New Pc now have 2 calibre folders

Jo69 · 07-02-2020, 07:20 AM

Just got a new computer

Transfered Calibre folder full of my books from old pc to Documents, and have been backing it up and adding more books to it for a couple of weeks.
It says I have 1042 folders in that folder.

Just found out I also have a calibre folder in c drive!
That has 900 book folders in it.
The only reason I noticed was because some of my recent downloads were not in the Documents Calibre.

BetterRed · 07-02-2020, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

Just got a new computer

Transfered Calibre folder full of my books from old pc to Documents, and have been backing it up and adding more books to it for a couple of weeks.
It says I have 1042 folders in that folder.

Just found out I also have a calibre folder in c drive!
That has 900 book folders in it.
The only reason I noticed was because some of my recent downloads were not in the Documents Calibre.

Where in the c drive - at the root or where?

BR

Jo69 · 07-02-2020, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Where in the c drive - at the root or where?

BR

Here it is.

DNSB · 07-02-2020, 11:06 AM

One thing to think about is moving your Calibre library folder from Documents to the root of your User folder. There have been several issues with having the Calibre library in the Documents folder when Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access detects Calibre's actions as a ransomware attack.

I'd suggest closing Calibre, moving the Calibre library folder from \Users\<User name>\Documents\Calibre to \Users\<User name>\Calibre. Open Calibre and use the Switch/Create Library to connect to the library at it's new location (make sure you select Use the previously existing library at the new location button).

Once that is done and you are happy with the new location, select the library in the root of your C: drive, select all books and copy to your main calibre library. This may result in message about duplicate books. I'd suggest not copying the duplicates but rather manually checking and deciding which duplicate you want to keep if they are duplicates.

Once you have the libraries consolidated, you can remove the library from the root of your C: drive.

Jo69 · 07-03-2020, 01:10 AM

Am a bit worried about doing this as such a lot of books. Do I need to create a folder on c drive to transfer them too? Yes would sooner have them on c drive if documents is not safe.
Looks like I have been backing up the wrong folder before

BetterRed · 07-03-2020, 03:26 AM

If you are worried you'll make a mistake, backup the data you don't want to lose - the library in Documents and the one on the C: drive.

Then follow DNSB's advice to move the library that's in Documents up a level into your 'home' folder, and then merge the library at the root of c: into it.

BR

Jo69 · 07-03-2020, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

One thing to think about is moving your Calibre library folder from Documents to the root of your User folder. There have been several issues with having the Calibre library in the Documents folder when Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access detects Calibre's actions as a ransomware attack.

I'd suggest closing Calibre, moving the Calibre library folder from \Users\<User name>\Documents\Calibre to \Users\<User name>\Calibre. Open Calibre and use the Switch/Create Library to connect to the library at it's new location (make sure you select Use the previously existing library at the new location button).

Once that is done and you are happy with the new location, select the library in the root of your C: drive, select all books and copy to your main calibre library. This may result in message about duplicate books. I'd suggest not copying the duplicates but rather manually checking and deciding which duplicate you want to keep if they are duplicates.

Once you have the libraries consolidated, you can remove the library from the root of your C: drive.

It wont let me do the first step, Open Calibre and use the Switch/Create Library to connect to the library at it's new location (make sure you select Use the previously existing library at the new location button).
It says no Calibre name there.
I created a Calibre folder but it still says no folder there

DNSB · 07-03-2020, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

It wont let me do the first step, Open Calibre and use the Switch/Create Library to connect to the library at it's new location (make sure you select Use the previously existing library at the new location button).
It says no Calibre name there.
I created a Calibre folder but it still says no folder there

As a suggestion, create a Calibre folder and place the Calibre Library folder inside it. This allows for adding other libraries such as an Intake library which I use to place new books until they have been worked on (metadata, covers, etc.).

The first step is not to use calibre to connect to the library at a new location. The first step is with calibre closed, to either copy or move the contents of your Documents\Calibre Library folder into the new folder (open the old Calibre Library folder, select all, copy, go to new library, paste). Take a look at the copy of your Calibre Library folder. Does it have a metadata.db file in it along with a bunch of author name folders? If not, calibre will not see it as an existing library.

