Merge Two Libraries

vsnewltr · 01-25-2015, 10:38 AM

It's probably been asked before but I can't find an answer. Sigh.

Background: I decided to move all the files off my hard drive to a GoogleDrive folder as the laptop's hard drive is dying. I figured I could just point Calibre to the library's new location. I started getting errors, so moved it all back. Then got an error that the file was corrupted and would I like Calibre to rebuild it automatically. I clicked Yes. I didn't realize that in doing this I would lose all my custom Metadata (I had a metadata of all the books I had read with a check mark ugh - we're talking 400-500+ books). Bigger sigh.

I then remembered that I had done a back up 2.5 months ago. BUT all the new authors/books/metadata would now be missing.

Is there any way to merge the two libraries together BUT keep the books/metadata from the old back up intact and only all in the books that are new? Going through each author's titles one by one will take weeks.

eschwartz · 01-25-2015, 10:41 AM

Did you take a backup of the library before you let calibre fix it?

theducks · 01-25-2015, 10:55 AM

Not with a solid guarantee

Copy to Library will insert books into the destination Library (it honors the 'duplicates' preference).

If the base metadata (author, title) was messed up and you changed one of them, you can end up with duplicate entries

The find duplicates PI can help, but I have seen Merge direction issues (it has been suggested that the destination always be on the TOP).

Other issues you might run into:
Merge or replacing individual field values. AFAIK there is no fine selectivity here: Replace

BTW someone posted a tool to try and repair the Google drive mess (once you copy the GD to a local NEW folder. After that,you then need to cleanOUT duplicates (a tedious step. using the Find duplicates PI, review each line, sometimes viewing each book then decide which to keep)

BetterRed · 01-25-2015, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

BTW someone posted a tool to try and repair the Google drive mess

Actually there are two such tools - see the WARNING - Google Drive Incompatible with Calibre! sticky.

BR

01-25-2015, 10:38 AM	#1
vsnewltr Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kindle	Merge Two Libraries It's probably been asked before but I can't find an answer. Sigh. Background: I decided to move all the files off my hard drive to a GoogleDrive folder as the laptop's hard drive is dying. I figured I could just point Calibre to the library's new location. I started getting errors, so moved it all back. Then got an error that the file was corrupted and would I like Calibre to rebuild it automatically. I clicked Yes. I didn't realize that in doing this I would lose all my custom Metadata (I had a metadata of all the books I had read with a check mark ugh - we're talking 400-500+ books). Bigger sigh. I then remembered that I had done a back up 2.5 months ago. BUT all the new authors/books/metadata would now be missing. Is there any way to merge the two libraries together BUT keep the books/metadata from the old back up intact and only all in the books that are new? Going through each author's titles one by one will take weeks.

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01-25-2015, 10:41 AM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Did you take a backup of the library before you let calibre fix it?

01-25-2015, 10:55 AM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,057 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Not with a solid guarantee Copy to Library will insert books into the destination Library (it honors the 'duplicates' preference). If the base metadata (author, title) was messed up and you changed one of them, you can end up with duplicate entries The find duplicates PI can help, but I have seen Merge direction issues (it has been suggested that the destination always be on the TOP). Other issues you might run into: Merge or replacing individual field values. AFAIK there is no fine selectivity here: Replace BTW someone posted a tool to try and repair the Google drive mess (once you copy the GD to a local NEW folder. After that,you then need to cleanOUT duplicates (a tedious step. using the Find duplicates PI, review each line, sometimes viewing each book then decide which to keep)

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