of the book list should be familiar to calibre users.
They can be accessed by clicking their icons in the top right area. They both
work exactly the same as in the main calibre program. The search page even
allows you to construct search queries by clicking on authors/tags/etc., just as
you can using the Tag browser in the main program.
A much loved feature of the main program, :guilabel:`Virtual libraries` is
present in the server interface as well. Click the three vertical dots in the
top right corner to choose a virtual library.
The book reader
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You can read any book in your calibre library by simply tapping on
it and then tapping the :guilabel:`Read book` button. The books reader
is very simple to operate. You can both tap and swipe to turn pages. Swiping
up/down skips between chapters. Tapping the top quarter of the screen gets you
the detailed controls and viewer preferences.
If you leave the Content server running, you can even open the same book on
multiple devices and it will remember your last read position. If it does not
you can force a syn by tapping in the top quarter and choosing
:guilabel:`Sync`.
.. note:: On initial release, the book reader is fully functional but is
missing some more advanced features from the main calibre viewer, such as
popup footnotes, bookmarks and annotations in general.
These will be added in dues course. In fact, the browser reader is designed
to eventually replace the main viewer, once it matures.
Browser support
------------------
The new calibre server makes lots of use of advanced HTML 5 and CSS 3 features.
As such it requires an up-to-date browser to use. It has been tested on Android
Chrome and iOS Safari as well as Chrome and Firefox on the desktop. It is known
not to work with Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge (hopefully Edge will
start working when Microsoft gets around to implementing a few missing
standards).
The server is careful to use functionality that has either been already
standardised or is on the standards track. As such if it does not currently
work with your favorite browser, it probably will once that browser has caught
up.
If you are using a particular old or limited browser or you don't like to run
JavaScript, you can use the *mobile* view, by simply adding ``/mobile`` to the
the server address.
Integrating the calibre Content server into other servers
------------------------------------------------------------