Calibre is Empty

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 08:35 AM

My Calibre is empty and I'm not sure how to fix it. Edited for clarity.

I have Calibre in Dropbox, but the actual library folder is on all my devices, it’s just any changes update the file and Dropbox and sync down to each device. I have three devices with calibre installed. This has been my set up for years. Everything has been fine until recently but now on my Mac and my Windows 11 pc calibre is empty, but its fine on my windows 10 pc.

My Mac recently upgraded to the new OS and I think that's the issue also with the W11 pc as that used to be on W10.

On my mac (my main device) I went to Switch/Create library and navigated to the calibre library folder (its already pointed to the correct place) and when i selected this folder I get the error message "Same as Current". I did notice that my db file is greyed out, not sure if thats part of the problem.

I'm just not sure how to get Calibre to display my books again.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 09:35 AM

Here's the screen shot from my Mac. Any help would be gratefully appreciated as i am completely at a loss. I've uninstalled and reinstalled calibre so am running 5.40.

Strangely in my calibre folder I can only see 2 of the 6 calibre files even though they are in the folder. I even went to dropbox, downloaded them and added them back into the folder. It said they were already there. After running the Welcome Wizard i see all the metadata files.

theducks · 04-04-2022, 09:44 AM

I suggest ALL folk read the FAQ's (

at least semi-annually as the get updated occasionally). This might help avoid errors like this.

This one, is about your problem
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...rked-drive-nas

JSWolf · 04-04-2022, 10:01 AM

You really should not have Calibre in Dropbox. That could be the problem. I suggest that while your library is fine on your W10 machine that you copy it away from Dropbox. If you really want to access your library from these three different machines, you could put your library on an SD (or MicroSD) card. Get a 256GB or 512GB A2 type card. If you also need to, get a card reader if any of the computers does not have a memory card slot.

One of the problems is that if someone happens on Dropbox, it gets synced back to the library and the library gets the problem too.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I suggest ALL folk read the FAQ's (

at least semi-annually as the get updated occasionally). This might help avoid errors like this.

This one, is about your problem
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...rked-drive-nas

Dropbox is not the problem and my library has been there for over fifteen years. But thank you for the link.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You really should not have Calibre in Dropbox. That could be the problem. I suggest that while your library is fine on your W10 machine that you copy it away from Dropbox. If you really want to access your library from these three different machines, you could put your library on an SD (or MicroSD) card. Get a 256GB or 512GB A2 type card. If you also need to, get a card reader if any of the computers does not have a memory card slot.

It’s been in Dropbox for over fifteen years. I very much doubt Dropbox is the problem here. Thank you for your advice though.

JSWolf · 04-04-2022, 10:07 AM

Do you at least have a backup that's not in Dropbox?

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you at least have a backup that's not in Dropbox?

Not an up to date one no. But as I said in my original post the Dropbox Folder is fine and working correctly with Calibre on my Windows 10 pc. The only thing that has changed with the other two devices is an operating system upgrade. The windows 11 upgrade was accidental but luckily my windows 10. Pc can’t upgrade as the processor is considered unacceptable.

I’ll back up calibre on my windows 10 pc today. Not sure what to do after that as I don’t want to risk calibre on my one working pc.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 10:24 AM

When I say my calibre library is in Dropbox it’s also on each device, it’s just any changes update Dropbox. And I never have two calibres open at one time. This is a failure of calibre to read the library folder on both my windows 11 pc and my Mac.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 10:47 AM

I’ve run the welcome wizard on my Mac and it showed all the database files in the Calibre folder. No change. I tried to repoint calibre on hubby’s windows 11 pc and get the same error message as the Mac.

calibre, version 5.40.0
ERROR: Same as current: The location /Users/joanneperry/Dropbox/Joanne Documents/Calibre Library contains the current calibre library

I don’t want to risk moving the calibre folder to a new location as that might break the link to my windows 10 pc. I just don’t understand why both my Mac and windows 11 show an empty database when they are pointing to the correct location which has over 8000 books in it.

chaley · 04-04-2022, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I just don’t understand why both my Mac and windows 11 show an empty database when they are pointing to the correct location which has over 8000 books in it.

Check the size of the metadata.db file on each computer. They should be equal. Also check for "conflicted" metadata.db files on all the computers.

Another thing to try: on the windows 11 or mac machines copy the library out of Dropbox onto the local disk then try to open that copy with calibre. If it works (opens) then you know that the problem is related to the Dropbox folder, perhaps permissions. If it doesn't work then the problem is related to the data in the Dropbox folder (your library).

And FWIW: just because it hasn't broken in 15 years doesn't mean it won't. It is a game with several independent players: you, Dropbox, Microsoft, Apple, and the three machines. If any one of them slips up then your library can be destroyed.

slm · 04-04-2022, 12:55 PM

Does Dropbox show the Calibre files on the cloud?

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

Check the size of the metadata.db file on each computer. They should be equal. Also check for "conflicted" metadata.db files on all the computers.