You can't just create a folder called Calibre Library (or any other name) if you are going to use the "Use the previously existing library", it needs to have the content to say it is a calibre library.

Jo69 · 07-04-2020, 03:03 AM

Sorry am lost here lol
Create a calibre folder in my user folder?
Ignore the empty folder there called Calibre Library?

So sorry... can you start from the beginning please?
Ive got 3,000 books and dont want to mess them up

Not got a clue why I have 2 calibre folders.

By the way they both have a metadata file!

Plus the one that says calibre library, making 3 (Thats empty)..As image.

theducks · 07-04-2020, 12:04 PM

IMHO Don't USE the one Calibre creates for books. My main Library is called Main

. If I ever see another name up there in the Windows Titlebar, I know something went wrong (very rare config folder? issues)

rename your real Library folder using the OS (Calibre NOT running )
then start Calibre: on the Library Icon: Create/Switch: USE EXISTING:<navigate to your new foldername> OK
This is one of the few cases you can touch a folder name in Calibre without causing major damage (the folders name IS the Library Name) (and yes, having 6 Calibre Library's is valid (and a quick way to insanity

)

BTW don't let W10 confuse you (too much). It has a section called 'Libraries'
This is a Logical view that may contain a merged VIEW of the contents of various other (real) folders. eg Documents (yours) and Public Documents

DNSB · 07-04-2020, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

Sorry am lost here lol
Create a calibre folder in my user folder?
Ignore the empty folder there called Calibre Library?

So sorry... can you start from the beginning please?
Ive got 3,000 books and dont want to mess them up

Not got a clue why I have 2 calibre folders.

By the way they both have a metadata file!

Plus the one that says calibre library, making 3 (Thats empty)..As image.

Following what @theducks posted, exit calibre if it is running. Rename the empty Calibre Library folder to Calibre. Create a new folder called Main inside the Calibre folder. Copy and paste the entire contents of your Documents\Calibre Library folder into the Main folder. Start calibre. See if you can now select Main as a calibre library. Once that is happy, select your calibre library in the root of your C: drive. Select the books in it and then right click, Copy to library, select Main (not Main (delete after copy)).

When this is done and all looks good with your Main library, you can use Remove library to remove the two old libraries from calibre. This does not delete the files, you need to do that manually.

Jo69 · 07-05-2020, 04:17 AM

Thanks DNSB and the ducks for all the help.

My library is now called Main and now in my User folder instead of Documents
Transfered all folders from both folders. Looking good so thanks very much!!!
Simple explanations really helped me lol

My only probem was removing old libraries.
As ducks said rename old library to main.
Then I followed DNSB and when it came to removing old libraries I am now stuck which of the 2 Main to delete lol.

Do I have to do it through Calibre?

Also have 2 copies of one book in correct Main folder, but only one in Calibre
Can I just delete it fom Main?

Regards Jo

theducks · 07-05-2020, 12:32 PM

Did you rename just ONE folder to Main?
Don't get confused by Windows 'Library' view. It is the Same folder

Run Library Maintenance whenever what books you see is not what is expected You see only 1 entry, but have 2 when peeking below the skirts.

DNSB · 07-05-2020, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo69

Thanks DNSB and the ducks for all the help.

My library is now called Main and now in my User folder instead of Documents
Transfered all folders from both folders. Looking good so thanks very much!!!
Simple explanations really helped me lol

Did you copy the folders from both old libraries using Windows? Or did you copy one with Windows and then copy the content from the other from within calibre using copy to library? If the first, your new library is not going to be a happy camper.

Jo69 · 07-05-2020, 01:45 PM

Copied one from windows and one through calibre
My mistake was changing the calibre name in documents to Main first
Which means I now have two main folders
Want to delete the one in documents
But trying in calibre I don't know which one it is.

Can I just delete it.
Or maybe rename it again so I know which one to delete?

