Copy column icons to another library

[Sirtel]

I wonder if there is a way to copy column icons and their rules to another existing library, without having to recreate every rule manually? I searched, but couldn't find anything, and couldn't see anything to that effect in the Job Spy settings either.

I'd really rather not create a new library and copy thousands of books over again (there are more than 3000 books in the target library).

[kovidgoyal]

In the switch create library dialog, there is an option to copythe structure of the current library when creating a new library.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

In the switch create library dialog, there is an option to copythe structure of the current library when creating a new library.

Yes, I'm aware of this. But as I have over 3000 books in the target library, I'd rather not copy and convert them all over again. So I wonder if perhaps there is another way to transfer the icon rules. Of course there might not be.

[kovidgoyal]

That option does not copy or convert any books. Only the library *structure*, not its contents.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That option does not copy or convert any books. Only the library *structure*, not its contents.

But if I want to transfer the rules to an already existing library, I'll have to copy the books over too, from that library to the new one, won't I?

[kovidgoyal]

There is no way to copy rules to an exisitng library, there is noway to guranteethose rules wont conflict with existing rules in the target library. But simply crete a new library and mass copy the books from the target library to the new library. No nee to re-import or re-convert.

[ilovejedd]

No direct method but I don't see why you'd need to reconvert.

Assuming you have 2 non-empty libraries A and B and you wish to copy the icon rules from A to B:

1. Create new library C, copy from current library A structure only. This will create an empty library C with the same icon rules as library A.

2. Switch to library B, select all books and copy to library C. This will copy all metadata (assuming all custom columns match) and all formats for all book entries from library B to library C.

[Sirtel]

Yes, it's possible that way, of course. And certainly more practical if you have many rules (say, 50 or more). But I also found there is an option to export and import the rules (I didn't notice it before for some reason). So I did that (naturally I checked the existence of conflicting rules before the operation). I had only about 10 rules I wanted to transfer, so the export-import option was faster than creating a new library.

Calibre rocks!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

But I also found there is an option to export and import the rules (I didn't notice it before for some reason).

Darn : I was about to tell you about Export/Import

You may not have noticed a) because they were added after column colours/icons they were first implemented, or b) because the buttons are in a scrolling window, they can slide out of sight

BR