Fastest way to sync library on multiple computers

[lpadron]

I have Calibre installed on e PC's (Win 7, Win 10, Mac). What's the fastest "step by step" method to keep them all sync'd.

I've tried searching through the forum and the doc. Have tried several manually intensive methods such as simply dragging new ebooks to PC's Calibre. Have tried using Dropbox share also. Looked at the auto add function. Everything falls short.

BOTTOM LINE:
Would like a SHARED directory (in dropbox or my NAS) that each pc could connected to and update from (automatically on start). Is that possible?

Thanks for your help.

[eschwartz]

It is possible.

Store your calibre library inside Dropbox, and point calibre on each computer to that library.

Note: The entire, pristine library must be there (this will include a metadata.db file plus folders for each author).

Note2: Always fully sync Dropbox before and after running calibre, and pause Dropbox while calibre is running.

Note3: If you share between two OSes (like, Windows AND Mac), then the library database may become inaccurate... as a result of different filesystem standards.
Basically, different OSes and filesystems have different opinions about case sensitivity (Windows is case-preserving but insensitive, Linux is case-sensitive, not sure about OSX).
So the OS may not be able to find the files it thinks you are asking for.
The solution is, if you hit those problems, to do Library Maintenance ==> Restore Database.

[lpadron]

Thx Eschwartz for your reply.

Let me confirm what you're saying:

1) Each copy of Calibre can point to a common share (in this case, Dropbox).

2) Dropbox uses local shares to sync across all PC's (including Mac).

3) I would simply point each Calibre to the LOCAL Dropbox share. (there is no way to point to a Dropbox cloud.)

4) Always fully sync Dropbox (green) before starting Calibre.

5) If the database gets out of sync, use "Database restore."

QUESTION:

How will Calibre on PC#2 pickup a new addition from PC#1 (after Dropbox sync, of course)? Is this automatic at startup of PC#2?

Thanks again for your help.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by lpadron

Thx Eschwartz for your reply.

Let me confirm what you're saying:

1) Each copy of Calibre can point to a common share (in this case, Dropbox).

2) Dropbox uses local shares to sync across all PC's (including Mac).

3) I would simply point each Calibre to the LOCAL Dropbox share. (there is no way to point to a Dropbox cloud.)

4) Always fully sync Dropbox (green) before starting Calibre just to be on the safe side.

5) If the database gets out of sync, use "Database restore."

Yes.

And be sure you pause the DropBox client before opening Calibre. That way DropBox isn't actively doing anything to the files while you're working with them.

QUESTION:

How will Calibre on PC#2 pickup a new addition from PC#1 (after Dropbox sync, of course)? Is this automatic at startup of PC#2?

Because it's opening the same library database file (synced as part of your library) as the one on PC#1 when you start the program.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by lpadron

Thx Eschwartz for your reply.

Let me confirm what you're saying:

1) Each copy of Calibre can point to a common share (in this case, Dropbox).

2) Dropbox uses local shares to sync across all PC's (including Mac).

3) I would simply point each Calibre to the LOCAL Dropbox share. (there is no way to point to a Dropbox cloud.)

4) Always fully sync Dropbox (green) before starting Calibre.

And then paused!

5) If the database gets out of sync, use "Database restore."

Not quite.

Database restore will not fix an out-of-sync issue (because if Dropbox didn't sync properly, then nothing was synced).

What it fixes is issues that may arise when using a library on multiple different operating systems. (This is not guaranteed to happen, but it certainly might. As I said, filename case sensitivity across OSes is inconsistent.)

QUESTION:

How will Calibre on PC#2 pickup a new addition from PC#1 (after Dropbox sync, of course)? Is this automatic at startup of PC#2?

Thanks again for your help.

It is read from the database ("metadata.db"), which is synced as well.

Just make sure Dropbox is fully synced and paused.

Paused, because Dropbox should not try syncing files in real time, while calibre is managing them -- or else they might fight over the files.
If that happens, you will end up with "conflicted copies", which are a pain to deal with.

[lpadron]

Thanks everyone! Followed the steps above and everything is working perfectly on all three PC's (Win 7, Win 10, Mac).

Appreciate your help!

Lee