Adding a Library

Tarana · 10-04-2013, 11:03 AM

How do you add an already existing Calibre library? When I tried to add a small one, it said that the metadata was corrupted. Now the library (all the ebooks) were still there in perfect condition, but I had to add them to a newly created library. This takes some time. I have several large libraries to add and creating them new is going to take hours. Is there some step that I'm missing to add a library?

How did this happen? I dragged several libraries over to a portable hard drive and took them with me for the months that I had to take care of a relative with health problems. I spent lots of hours eliminating duplicates and formats that I don't want. So, now, these new libraries have changed. I want to put them back on my main computer. I have removed the old libraries (burned to disk and put away in case of errors).

Adoby · 10-04-2013, 12:58 PM

If the library is a valid calibre library, and it is stored in the local filesystem, then you don't have to add it at all. Just open it. To avoid problems with too long paths it is best to store libraries near the root of a drive.

To check if it is a valid library, verify that the file metadata.db is present in the top folder of the library. That is the database with all metadata. Also you have to be certain that you haven't manually added, removed or renamed any files in the calibre library. If you have then the library most likely is corrupt as far as calibre is concerned. Only calibre may update the contents of the calibre library.

So what you do is copy the calibre libraries over to the local harddrive, separate folders for each, of course. And open them.

http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gui.html#library

Sabardeyn · 10-04-2013, 12:59 PM

Use Switch Library>Switch/create library...>Use the previously existing library at the new location and fill out the path to the library database (metadata.db file). You can type it in or browse to it, using the little computer icon.

Once you do that, calibre will use that library until you tell it otherwise. It will not merge your various libraries together using this function. Post back if you want instructions to merge the libraries.

BTW, Switch Library is the bookshelf icon on calibre's main menu.

10-04-2013, 11:03 AM	#1
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,038 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	Adding a Library How do you add an already existing Calibre library? When I tried to add a small one, it said that the metadata was corrupted. Now the library (all the ebooks) were still there in perfect condition, but I had to add them to a newly created library. This takes some time. I have several large libraries to add and creating them new is going to take hours. Is there some step that I'm missing to add a library? How did this happen? I dragged several libraries over to a portable hard drive and took them with me for the months that I had to take care of a relative with health problems. I spent lots of hours eliminating duplicates and formats that I don't want. So, now, these new libraries have changed. I want to put them back on my main computer. I have removed the old libraries (burned to disk and put away in case of errors).

10-04-2013, 12:58 PM	#2
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	If the library is a valid calibre library, and it is stored in the local filesystem, then you don't have to add it at all. Just open it. To avoid problems with too long paths it is best to store libraries near the root of a drive. To check if it is a valid library, verify that the file metadata.db is present in the top folder of the library. That is the database with all metadata. Also you have to be certain that you haven't manually added, removed or renamed any files in the calibre library. If you have then the library most likely is corrupt as far as calibre is concerned. Only calibre may update the contents of the calibre library. So what you do is copy the calibre libraries over to the local harddrive, separate folders for each, of course. And open them. http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gui.html#library Last edited by Adoby; 10-04-2013 at 01:19 PM.

10-04-2013, 12:59 PM	#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)	Use Switch Library>Switch/create library...>Use the previously existing library at the new location and fill out the path to the library database (metadata.db file). You can type it in or browse to it, using the little computer icon. Once you do that, calibre will use that library until you tell it otherwise. It will not merge your various libraries together using this function. Post back if you want instructions to merge the libraries. BTW, Switch Library is the bookshelf icon on calibre's main menu. Last edited by Sabardeyn; 10-04-2013 at 01:06 PM.

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