04-23-2024, 10:33 AM | #1 |
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Question about re-adding books (+metadata/covers)
Long story short, my Calibre library was hosed. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but something must have happened to the metadata.db because my library is now empty even though all of the files are still where they are supposed to be. I've resorted to creating a new library and re-adding all of my books. I was hoping that, since the opf, json, and cover files are all still in the subfolders with the ebook files, that Calibre would be able to read that data when re-adding the books. That doesn't seem to be the case, however. I tried adding books using the folder and subfolder option, and I clicked yes on the option to have Calibre treat all files in the same folder as the same book. All of my books appear to get added, but none of the metadata and/or covers are included. Am I missing something, or is it just not possible to include that data when adding books?
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04-23-2024, 10:50 AM | #2 |
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First, before all the manual rebuilding, have you tried to simply point Calibre to the location of your library? (Switch/create library - use a previously existing library at the new location)
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04-23-2024, 11:58 AM | #3 |
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04-23-2024, 12:03 PM | #4 |
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Did you look in the library folder and is the metadata.db file gone?
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04-23-2024, 12:22 PM | #5 |
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04-23-2024, 02:08 PM | #6 |
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Before you go the painful way (because you tried stuff that did in the easy way)
Are you sure you did the create / switch Use Existing to the correct location. The correct location will have: many Author folders Inside those will be Title(id) folders Inside will be the formats (if not an 'empty book') AND metadata.opf (this is the individual backup for the entry) AND possibly cover.jpg The Metadata and Cover are what you see in the Library view. |
04-23-2024, 02:16 PM | #7 |
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04-23-2024, 02:19 PM | #8 |
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If the library is corrupt, there could be an issue with the drive.
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04-23-2024, 02:21 PM | #9 |
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04-23-2024, 02:36 PM | #10 |
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I think the database has to be corrupt somehow. I tried copying the entire library (including the metadata.db file) to a separate location, and then pointed Calibre to that new location (and told it to use the library that's already there). I still got an empty library.
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04-23-2024, 02:37 PM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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04-23-2024, 02:56 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
Do Not try ADD (at this time) , rebuild is fairly quick (~3 books a second) as it just reads the metadata.OPF file in the folder and does not even need to open the book |
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04-23-2024, 02:58 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
Let us know how this goes. |
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04-23-2024, 04:32 PM | #14 |
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I'm not sure what was going on, but doing this worked when I tried it this latest time. I had tried it previously, and got an error about failing to restore preferences and column settings (or something along those lines). I'm not sure what fixed it, but somewhere along copy the entire library directory around to different folders and drives seems to have gotten things working again. I can't remember exactly how many books I had in my library before, so I can't say for sure I have every one back, but I don't see anything noticeably missing. Thanks for the help, everyone!
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04-23-2024, 05:05 PM | #15 |
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Preferences and Column settings (restore) come from 2 places.
1 is the JSON file in the Library folder (there is one for each Library) 2 User preferences (other than Per Library) come from the configuration folder. I don't believe this is the one Restore is complaining about. Not having anything (calibre) in use, is needed. A Full reboot before, would insure that is good to go. |
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