07-02-2020, 07:20 AM	#1
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	New Pc now have 2 calibre folders Just got a new computer Transfered Calibre folder full of my books from old pc to Documents, and have been backing it up and adding more books to it for a couple of weeks. It says I have 1042 folders in that folder. Just found out I also have a calibre folder in c drive! That has 900 book folders in it. The only reason I noticed was because some of my recent downloads were not in the Documents Calibre.

07-04-2020, 03:03 AM	#9
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	Sorry am lost here lol Create a calibre folder in my user folder? Ignore the empty folder there called Calibre Library? So sorry... can you start from the beginning please? Ive got 3,000 books and dont want to mess them up Not got a clue why I have 2 calibre folders. By the way they both have a metadata file! Plus the one that says calibre library, making 3 (Thats empty)..As image. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Jo69; 07-04-2020 at 03:24 AM.

07-05-2020, 04:17 AM	#12
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	Thanks DNSB and the ducks for all the help. My library is now called Main and now in my User folder instead of Documents Transfered all folders from both folders. Looking good so thanks very much!!! Simple explanations really helped me lol My only probem was removing old libraries. As ducks said rename old library to main. Then I followed DNSB and when it came to removing old libraries I am now stuck which of the 2 Main to delete lol. Do I have to do it through Calibre? Also have 2 copies of one book in correct Main folder, but only one in Calibre Can I just delete it fom Main? Regards Jo Last edited by Jo69; 07-05-2020 at 10:10 AM.

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07-02-2020, 11:06 AM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,210 Karma: 168808723 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	One thing to think about is moving your Calibre library folder from Documents to the root of your User folder. There have been several issues with having the Calibre library in the Documents folder when Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access detects Calibre's actions as a ransomware attack. I'd suggest closing Calibre, moving the Calibre library folder from \Users\<User name>\Documents\Calibre to \Users\<User name>\Calibre. Open Calibre and use the Switch/Create Library to connect to the library at it's new location (make sure you select Use the previously existing library at the new location button). Once that is done and you are happy with the new location, select the library in the root of your C: drive, select all books and copy to your main calibre library. This may result in message about duplicate books. I'd suggest not copying the duplicates but rather manually checking and deciding which duplicate you want to keep if they are duplicates. Once you have the libraries consolidated, you can remove the library from the root of your C: drive.

07-03-2020, 01:10 AM	#5
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	Am a bit worried about doing this as such a lot of books. Do I need to create a folder on c drive to transfer them too? Yes would sooner have them on c drive if documents is not safe. Looks like I have been backing up the wrong folder before

07-03-2020, 03:26 AM	#6
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,655 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If you are worried you'll make a mistake, backup the data you don't want to lose - the library in Documents and the one on the C: drive. Then follow DNSB's advice to move the library that's in Documents up a level into your 'home' folder, and then merge the library at the root of c: into it. BR

07-04-2020, 12:04 PM	#10
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,928 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	IMHO Don't USE the one Calibre creates for books. My main Library is called Main . If I ever see another name up there in the Windows Titlebar, I know something went wrong (very rare config folder? issues) rename your real Library folder using the OS (Calibre NOT running ) then start Calibre: on the Library Icon: Create/Switch: USE EXISTING:<navigate to your new foldername> OK This is one of the few cases you can touch a folder name in Calibre without causing major damage (the folders name IS the Library Name) (and yes, having 6 Calibre Library's is valid (and a quick way to insanity ) BTW don't let W10 confuse you (too much). It has a section called 'Libraries' This is a Logical view that may contain a merged VIEW of the contents of various other (real) folders. eg Documents (yours) and Public Documents

07-05-2020, 12:32 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,928 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Did you rename just ONE folder to Main? Don't get confused by Windows 'Library' view. It is the Same folder Run Library Maintenance whenever what books you see is not what is expected You see only 1 entry, but have 2 when peeking below the skirts.

07-05-2020, 01:45 PM	#15
Jo69 Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 2070566 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Kindle 4 2011	Copied one from windows and one through calibre My mistake was changing the calibre name in documents to Main first Which means I now have two main folders Want to delete the one in documents But trying in calibre I don't know which one it is. Can I just delete it. Or maybe rename it again so I know which one to delete?

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