Export Failed with "apsw.IOError: not an error"

JupiterMoon · Yesterday, 05:33 PM

I'm trying to migrate my library from my old MacBook Pro (Mid-2018) running macOS Sequoia to my new MacBook Pro (same OS). But the export keeps failing with the results below:

calibre, version 8.16.2
ERROR: Failed: Failed to export data. Click "Show details" for more information.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/dialogs/exim.py", line 156, in run_action
File "calibre/utils/exim.py", line 213, in export
File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 86, in call_func_with_lock
File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 3176, in export_library
File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 2729, in backup_fts_database
File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 2721, in _backup_database
apsw.IOError: not an error

Any ideas or advice on how to resolve this? Thanks in advance!

DNSB · Yesterday, 06:12 PM

That error can be triggered by permissions, a file being locked by another process and on occasion a disk full error. It can also be triggered by a database issue. You can check that one from the Library database maintenance tool (click on the Library icon => Library maintenance => Check library

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 08:44 PM

What are you exporting it too? Try exporting it to the same drive as your calibre library is on.

JupiterMoon · Yesterday, 09:38 PM

Thanks for the fast response. I ran the Check Library function and it reported 6 issues, the most serious seemingly being "Invalid Authors". Somehow, a couple hundred books have "/.DS_Store" appended to the author. It's a reserved macOS system filename. That, coupled with the "/", results in an illegal filename. Not sure how I never noticed these books before. I have some cleanup work to do!

Yesterday, 05:33 PM	#1
JupiterMoon Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2025 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Export Failed with "apsw.IOError: not an error" I'm trying to migrate my library from my old MacBook Pro (Mid-2018) running macOS Sequoia to my new MacBook Pro (same OS). But the export keeps failing with the results below: calibre, version 8.16.2 ERROR: Failed: Failed to export data. Click "Show details" for more information. Traceback (most recent call last): File "calibre/gui2/dialogs/exim.py", line 156, in run_action File "calibre/utils/exim.py", line 213, in export File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 86, in call_func_with_lock File "calibre/db/cache.py", line 3176, in export_library File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 2729, in backup_fts_database File "calibre/db/backend.py", line 2721, in _backup_database apsw.IOError: not an error Any ideas or advice on how to resolve this? Thanks in advance!

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Yesterday, 06:12 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,865 Karma: 174631580 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	That error can be triggered by permissions, a file being locked by another process and on occasion a disk full error. It can also be triggered by a database issue. You can check that one from the Library database maintenance tool (click on the Library icon => Library maintenance => Check library

Yesterday, 08:44 PM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,697 Karma: 28549304 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	What are you exporting it too? Try exporting it to the same drive as your calibre library is on.

Yesterday, 09:38 PM	#4
JupiterMoon Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2025 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Thanks for the fast response. I ran the Check Library function and it reported 6 issues, the most serious seemingly being "Invalid Authors". Somehow, a couple hundred books have "/.DS_Store" appended to the author. It's a reserved macOS system filename. That, coupled with the "/", results in an illegal filename. Not sure how I never noticed these books before. I have some cleanup work to do!