Including metadata (plugins) for a forced import

Karen Myers · 03-13-2022, 11:22 AM

Sorry if this has been answered but I can't find it... I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Primary PC being repaired (inaccessible for lengthy period, unexpected interruption).

Meanwhile, I'm putting up a new Calibre installation on the Secondary PC. Since the Primary PC is not available to do the proper "Export" process, I have copied all the Primary PC Calibre data (i.e., full folder "Calibre Library") via Dropbox.

I have installed the latest release of Calibre, and pointed it at the "Calibre Library" folder imported from Dropbox which has all the internal book folders as well as the Metadata.db file.

When I start up the new empty Calibre installation and point it at the existing library, it brings in (apparently) the full database, including (spot-checking) user-created metadata (e.g., series names). That's great.

PROBLEM/QUESTION

I assume the proper Export/Import process would include other things like my installed PLUGINS and DEVICE SETTINGS, but I was unable to do the Export process (see above - source PC not available). My list of plugins for the new installation shows no installed plugins, nor do I have a list elsewhere (yes, I will be fixing this later... with parameters).

Is there any way I can resurrect my list of plugins, including DeDRM stuff (I buy from Amazon and load to Kobo for reading)? Is some of that perhaps in the Metadata.db file, or does that just contain the user-created metadata or something else?

Without the proper plugins (and resurrecting years of appropriate fiddling/settings/definitions/research) I don't dare attempt to upload my existing epub files to my Kobo reader, nor attempt to import mobi files in a useful way.

Even just finding the plugin list/settings in, say, background folders (all of which I have via Dropbox but don't know their locations) would help get me started recreating the original environment. (Though if they are in system folders rather than "ordinary" user-managed PC folders, they might not have been uploaded to Dropbox... still, I do have direct offline physical backups of all folders, I believe.)

Thanks for your help!

theducks · 03-13-2022, 03:45 PM

Export also copies the entire Configuration folder. That is where all PI and per user settings are.
(Library settings are in the metadata.db. the json file in the library folder is the backup for that.)

BetterRed · 03-13-2022, 05:15 PM

On Windows Calibre makes use of three locations -

the location in which it is installed. 64 bit default - C:\Program Files\Calibre2, 32 bit default - C:\Program Files (X86)\Calibre2
the configuration data (global preferences, plugins, resource overrides etc) - default C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\calibre

This can be accessed from within calibre via - Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open calibre configuration folder.
the library folders - the default library is located at C:\Users\<USERNAME>Calibre Library, others are wherever you put them

Calibre makes very limited use of the Windows Registry.

BR

Karen Myers · 03-13-2022, 06:32 PM

Thanks very much.

Please look at the attached image which shows the fresh new Calibre installation at the top, and the backup-version of the inaccessible source Calibre installation at the bottom (from the backed up app-data/roaming/calibre path).

The source version on the bottom certainly looks like exactly the thing I need -- it has the right device and plugins folder list of plugins -- thank you!

QUESTION

How do I get the source version into the fresh installation? Simply copy all the folders and files from the bottom set to the top set and overwrite them?

I would think that would work, since I have done nothing in the fresh installation other than verify that it found the Calibre Library book files that I moved manually. But I am leery of just overwriting the new-installation version experimentally.

Please confirm?

(And thanks very much!)

BetterRed · 03-13-2022, 06:56 PM

With calibre closed: I would rename c:\users\karen\appdata\roaming\calibre to ...\calibre_save and then copy the calibre folder from backup to c:\users\karen\appdata\roaming\

BR

Karen Myers · 03-13-2022, 07:44 PM

That did the trick!

Thanks again -- all done!

03-13-2022, 11:22 AM	#1
Karen Myers Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Aura	Including metadata (plugins) for a forced import Sorry if this has been answered but I can't find it... I'd be grateful for any suggestions. BACKGROUND Primary PC being repaired (inaccessible for lengthy period, unexpected interruption). Meanwhile, I'm putting up a new Calibre installation on the Secondary PC. Since the Primary PC is not available to do the proper "Export" process, I have copied all the Primary PC Calibre data (i.e., full folder "Calibre Library") via Dropbox. I have installed the latest release of Calibre, and pointed it at the "Calibre Library" folder imported from Dropbox which has all the internal book folders as well as the Metadata.db file. When I start up the new empty Calibre installation and point it at the existing library, it brings in (apparently) the full database, including (spot-checking) user-created metadata (e.g., series names). That's great. PROBLEM/QUESTION I assume the proper Export/Import process would include other things like my installed PLUGINS and DEVICE SETTINGS, but I was unable to do the Export process (see above - source PC not available). My list of plugins for the new installation shows no installed plugins, nor do I have a list elsewhere (yes, I will be fixing this later... with parameters). Is there any way I can resurrect my list of plugins, including DeDRM stuff (I buy from Amazon and load to Kobo for reading)? Is some of that perhaps in the Metadata.db file, or does that just contain the user-created metadata or something else? Without the proper plugins (and resurrecting years of appropriate fiddling/settings/definitions/research) I don't dare attempt to upload my existing epub files to my Kobo reader, nor attempt to import mobi files in a useful way. Even just finding the plugin list/settings in, say, background folders (all of which I have via Dropbox but don't know their locations) would help get me started recreating the original environment. (Though if they are in system folders rather than "ordinary" user-managed PC folders, they might not have been uploaded to Dropbox... still, I do have direct offline physical backups of all folders, I believe.) Thanks for your help!

03-13-2022, 05:15 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,732 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	On Windows Calibre makes use of three locations - the location in which it is installed. 64 bit default - C:\Program Files\Calibre2, 32 bit default - C:\Program Files (X86)\Calibre2 the configuration data (global preferences, plugins, resource overrides etc) - default C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\calibre This can be accessed from within calibre via - Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open calibre configuration folder. the library folders - the default library is located at C:\Users\<USERNAME>Calibre Library, others are wherever you put them Calibre makes very limited use of the Windows Registry. BR

03-13-2022, 06:32 PM	#4
Karen Myers Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Aura	Thanks very much. Please look at the attached image which shows the fresh new Calibre installation at the top, and the backup-version of the inaccessible source Calibre installation at the bottom (from the backed up app-data/roaming/calibre path). The source version on the bottom certainly looks like exactly the thing I need -- it has the right device and plugins folder list of plugins -- thank you! QUESTION How do I get the source version into the fresh installation? Simply copy all the folders and files from the bottom set to the top set and overwrite them? I would think that would work, since I have done nothing in the fresh installation other than verify that it found the Calibre Library book files that I moved manually. But I am leery of just overwriting the new-installation version experimentally. Please confirm? (And thanks very much!) Attached Thumbnails

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03-13-2022, 03:45 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,064 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 also copies the entire Configuration folder. That is where all PI and per user settings are. (Library settings are in the metadata.db. the json file in the library folder is the backup for that.)

03-13-2022, 06:56 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,732 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	With calibre closed: I would rename c:\users\karen\appdata\roaming\calibre to ...\calibre_save and then copy the calibre folder from backup to c:\users\karen\appdata\roaming\ BR

03-13-2022, 07:44 PM	#6
Karen Myers Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Aura	That did the trick! Thanks again -- all done!

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