Another thing to try: on the windows 11 or mac machines copy the library out of Dropbox onto the local disk then try to open that copy with calibre. If it works (opens) then you know that the problem is related to the Dropbox folder, perhaps permissions. If it doesn't work then the problem is related to the data in the Dropbox folder (your library).

And FWIW: just because it hasn't broken in 15 years doesn't mean it won't. It is a game with several independent players: you, Dropbox, Microsoft, Apple, and the three machines. If any one of them slips up then your library can be destroyed.

Thank you chaley. There were no conflicted metadata files in the folder and the size was equal on Dropbox and on all three devices at 18.317.312 bytes.

I've restored my database on the mac and it's reloaded everything back in, it populated the W11 pc as well at the same time. I've some issues to sort out but on the whole i'm just happy its back.

My biggest issue is the loss of Bookshelves which is what i use to populate my Kobo's. The restore hasn't bought those back. I just hope i don't need to re add them all manually.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slm

Does Dropbox show the Calibre files on the cloud?

Yes, everything is on Dropbox.

Josieb1 · 04-04-2022, 02:40 PM

I’m all sorted now. I went to Dropbox and was able to replace my dab file with an earlier version from the 27th March. Once that change filtered down to all three devices I opened calibre (one at a time) and everything showed as it did the last time I added a new book. At least with Dropbox they did actually have a back up I could use.

04-04-2022, 08:35 AM	#1
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	Calibre is Empty My Calibre is empty and I'm not sure how to fix it. Edited for clarity. I have Calibre in Dropbox, but the actual library folder is on all my devices, it’s just any changes update the file and Dropbox and sync down to each device. I have three devices with calibre installed. This has been my set up for years. Everything has been fine until recently but now on my Mac and my Windows 11 pc calibre is empty, but its fine on my windows 10 pc. My Mac recently upgraded to the new OS and I think that's the issue also with the W11 pc as that used to be on W10. On my mac (my main device) I went to Switch/Create library and navigated to the calibre library folder (its already pointed to the correct place) and when i selected this folder I get the error message "Same as Current". I did notice that my db file is greyed out, not sure if thats part of the problem. I'm just not sure how to get Calibre to display my books again. Last edited by Josieb1; 04-04-2022 at 10:43 AM.

04-04-2022, 09:35 AM	#2
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	Here's the screen shot from my Mac. Any help would be gratefully appreciated as i am completely at a loss. I've uninstalled and reinstalled calibre so am running 5.40. Strangely in my calibre folder I can only see 2 of the 6 calibre files even though they are in the folder. I even went to dropbox, downloaded them and added them back into the folder. It said they were already there. After running the Welcome Wizard i see all the metadata files. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Josieb1; 04-04-2022 at 11:05 AM.

04-04-2022, 10:01 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,676 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You really should not have Calibre in Dropbox. That could be the problem. I suggest that while your library is fine on your W10 machine that you copy it away from Dropbox. If you really want to access your library from these three different machines, you could put your library on an SD (or MicroSD) card. Get a 256GB or 512GB A2 type card. If you also need to, get a card reader if any of the computers does not have a memory card slot. One of the problems is that if someone happens on Dropbox, it gets synced back to the library and the library gets the problem too. Last edited by JSWolf; 04-04-2022 at 10:06 AM.

04-04-2022, 10:47 AM	#10
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I’ve run the welcome wizard on my Mac and it showed all the database files in the Calibre folder. No change. I tried to repoint calibre on hubby’s windows 11 pc and get the same error message as the Mac. calibre, version 5.40.0 ERROR: Same as current: The location /Users/joanneperry/Dropbox/Joanne Documents/Calibre Library contains the current calibre library I don’t want to risk moving the calibre folder to a new location as that might break the link to my windows 10 pc. I just don’t understand why both my Mac and windows 11 show an empty database when they are pointing to the correct location which has over 8000 books in it. Last edited by Josieb1; 04-04-2022 at 11:07 AM.

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04-04-2022, 09:44 AM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,022 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I suggest ALL folk read the FAQ's ( at least semi-annually as the get updated occasionally). This might help avoid errors like this. This one, is about your problem https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...rked-drive-nas

04-04-2022, 10:07 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,676 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Do you at least have a backup that's not in Dropbox?

04-04-2022, 10:24 AM	#9
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	When I say my calibre library is in Dropbox it’s also on each device, it’s just any changes update Dropbox. And I never have two calibres open at one time. This is a failure of calibre to read the library folder on both my windows 11 pc and my Mac.

04-04-2022, 12:55 PM	#12
slm Fool Posts: 468 Karma: 4113712 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle: Voyage,PW1,KOA, Kobo: Clara Colour, Nook GLP, Pocketbook verse	Does Dropbox show the Calibre files on the cloud?

04-04-2022, 02:40 PM	#15
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I’m all sorted now. I went to Dropbox and was able to replace my dab file with an earlier version from the 27th March. Once that change filtered down to all three devices I opened calibre (one at a time) and everything showed as it did the last time I added a new book. At least with Dropbox they did actually have a back up I could use.

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