Proper way to backup library meta offline

spiralmind4 · 04-18-2013, 01:55 PM

I've done some quick searches here in the forums, and I've read a few other articles but I'm still a little unclear how to go about a PROPER backup of my library meta data and where exactly it's located.

I'm using Calibre on windows 8. I've located where calibre is saving data at c:\users\name\appdata\roaming\calibre and I've looked at the calibre folder inside programfiles (x86) -- i'm using the win32 version. I have a very large library and am expecting to see a db file someplace but am not finding it.

I read that the meta data is stored with the book itself inside the library folder in the .opf folder. Is this enough? How would one restore metadata from their library should a hard drive go down?

So, I'm wondering how to go about BACKING UP my metadata to store it OFFLINE in the case of a hard drive problem. I use the backup feature within Calibre frequently, but this is no good if a hard drive goes down.

My books/library itself is backed up (along with the .opf files). Is this enough? What is the proper way to backup the metadata offline so I don't lose days/weeks of meticulous meta data work?

theducks · 04-18-2013, 03:28 PM

http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#id43

Just Archive the Folder instead of moving it.

spiralmind4 · 04-18-2013, 05:29 PM

Thanks for the link, theducks. All i needed to know was where that database was being stored and the link also told me it's an sqlite db so that's good useful info too.

Somehow i overlooked that part of the manual.

BetterRed · 04-18-2013, 07:03 PM

Its also a good idea to back up Calibres configuration settings, the location can be found via Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open Calibre configuration directory.

I'm not sure if you could restore this directory in the event of having to do a Fresh Install of Calibre (e.g. because you lost the system drive).

However a backup of it can at least tell you what plug-ins you had, give some clues as to changes you made in preferences etc.

BR

04-18-2013, 01:55 PM	#1
spiralmind4 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: nook	Proper way to backup library meta offline I've done some quick searches here in the forums, and I've read a few other articles but I'm still a little unclear how to go about a PROPER backup of my library meta data and where exactly it's located. I'm using Calibre on windows 8. I've located where calibre is saving data at c:\users\name\appdata\roaming\calibre and I've looked at the calibre folder inside programfiles (x86) -- i'm using the win32 version. I have a very large library and am expecting to see a db file someplace but am not finding it. I read that the meta data is stored with the book itself inside the library folder in the .opf folder. Is this enough? How would one restore metadata from their library should a hard drive go down? So, I'm wondering how to go about BACKING UP my metadata to store it OFFLINE in the case of a hard drive problem. I use the backup feature within Calibre frequently, but this is no good if a hard drive goes down. My books/library itself is backed up (along with the .opf files). Is this enough? What is the proper way to backup the metadata offline so I don't lose days/weeks of meticulous meta data work?

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04-18-2013, 03:28 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,800 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#id43 Just Archive the Folder instead of moving it.

04-18-2013, 05:29 PM	#3
spiralmind4 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: nook	Thanks for the link, theducks. All i needed to know was where that database was being stored and the link also told me it's an sqlite db so that's good useful info too. Somehow i overlooked that part of the manual.

04-18-2013, 07:03 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,567 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Its also a good idea to back up Calibres configuration settings, the location can be found via Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open Calibre configuration directory. I'm not sure if you could restore this directory in the event of having to do a Fresh Install of Calibre (e.g. because you lost the system drive). However a backup of it can at least tell you what plug-ins you had, give some clues as to changes you made in preferences etc. BR

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