Merging dissimilar Libraries

Sabardeyn · 12-26-2012, 08:00 AM

Does anyone know if you can merge two Libraries with different fields? Due to a hardware problem, I have two Libraries with lots of metadata in each that I don't want to lose. But only one Library has custom columns, the other Library does not.

Do the Library's structure have to be the same in order to merge them together?

kovidgoyal · 12-26-2012, 08:10 AM

You can use copy to library to copy books between libraries, but custom column metadata will be preserved only if both libraries have the same custom columns.

Sabardeyn · 12-26-2012, 09:40 AM

Can I just add the custom columns to one of the Libraries, effectively matching the database structures? Would that update all the records, or would I need to perform extra steps?

(For some reason I vaguely recall that adding custom columns didn't update pre-existing records from before the column was added. Not sure if this has been changed in any way.)

kovidgoyal · 12-26-2012, 12:42 PM

Adding a custom column only creates that column. You have to fill it with data separately.

speakingtohe · 12-26-2012, 01:13 PM

If you copy the the library without custom fields to the one that has custom fields you will keep the custom fields.

Best to backup first.

Or you could open the library with custom fields and create new library with copy structure from curent library box checked, and then copy both libraries to new library.

Helen

Sabardeyn · 12-26-2012, 04:31 PM

Thanks Kovid and Helen for the responses. I appreciate the help.

12-26-2012, 08:00 AM	#1
Sabardeyn Guru Posts: 644 Karma: 1242364 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Right Coast Device: PC (Calibre), Nexus 7 2013 (Moon+ Pro), HTC HD2/Leo (Freda)	Merging dissimilar Libraries Does anyone know if you can merge two Libraries with different fields? Due to a hardware problem, I have two Libraries with lots of metadata in each that I don't want to lose. But only one Library has custom columns, the other Library does not. Do the Library's structure have to be the same in order to merge them together?

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12-26-2012, 08:10 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,850 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You can use copy to library to copy books between libraries, but custom column metadata will be preserved only if both libraries have the same custom columns.

12-26-2012, 09:40 AM	#3
Sabardeyn Guru Posts: 644 Karma: 1242364 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Right Coast Device: PC (Calibre), Nexus 7 2013 (Moon+ Pro), HTC HD2/Leo (Freda)	Can I just add the custom columns to one of the Libraries, effectively matching the database structures? Would that update all the records, or would I need to perform extra steps? (For some reason I vaguely recall that adding custom columns didn't update pre-existing records from before the column was added. Not sure if this has been changed in any way.)

12-26-2012, 12:42 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,850 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Adding a custom column only creates that column. You have to fill it with data separately.

12-26-2012, 01:13 PM	#5
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	If you copy the the library without custom fields to the one that has custom fields you will keep the custom fields. Best to backup first. Or you could open the library with custom fields and create new library with copy structure from curent library box checked, and then copy both libraries to new library. Helen

12-26-2012, 04:31 PM	#6
Sabardeyn Guru Posts: 644 Karma: 1242364 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Right Coast Device: PC (Calibre), Nexus 7 2013 (Moon+ Pro), HTC HD2/Leo (Freda)	Thanks Kovid and Helen for the responses. I appreciate the help.