Scytale · Support

Scytale Support

Help setting up and using Scytale.

Adding books

In Library, tap + and choose a file. Scytale opens EPUB, PDF, CBZ, FB2, TXT and RTF.
From Files, Mail or AirDrop, open a book file and choose Scytale.
In Catalogs, open Discover Catalogs for free public-domain books, or tap + to add your own Calibre server or OPDS catalog.

Connecting to Calibre

In Calibre on your computer, turn on the content server: Preferences → Sharing over the net. Set a username and password if the server can be reached from outside your home.
In Scytale, go to Catalogs → +, set the type to Calibre, and enter the server's address, for example http://192.168.1.100:8080.
Choose the libraries to sync. Scytale lists every book; a book's file is downloaded when you open it.
Outside your home network, iOS requires a secure https address. Settings → Remote Access Help in the app explains the options.

Syncing progress back to Calibre

Scytale writes reading progress, status and notes into three custom columns in your Calibre library. The Scytale Sync Setup plugin for Calibre creates them for you:

Download Scytale Sync Setup (version 1.2.0, for Calibre 6 or later). Don't unzip it.
In Calibre, go to Preferences → Plugins → Load plugin from file, choose the zip, and restart Calibre.
Click Scytale Sync Setup in the toolbar, tick the libraries you sync, and restart Calibre when asked.
In Scytale, open your server's Column Mapping and tap Use Scytale Sync Setup Columns. You can map columns of your own instead, including rating and date finished.
To create the columns by hand instead, use Preferences → Add your own columns: read_progress (floating point numbers), read_status (text with a fixed set of permitted values: unread, reading, finished) and annotations (long text, like comments).

Common questions

Can Scytale open my Kindle, Apple Books or Kobo purchases? No. Scytale reads DRM-free files only.
Why can't I see a book that's in my Calibre library? Scytale shows books that have an EPUB, PDF, CBZ, FB2, TXT or RTF format. Convert MOBI and AZW3 books to EPUB in Calibre.
My progress changed in two places. Which one wins? Scytale asks you. It shows both positions and keeps the one you pick.
What does Premium add? More than one server, iCloud Sync between your devices, and natural read-aloud voices. It is a one-time purchase; use Restore Purchases on a new device.
Does iCloud Sync copy my book files? It syncs your library, positions, highlights and statistics. Books from a Calibre server or catalog download again on each device; files you imported yourself need importing on each device.
Why are natural voices missing? They need Premium, an iPhone or iPad with 6 GB of memory, and an English book.
Does Scytale send my books anywhere? No. See the privacy policy.

Contact support

Email info@s4solutions.ai. Tell us your device, its iOS version, the Scytale version from Settings, and what you expected to happen. For sync problems, include your Calibre version. We aim to reply within two business days.