Update back-up library on another harddisk with only new books

[Tanjamuse]

Is it possible to copy an existing library to a new folder without all copied stories are added more than once? Meaning if Calibra will know which stories were already added to a specific folder once, won't get added again?

[eschwartz]

Use a filesyncing program.

[Tanjamuse]

And what would that be?

I'm sorry I have no idea

[eschwartz]

Here is one filesyncing program, which I believe I have seen mentioned by several people here: http://freefilesync.sourceforge.net/

I use Dropbox, to back up in the cloud and across multiple computers, but if I understand you correctly you wish to backup calibre on another hard drive?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Here is one filesyncing program, which I believe I have seen mentioned by several people here: http://freefilesync.sourceforge.net/

I use Dropbox, to back up in the cloud and across multiple computers, but if I understand you correctly you wish to backup calibre on another hard drive?

@eschwartz - as I read the OPs original post, he/she has a problem with duplicate books, no amount of free file synching or drop boxing is going to solve that issue

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Tanjamuse

Is it possible to copy an existing library to a new folder without all copied stories are added more than once? Meaning if Calibra will know which stories were already added to a specific folder once, won't get added again?

@Tanjamuse - am I right in thinking that want you want to do is... to get rid of the multiple copies of the same stories you have in your library.

If so then creating a new library may not be the best way to fix that.

There is a plugin called Find Duplicates that can do it within the existing library.

You can read about the plugin here ==>> https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=131017

And you can download and install via Preferences->Plug-ins->Get new plugs ins.

BR

[eschwartz]

I believe the OP wants a backup that doesn't get filled with multiple copies of the same backed up books. At least, according to the title of the thread.

[BetterRed]

Yes you could be right too, lets see how the OP responds

[Adoby]

I use some USB 2.5" harddrives for offsite backups.

I have written a bash script (actually copied and adapted someone else's...) that create a "snapshot" of my calibre library. And the software use hard links to avoid storing duplicates of the same file on the drive, instead it just makes a hard link to files that are identical to one already stored. I have 4 generations of backups on each drive, and keep one drive away from home and swap once a week. I keep a copy of the script on each drive, so I attach the drive and run the script backup.sh that pops up.

The script is mainly based on rsync that is available for Windows, Linux and OSX. But I assume that there is some commercial software with similar capabilities? In OSX there is also the time machine.

Here is the brilliant original script I based my scripts on:
http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/r...hots/#Abstract

By jumping through some hoops it seem that this can be fully adapted to Windows, but I haven't tested it:
http://www.tomscott.com/barcamp2/

I also use the Linux software Back In Time, that also utilize rsync, to take automatic hourly full snapshots, without duplicate files, that are stored on a separate harddrive in the computer, and a daily snapshot that is stored on a NAS. Back In Time is set to automatically delete snapshots so I just have hourly snapshots for a day, daily snapshots for a week and weekly snapshots for a month. Monthly snapshots only gets deleted manually or when the backup disk is full. *

[AnotherCat]

I use FreefileSync, as is referred to by eschwartz, to sync to both a second internal drive and to an external drive.

One can set it up in a number of ways according to whether you want an exact sync, just new files added copied across, etc, etc. It is easy to set up after a bit of thought as to exactly what one wants to achieve.

[Tanjamuse]

I don't have a problem with duplicate books yet I'm trying to avoid it

I'm downloading a bunch of fanfictions from Fanfiction.net and have a back-up archive on a back-up harddrive. When I add new books to the Back-up harddrive it just makes duplicates of everything instead of overwriting if the info is the same, is it possible there is a plug-in to save me the trouble of having to look through all 1000+ stories? Or maybe some other function?

[eschwartz]

Ah, like I thought.

Use FreefileSync, there should be an option to perform a one-way "mirror" sync. It will update files that need to be updated, add files that were added to your source folder, and delete files that you have moved away, which is technically copying and deleting the old location.

[Tanjamuse]

Thanks. I'll have a look in the weekend when I have my hubby home to help me with all the technical things

[Adoby]

Or if you want several backups, but don't want them to take up too much space by backing up the same book several times, check out rotating snapshots with rsync and hard links. A little bit more challenging...

[BetterRed]

@tanjamuse, eschwartz - Sorry for the mislead

FreeFileSynch (FFS) is a good choice, the only things I would add are

It wont fix your current 'backup archive', so create a fresh mirror of your library. When you're happy with FFS then probably best to get rid of that 'backup archive'.

Make sure you know how to restore something from the FFS 'mirror'. Doing a backup is a means to an end, not an end in itself. The end is being able to do a restore when something goes wrong and you're anxious.

And why stop at your e-book library - are the other things you value backed up - photos, documents, emails, tax records etc.

BR