Copy/pasted old library to new, books not recognized

[ChadG]

Hello,

I had my old Calibre library on a hard drive from a previous laptop. I bought a new PC, installed Calibre and loaded a bunch of books on it. I then copied my old library and pasted it into my new Calibre library.

Now the books are in there, they just don't show up and come up as invalid or extra titles.

Is there some way to have Calibre refresh or recognize the titles?

Thanks

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ChadG

Hello,

I had my old Calibre library on a hard drive from a previous laptop. I bought a new PC, installed Calibre and loaded a bunch of books on it. I then copied my old library and pasted it into my new Calibre library.

Now the books are in there, they just don't show up and come up as invalid or extra titles.

Is there some way to have Calibre refresh or recognize the titles?

Thanks

@ChadG - I would have copied the old library folder (lock, stock and barrel) to new computer, and used the Switch/Create library option to tell calibre it's there, viz:



Then select all the books in the old library (or the new one if fewer books), and use the Copy to Library feature to copy the books into the other library. The Copy to Library option should be in Book List context menu, or you can add it to Main Toolbar via Preferences->Toolbars

If you can backout what you did, maybe via restoring the new library from a backup - you could do something like the above. Let us know if that's not possible, and someone will have some suggestions what to do.

BR

[theducks]

The 'Copy the entire folder' to the new Computer is the only proper way to get success.
Never` 'Add' (or Remove/tamper) with the valid contents of a Library folder from the OS. AND Thrice never, overlay the contents (empty and replace is OK if complete Library contents)

Note You CAN change the main Library Folder name as part the copy, You will need to use the Switch/Create menu to learn the new name (location)

The Library name is the Parent Folder Name

Old PC: Calibre Library
The New PC already has one (having 2 would be confusing, but you can , as long as they are on different paths)

New PC:
(the old one pasted)Calibre Library=>Old PC Library <(the name is your choice)

[ChadG]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I have it sorted out, in a way. My Calibre now has several libraries of books. Now I'd like ot combine all four of them into one.

Is this possible? I've been looking at the choices of commands under the "add books" tab. There isn't one as simple as "combine current libraries". I've tried the switch/create library tab but when I try to move one library to another, it tells me the file is not empty so it won't allow the move.

Any thoughts on this?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ChadG

Thanks for all the replies. I think I have it sorted out, in a way. My Calibre now has several libraries of books. Now I'd like ot combine all four of them into one.

Is this possible? I've been looking at the choices of commands under the "add books" tab. There isn't one as simple as "combine current libraries". Any thoughts on this?

Switch to the SOURCE Library
Select books: (rightclick):copy to Library (option)

All that is needed is that you have viewed the Library With the current instal so it will be on the switch List of the Library Icon

[ChadG]

Wow, so easy! Can't believe I missed that. Thank you.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ChadG

Wow, so easy! Can't believe I missed that. Thank you.

If you can Find, let alone remember all the features that Calibre has, you are better than most of us

I bet, I do not use more than 30% of what Calibre can do.
and some of what it can do, I do manually because it is simpler for me than fine tuning some of the automation.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

If you can Find, let alone remember all the features that Calibre has, you are better than most of us

I bet, I do not use more than 30% of what Calibre can do.
and some of what it can do, I do manually because it is simpler for me than fine tuning some of the automation.

but 20% - no News, no Device integration, etc

@ChadG - many (most) calibre features can be accessed from context menus e.g.

• the book list - column headers, line items, and cells when editing
• left sidebar tag browser - white space, groups, and items
• right (bottom if narrow) sidebar book details - column values,

Preferences->Toolbars, allows you to define what's in the book list context menus

FWIW - I primarily drive calibre library manager from keyboard (shortcuts) and context menus (via the menu key to right of space bar) - I rarely need to use the mouse.

BR