Moving ebook library

[luvsbooks]

Hello!

My hard drive is almost full and I have a huge amount of books I want to move to an external hard drive. I started moving them and then paused it as I was worried my calibre library is then going to be empty afterwards and I don't know how to put them all back since they are all in folders.

Is there an easy way to associate the books again? I have them each book shown in epub and mobi (as one book.) Previously it would show up as two lines for the same book - one as an epub and one as a mobi. (I prefer the former with just the one line to show the book and the two formats listed, although I do use only mobi for the most part.)


Thanks in advance. =)

LB

[theducks]

ALWAYS ask before doing things (The FAQ is a good second)

If you just COPY the Library folder (Intact), to the new place.
Then use Calibre to link up to the Library
Right click the Library Icon: Create-Switch: Use Existing: point the file manager to the Library Folder
DONE

Better yet. Use the Export feature on the Library Icon. THAT will bring along all your settings and plugins when you use the IMPORT on the LIBRARY ICON on the new install

[luvsbooks]

Originally Posted by theducks

ALWAYS ask before doing things (The FAQ is a good second)

If you just COPY the Library folder (Intact), to the new place.
Then use Calibre to link up to the Library
Right click the Library Icon: Create-Switch: Use Existing: point the file manager to the Library Folder
DONE

Better yet. Use the Export feature on the Library Icon. THAT will bring along all your settings and plugins when you use the IMPORT on the LIBRARY ICON on the new install

whoops! LOL! i'm glad I paused my transfer. i only moved 491 files over so I just copied and pasted them back the way they were to begin with.

Basically, I have an "archived" folder that is on my external hard drive which I haven't updated since 2017. My regular folder which is on my computer is full, so I want to remove all the files and add them to the external hard drive. Right now, my calibre is pointing towards my computer.

For the export feature, I see "Calibre Library" and the option to select "Switch/Create Library." If I set it to the new location, (my external hard drive) it will just move everything for me? My only concern is I don't know how to verify if all the archived files are still in Calibre. I checked a couple titles but there are literally thousands. That's why I originally thought just cutting my "new" folder (on my computer) and pasting it into my external hard drive would be a good way to make sure it was complete.

There are three options and I want to kinda do both. #1 - use the previously existing library at the new location and also option 3 - Move current library to new location. Can I do option #3 first and then do option #1 as a backup after? (Does that even make sense. I am so confused.)

[BetterRed]

No need to use the Export/Import tool to move a library to another drive.

With calibre closed and copy the library folder lock, stock and barrel to the external drive. Then rename that folder to differentiate it from the existing library -- e.g. Calibre Library->New Library. Then start calibre and use the Library>Switch/create tool to link the new library



Then use the Library->Remove tool to unlink the old library from calibre (that WON'T remove the library from the disk).

Then back up your new library

Then delete your old library - do a permanent delete, so you get the space back.

BR

[luvsbooks]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

No need to use the Export/Import tool to move a library to another drive.

With calibre closed and copy the library folder lock, stock and barrel to the external drive. Then rename that folder to differentiate it from the existing library -- e.g. Calibre Library->New Library. Then start calibre and use the Library>Switch/create tool to link the new library

Attachment 173968

Then use the Library->Remove tool to unlink the old library from calibre (that WON'T remove the library from the disk).

Then back up your new library

Then delete your old library - do a permanent delete, so you get the space back.

BR

Thanks for the info! Will I lose all my settings and plugins as the other poster mentioned?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by luvsbooks

Thanks for the info! Will I lose all my settings and plugins as the other poster mentioned?

No

The global settings and plugins will stay where they are in C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\calibre, and any library specific settings are contained within the library database, metadata.db, which is in the library folder (hence my 'lock, stock and barrel)

BR

[theducks]

Just for clarity
Your External HD is a USB or ESATA (local connected) and not a NAS?
network drives are not recommended (except for backup) and may glitch the Library at the worst time.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

Just for clarity
Your External HD is a USB or ESATA (local connected) and not a NAS?
network drives are not recommended (except for backup) and may glitch the Library at the worst time.

Stop introducing red herrings

Originally Posted by luvsbooks

Hello!

My hard drive is almost full and I have a huge amount of books I want to move to an external hard drive.

<snip>

You're pulling a long bow if you're interpreting that to be a NAS or another form of network drive.

BR

[luvsbooks]

Originally Posted by theducks

Just for clarity
Your External HD is a USB or ESATA (local connected) and not a NAS?
network drives are not recommended (except for backup) and may glitch the Library at the worst time.

it's an USB external HD. Now I'm scared though. lol

[luvsbooks]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

No

The global settings and plugins will stay where they are in C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\calibre, and any library specific settings are contained within the library database, metadata.db, which is in the library folder (hence my 'lock, stock and barrel)

BR

ok thanks. i'm going to ask my husband about this and see if he can help me because this is a little scary if i do something to mess this up.

Thank you BetterRed!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by luvsbooks

it's an USB external HD. Now I'm scared though. lol

That is perfect.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by luvsbooks

ok thanks. i'm going to ask my husband about this and see if he can help me because this is a little scary if i do something to mess this up.

Thank you BetterRed!

Bah husbands, what would they know

Come back and tell us how it goes.

BR

[luvsbooks]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Bah husbands, what would they know

Come back and tell us how it goes.

BR

Thank you I will! I don't have the space to make double copies so I'm trying to clean stuff out first. My husband cleared out some of my settings trying to make some space but unfortunately my Adobe Digital Editions won't work when I try to open up my books from the library. I am going to make a post in the general thread to see if anyone has any advice. I'm worried if I upgrade to a new Adobe program I can't associate it with my Calibre anymore. I don't remember how to do anything. I set it up about 8 years ago!

[BetterRed]

I can't help you with ADE, hopefully someone can.

I try to avoid anything that comes from tech companies whose names start with 'A'.

Thanks for the points. And sorry for being prescient about you know who

Added: I deleted your other thread

BR

[cricket6]

Hi,
I'm doing something similar to the OP and wanted some help. I want to run Calibre from a flash drive instead of on my laptop. I downloaded the Calibre portable application. And, I exported the library from Calibre on my laptop to a directory on the flashdrive. I'm having trouble importing my old library into Calibre Portable. It says: "You are running calibre portable, all calibre data is already in the calibre portable folder. Export/import is unavailable." How do I import the library into the calibre portable app. BTW, the data are in calibre data files. Thanks.
Cindy