Web Interface

Alfa Ebooks Manager includes built-in Web Server, that allows to access your library via desktop or mobile browsers in your local network. The web interface doesn't allow to edit data in the database, but allows to search, browse and download books from your library. It also includes Web Reader that allows to read ebooks in browser.

To launch the Web Server select Tools -> Web Server -> Start Web Server or click on the "Cloud" icon on the Status bar.

Clickable Web Server IP address will appear in the Status bar. You can also find the IP address in Tools -> Options -> Web Server.

The web interface is responsive and supports most mobile devices. But if you know HTML, CSS, you can customize it as you like. The Web Interface files are stored here:

c:/Users/USER/AppData/Roaming/Alfa.NetSoft/Alfa Ebooks Manager/WebServer/

Web Server Options

In Web Server Options you can:
- set up the library title that will be shown Web Interface
- change the web server port
- turn on Web Server autostart on Alfa launch
- set to launch Alfa in Web Server mode (without the desktop app)
- if you launch Alfa Web Server on Windows start-up, you may want to auto-hide Web Server control panel to tray
- turn on authentication (login/password) in web interface

Related FAQs and issues

How to access the library via the Internet?

Almost all router manufacturers now provide cloud access service, and if you have a modern router (that supports DDNS - Dynamic Domain Name System) you can connect access Alfa's Web server remotely. Here is step-by-step guide how to set up the remote access.

I start Web Server but the IP address doesn't open in browser

First of all, open the IP address on the same PC where Alfa is installed. If it doesn't open, than it's blocked by your antivirus. Try to stop Antivirus for 10 minutes and check if the Web Server works. If it works, you need to add an exception for Alfa Ebooks Manager in your Antivirus' Firewall.

Second, your Windows firewall can have Port 80 blocked for incoming connections. Here is an instruction how to open it:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-open-port-windows-firewall

When I launch Web Server I get an error regarding file access

This means that another local web server (i.e. xampp or denver) is working on the same computer. You can launch only one web server on the same PC.

Can I customize the Web Interface?

If you know HTML/CSS you can customize the Web Interface design and remove unwanted elements, like Download button or menu links, etc. Web Interface files are located here:

C/users/USER/appdata/Roaming/Alfa.Netsoft/Alfa Ebooks Manager/WebServer

But you can't change parameters like number of displayed books or add custom queries.

Related Ideas

Allow to create login/password for each user

418

by: Robert Essl

We are using Alfa eBooks Manager for a business library and would like to provide individual library access to each employee and cancel it when she is fired. I'm sure it will be a killer feature in your software for enterprise libraries.

Android app

by: Wael Elfeqy

I'd like to have Android client for remote ebook viewing with features of ebook reading apps, not browser based ebook reading.

Web Interface sort

by: Holly Bright

Please allow to sort the book list in the Web interface like it's done in the desktop interface

Multiply access to DB

by: Mikhail

When AEM installed on home server, you need to start AEM instance to start web-server. Nevertheless it's more convenient to work with AEM from laptop. But I can't access the same database in same time: I have to shut down AEM on server and then connect to DB from laptop. Please, add multiply access to DB.

Add books from the web interface

by: Wilhelm Thomas

Being able to add a book from the web interface like calibre-web would be great so my family can add more books

LDAP support

by: Kofi Sarpong

It would be great to add LDAP support to provide a use case for Alfa E-Books Manager/server as a central library manager in a corporate environment.

Web interface to reflect the folders

by: Wilhelm Thomas

Please add a way to view the folder location structure as Tags or Genre

Improve search capabilities in Web interface

by: Sylvain Tremblay

I would like to easily find books with tag XYZ (example : Wanted) in the Series or Author view for example. So you select a series or an author and you search within it (not through the entire library). And when you click on a book in this list the different tags associated to it should also display; they are missing from this interface's view so I can't tell if I'm looking for that book or if I already have it... the tag would tell me.

Display a book's Sub Title below its Title in grid and list views

by: Julian Summers

The Sub Title field seems to be visible in the web interface only on the page displaying all of a book's full details. It would be very useful if the Sub Title was displayed in the grid or list item for each book, e.g. in the All Books view.

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