Help fixing my library mistake

Old One · 07-12-2021, 07:55 AM

I had some books I had downloaded on my old computer but never really used the Calibre program. Recently I decided to use Calibre to convert books to read on my Kindle. Success.

Fast forward a week when I realized I did not have all my books. So I copied them from my old laptop to the new one and created a new folder, named old books, using Windows 10 under the Calibre Library folder. I imported the old books into Calibre using the Add Books button.

Now a lot of my books say, “no available format”. After searching the boards, I understand this happened because I created folders using my operating system; however, I cannot figure out how to fix this mess. Help please.

Do I save all those books, both old and new, on a removable drive then reimport them? Uninstall Calibre and start again? I am lost. TIA

theducks · 07-12-2021, 10:04 AM

?? Calibre does not care what the source folder name is.
ADD BOOKS (icon) reads the book info and MAKES the needed Library folders while making the DB entries.

No available formats indicates that what you are trying to do can not find a format that can be used for that task.
Preferences: Behavior: Preferred Output format sets the default Conversion OUTPUT. (AZW3 for a modern Kindle)

If you open the Metadata Editor (on a problem book), What formats are present at the right?

Old One · 07-12-2021, 11:43 AM

There is no format in the box to the fight. The box is empty but under ID it does list mobi as the ID.
Some of the books are duplicates with an extended title. One of the will have the correct format listed in metadata and the other one the box will be blank.
Did I do something when I added the books?

Old One · 07-12-2021, 11:59 AM

Update:
I deleted one of the problematic books then re-added the book individually. That worked but it will be ridiculously time consuming since I have over 150 books that are in individual files. Sigh.

It looks like my problem books were in the AZW3 format.

07-12-2021, 07:55 AM	#1
Old One Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2021 Device: Paperwhite 10th Generation	Help fixing my library mistake I had some books I had downloaded on my old computer but never really used the Calibre program. Recently I decided to use Calibre to convert books to read on my Kindle. Success. Fast forward a week when I realized I did not have all my books. So I copied them from my old laptop to the new one and created a new folder, named old books, using Windows 10 under the Calibre Library folder. I imported the old books into Calibre using the Add Books button. Now a lot of my books say, “no available format”. After searching the boards, I understand this happened because I created folders using my operating system; however, I cannot figure out how to fix this mess. Help please. Do I save all those books, both old and new, on a removable drive then reimport them? Uninstall Calibre and start again? I am lost. TIA

07-12-2021, 11:43 AM	#3
Old One Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2021 Device: Paperwhite 10th Generation	Metadata There is no format in the box to the fight. The box is empty but under ID it does list mobi as the ID. Some of the books are duplicates with an extended title. One of the will have the correct format listed in metadata and the other one the box will be blank. Did I do something when I added the books? Last edited by Old One; 07-12-2021 at 11:47 AM.

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07-12-2021, 10:04 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	?? Calibre does not care what the source folder name is. ADD BOOKS (icon) reads the book info and MAKES the needed Library folders while making the DB entries. No available formats indicates that what you are trying to do can not find a format that can be used for that task. Preferences: Behavior: Preferred Output format sets the default Conversion OUTPUT. (AZW3 for a modern Kindle) If you open the Metadata Editor (on a problem book), What formats are present at the right?

07-12-2021, 11:59 AM	#4
Old One Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2021 Device: Paperwhite 10th Generation	Update: I deleted one of the problematic books then re-added the book individually. That worked but it will be ridiculously time consuming since I have over 150 books that are in individual files. Sigh. It looks like my problem books were in the AZW3 format.

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