Export, or Copy Folder Structure

trwalters001 · 11-06-2018, 03:49 PM

Hi All,
I've been copying the Calibre library folder structure to a separate HDD as a backup. This allows me to access all my books in their EPUB format (if I want to give a copy of a book to someone else, or copy a book to my phone to read.) If I ever have a problem with the current library, I can just copy the folder structure back to the same place that Calibre had the previous one.

What are the advantages of using the EXPORT command?

What are the disadvantages of doing what I'm doing?

Thanks!
Tim

BetterRed · 11-06-2018, 11:23 PM

Have you read the relevant FAQs

Export/Import: move calibre data from one computer to another?

How do I backup calibre?

I don't see them as alternatives. If you want something to help you recover from a disaster - your house burns down - then an off-site Export Archive may be useful.

My suggestion is to keep doing what your doing now, with the addition of backing up your configuration data.

And consider use of a folder/file synchronisation tool to maintain the copy (mirroring) - see Comparison of file synchronization software - Wikipedia. I use Goodsync. FreeFileSync, Synctoy and rsynch are popular amongst the calibre user community.

The advantage of these tools is that, after you've done the first copy, they only copy what's changed. So, they are much faster than copying everything every time - which means you're more likely to run it - maybe even every day

BR

trwalters001 · 11-07-2018, 09:49 AM

Thanks much for the advice!
Tim

Adoby · 11-07-2018, 10:35 AM

I'm not likely to run a full calibre backup every day. So I fixed things so that a full backup automatically is run every time I quit calibre.

I wrote a script that I use to launch calibre and it creates a backup snapshot, on a NAS, of the folder with the calibre libraries after running calibre. Since the full backup really is just an incremental rsync snapshot, only changed files have to be copied, so it is very fast.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=244228

I've been using this solution for automatic calibre backups for years. I've changed NAS and PC, but I still run all but the same script in the link.

I also maintain a few e-book folders on my NAS. In them I have "libraries" of e-books created by connecting to a folder and saving to the folder as if it is a device. Then I use a sync utility on my android devices that syncs their books folder with the folder on the NAS. I use FolderSync Pro for this.

On my e-ink LikeBook Plus I only have epub novels. For my Huawei Mediapad 5 tablet I also have PDFs; Non-fiction and periodicals.

11-06-2018, 03:49 PM	#1
trwalters001 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Canton, GA Device: Kindle Keyboard	Export, or Copy Folder Structure Hi All, I've been copying the Calibre library folder structure to a separate HDD as a backup. This allows me to access all my books in their EPUB format (if I want to give a copy of a book to someone else, or copy a book to my phone to read.) If I ever have a problem with the current library, I can just copy the folder structure back to the same place that Calibre had the previous one. What are the advantages of using the EXPORT command? What are the disadvantages of doing what I'm doing? Thanks! Tim

11-06-2018, 11:23 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,677 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Have you read the relevant FAQs Export/Import: move calibre data from one computer to another? How do I backup calibre? I don't see them as alternatives. If you want something to help you recover from a disaster - your house burns down - then an off-site Export Archive may be useful. My suggestion is to keep doing what your doing now, with the addition of backing up your configuration data. And consider use of a folder/file synchronisation tool to maintain the copy (mirroring) - see Comparison of file synchronization software - Wikipedia. I use Goodsync. FreeFileSync, Synctoy and rsynch are popular amongst the calibre user community. The advantage of these tools is that, after you've done the first copy, they only copy what's changed. So, they are much faster than copying everything every time - which means you're more likely to run it - maybe even every day BR Last edited by BetterRed; 11-06-2018 at 11:27 PM.

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11-07-2018, 09:49 AM	#3
trwalters001 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Canton, GA Device: Kindle Keyboard	Thanks much for the advice! Tim

11-07-2018, 10:35 AM	#4
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	I'm not likely to run a full calibre backup every day. So I fixed things so that a full backup automatically is run every time I quit calibre. I wrote a script that I use to launch calibre and it creates a backup snapshot, on a NAS, of the folder with the calibre libraries after running calibre. Since the full backup really is just an incremental rsync snapshot, only changed files have to be copied, so it is very fast. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=244228 I've been using this solution for automatic calibre backups for years. I've changed NAS and PC, but I still run all but the same script in the link. I also maintain a few e-book folders on my NAS. In them I have "libraries" of e-books created by connecting to a folder and saving to the folder as if it is a device. Then I use a sync utility on my android devices that syncs their books folder with the folder on the NAS. I use FolderSync Pro for this. On my e-ink LikeBook Plus I only have epub novels. For my Huawei Mediapad 5 tablet I also have PDFs; Non-fiction and periodicals.

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