Transfer my Calibre settings to new computer

[booklover81]

I've spent a LOT of time tweaking and configuring my Calibre Library on my desktop. I have all my books on an external. How do I transfer my Calibre settings.. IE: plugins settings, custom columns, etc. to a different computer? I'm going to need to put it on a netbook because I'll be traveling for 2 months. Any way I can do this without a ton of trouble?

Thanks

[kacir]

Originally Posted by booklover81

I've spent a LOT of time tweaking and configuring my Calibre Library on my desktop. I have all my books on an external. How do I transfer my Calibre settings.. IE: plugins settings, custom columns, etc. to a different computer? I'm going to need to put it on a netbook because I'll be traveling for 2 months. Any way I can do this without a ton of trouble?

If you just transfer library folder, it will retain all your custom folders and other stuff.

As for plugins, I personally usually install then anew, but there has to be way to copy configuration file. I would put an unique word, like "popokatepetl" somewhere into configuration option and then search computer for a file that is less than 24 hours old, smaller than 1MB and containing word "popokatepetl".

[kovidgoyal]

Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open configuration directory

Note that copying configurations like this is not officially supported, but if you're lucky, it will just work.

[kiwidude]

I think you will find plugins need to be reinstalled unless the path for your calibre configuration directory Kovid mentioned above is *exactly* the same on both machines. Because inside one of calibre's configuration files (customize.py) it stores hard-coded full paths to "installed" plugins.

If your directories are different, you can still try Kovids suggestion. From a plugin perspective, at a minimum still copy across the plugins subfolder into your new configuration directory, then reinstall the plugins. The plugins store their configuration data in .json files in that plugins subfolder so it would allow you to keep your existing plugin settings for most of them.

There is the odd exception like the "Generate Cover" plugin which also stores full paths to the images, so you would need to copy those images across and modify the paths inside the plugins/Generate Cover.json file. I should really change that plugin so it stores paths relative to the calibre configuration folder which would make it more "transportable". As a workaround you can use the ability to export your cover settings, install the plugin on your new machine and then import those cover settings.

[kovidgoyal]

@kiwidude: Although customize.py does store absolute paths, IIRC they are not actually used. The plugin loading code constructs the path to the plugin from the plugin name. Only if the constructed name fails is the absolute path used.

[kiwidude]

Ahhh, that is good to know, thanks. That just leaves the onus on me to sort out my plugins with any hard-coded paths then

[booklover81]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open configuration directory

Note that copying configurations like this is not officially supported, but if you're lucky, it will just work.

Just wanted to say THANK YOU!! This is what I did and it worked . All I needed it for was for the Reading list and Goodreads sync plugins! I put the same info from my desktop to my netbook and then I was looking today because I need to transfer the info from the netbook to my moms desktop and I had forgotten how.

[berend]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open configuration directory

Note that copying configurations like this is not officially supported, but if you're lucky, it will just work.

Still works like a charm in 2020. I just transferred Calibre from my 6-years-old PC to my brand new one, including all preferences and plugins, in under 10 minutes

[Kraftwerk]

Originally Posted by berend

Still works like a charm in 2020. I just transferred Calibre from my 6-years-old PC to my brand new one, including all preferences and plugins, in under 10 minutes

I've installed Calibre and all books onto my new Windows 10 Dell G5 laptop.
Plugins next: I'm not 100% sure what to do.
On my old laptop that I have Calibre installed I've opened the Calibre Configuration Directory folder.
So I need to copy all the information inside this folder, copy onto an external hard drive of some sort and paste into Configuration Directory on my new laptop?
Do I need to install the plugins first before doing this?
Is this correct?
Thanks

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

I've installed Calibre and all books onto my new Windows 10 Dell G5 laptop.
Plugins next: I'm not 100% sure what to do.
On my old laptop that I have Calibre installed I've opened the Calibre Configuration Directory folder.
So I need to copy all the information inside this folder, copy onto an external hard drive of some sort and paste into Configuration Directory on my new laptop?
Do I need to install the plugins first before doing this?
Is this correct?
Thanks

IF you copy the config folder over, IT HAS ALL YOUR PLUGINS. No additional loads needed
NOTE: Some Plugins store data in the Library DB. DO NOT use ADD BOOKS to import the Library. Simply copy the OLD Library FOLDER to the new PC.

The only thing, you may have to do after the copy is Switch/Create: Use Existing to point Calibre to the new path(s, if multiple Libraries) to each Library.

[Kraftwerk]

Originally Posted by theducks

IF you copy the config folder over, IT HAS ALL YOUR PLUGINS. No additional loads needed
NOTE: Some Plugins store data in the Library DB. DO NOT use ADD BOOKS to import the Library. Simply copy the OLD Library FOLDER to the new PC.

The only thing, you may have to do after the copy is Switch/Create: Use Existing to point Calibre to the new path(s, if multiple Libraries) to each Library.

It hasn't worked but this is due (as you mentioned above) to the incorrect path but I don't know the best way to correct it.
I need as much detail as possible on how to do this.
Thanks

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

It hasn't worked but this is due (as you mentioned above) to the incorrect path but I don't know the best way to correct it.
I need as much detail as possible on how to do this.
Thanks

second paragraph above. That points Calibre to the desired Library, which will remain as the CURRENT one until you use the switch list. (The quick switch list remembers up to the last 5 used.)

[Kraftwerk]

Originally Posted by theducks

second paragraph above. That points Calibre to the desired Library, which will remain as the CURRENT one until you use the switch list. (The quick switch list remembers up to the last 5 used.)

Tried but couldn't get it to work.
What if I copied my Calibre Library and placed it where the path for the Calibre Configuration Directory folder expected it to be?
I then could delete the Calibre Library not needed.
The Configuration Directory should work as the path should be correct?
Can I then use Switch/Create: Use Existing to point to the new location of my library?
You mention the quick switch list remembers the last 5 used. I couldn't see any in any list?
Sorry for asking so many (most probably obvious) questions but I've had Calibre setup on my other laptop for years and forgotten how I installed it correctly all those years ago.

[theducks]

Quick switch only appears if you have set up more than 1 Library.
Did yoy follow the instructions with the destination (new laptop) Calibre NOT running? Running will block or overwrite backdoor changes when it shuts down.

This works. I have done it dozens of times since 2010 (Windows XP-W7-W10, Ubuntu Linux, Mint Linux)

[Kraftwerk]

Still can't get it to work.
I'm going to start from scratch.
Can I reset Calibre so it is as if I am installing it for the first time on this laptop and I can choose the library location as I had it on my other laptop?
I'm going to use the 'Export/Import all Calibre data' feature.
Forgot about this feature and should have used in the first place. Hopefully it will work and I will have all my plugins this time.
The library currently has my books in it. If I can reset, will the reset delete the books and anything else in there or should I delete everything in there then reset?

Sorry this is taking so long.