Issue- Importing old library on Mac

toothfairy · Yesterday, 08:53 AM

Hi there,
I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this, or if the answer is listed somewhere else. After scouring the internet last night, and still not having any luck, this is my first post to see if I can get a solution.
I recently had an issue with my MacBook and had to get it wiped. Now, when I try to import my library that I backed up from my hard drive, it is not letting me do so. It is saying there is no exported data, however the folder contains other folders of every single book I had.

This is the message that comes up:

calibre, version 8.5.0
ERROR: Not valid: The folder /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/Backups.backupdb/Malerie’s MacBook Air/2025-06-23-104004/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/malerie/Calibre Library is not valid: No exported data found in: /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/Backups.backupdb/Malerie’s MacBook Air/2025-06-23-104004/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/malerie/Calibre Library

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/dialogs/exim.py", line 280, in select_import_folder
File "calibre/utils/exim.py", line 389, in __init__
ValueError: No exported data found in: /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/Backups.backupdb/Malerie’s MacBook Air/2025-06-23-104004/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/malerie/Calibre Library

Does anyone know what to do from here?

Thanks !!!!

Sirtel · Yesterday, 09:01 AM

You don't use export/import if you made your backup by copying the library folder. You point calibre to the library. Click on the Library icon -> Switch/create new library -> Use the previously existing library at the new location. Navigate to where you put your library folder and click ok.

pdurrant · Yesterday, 10:31 AM

Or, indeed, copy the entire "Calibre Library" folder from your backup disk to where you want in on your new main disk first, and then point calibre at it.

theducks · Yesterday, 10:59 AM

Export / Import (the one on the Library icon menu) does a bit more than just copy the Library.
It also copies all your Plugins WITH their settings (as well as those for the User)
If you have Multiple Libraries (that are on the Quick Switch list), It will include those (You get to choose which will be imported at import time)

OTOH for general periodic backup, doing this is a huge time and storage waster as much of your library will not change.
Windows users frequently use FreeFile Sync (in Mirror mod. Never 2-way).
I bet there is a Mac equivalent .
In my case, it takes more time (~3 minutes) to determine which files than it takes to actually copy (~1min) the files (I keep my mirror on another PC on my wired home network. Using WiFi or attached disk will just have a different time factor, but still pretty speedy compared to a Calibre Export)

JSWolf · Yesterday, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Windows users frequently use FreeFile Sync (in Mirror mod. Never 2-way).
I bet there is a Mac equivalent.

FreeFileSync will work on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

BetterRed · Yesterday, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

…users frequently use FreeFile Sync (in Mirror mode. Never 2-way).

Curious: Why not "…use FreeFile Sync (in Mirror or Update mode. Never 2-way)." ?

See FFS Synchronization Settings

Quote:

Update: Files deleted on the source side will not cause file deletion on the backup drive (e.g. after you've made room for new photos on a digital camera). On the other hand, files deleted on the backup drive will not be copied over a second time (e.g. after you have removed photos you don't want to keep).

Does anyone use Update? If you do how are 'deleted' folders and files identified… in FFS, and in the OS file system manager (Explorer, Finder, Nautilus etc)?

BR

theducks · Yesterday, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Curious: Why not "…use FreeFile Sync (in Mirror or Update mode. Never 2-way)." ?

See FFS Synchronization Settings

Does anyone use Update? If you do how are 'deleted' folders and files identified… in FFS, and in the OS file system manager (Explorer, Finder, Nautilus etc)?

BR

FFS leaves an inventory. When next run, it compares to the inventory and computes the changes found (New, modified, or deleted)

BetterRed · Yesterday, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

FFS leaves an inventory. When next run, it compares to the inventory and computes the changes found (New, modified, or deleted)

I asked three questions, none of which you answered.

BR

theducks · Yesterday, 10:03 PM

I use Mirror (and not Update) because it gives me a ready to go Library and my config

I alluded to how FFS does handle deletes

, it just does and gives a summary of how many it did

Yesterday, 08:53 AM	#1
toothfairy Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2025 Device: Kobo Clara 2	Issue- Importing old library on Mac Hi there, I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this, or if the answer is listed somewhere else. After scouring the internet last night, and still not having any luck, this is my first post to see if I can get a solution. I recently had an issue with my MacBook and had to get it wiped. Now, when I try to import my library that I backed up from my hard drive, it is not letting me do so. It is saying there is no exported data, however the folder contains other folders of every single book I had. This is the message that comes up: calibre, version 8.5.0 ERROR: Not valid: The folder /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/Backups.backupdb/Malerie’s MacBook Air/2025-06-23-104004/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/malerie/Calibre Library is not valid: No exported data found in: /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/Backups.backupdb/Malerie’s MacBook Air/2025-06-23-104004/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/malerie/Calibre Library Traceback (most recent call last): File "calibre/gui2/dialogs/exim.py", line 280, in select_import_folder File "calibre/utils/exim.py", line 389, in __init__ ValueError: No exported data found in: /Volumes/My Passport for Mac/Backups.backupdb/Malerie’s MacBook Air/2025-06-23-104004/Macintosh HD - Data/Users/malerie/Calibre Library Does anyone know what to do from here? Thanks !!!!

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Yesterday, 09:01 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,434 Karma: 238916691 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	You don't use export/import if you made your backup by copying the library folder. You point calibre to the library. Click on the Library icon -> Switch/create new library -> Use the previously existing library at the new location. Navigate to where you put your library folder and click ok.

Yesterday, 10:31 AM	#3
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,906 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Or, indeed, copy the entire "Calibre Library" folder from your backup disk to where you want in on your new main disk first, and then point calibre at it.

Yesterday, 10:59 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,020 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Export / Import (the one on the Library icon menu) does a bit more than just copy the Library. It also copies all your Plugins WITH their settings (as well as those for the User) If you have Multiple Libraries (that are on the Quick Switch list), It will include those (You get to choose which will be imported at import time) OTOH for general periodic backup, doing this is a huge time and storage waster as much of your library will not change. Windows users frequently use FreeFile Sync (in Mirror mod. Never 2-way). I bet there is a Mac equivalent . In my case, it takes more time (~3 minutes) to determine which files than it takes to actually copy (~1min) the files (I keep my mirror on another PC on my wired home network. Using WiFi or attached disk will just have a different time factor, but still pretty speedy compared to a Calibre Export)

Yesterday, 10:03 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,020 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I use Mirror (and not Update) because it gives me a ready to go Library and my config I alluded to how FFS does handle deletes , it just does and gives a summary of how many it did