How to load recovered books into Calibre and retain metadata?

JLMV · 02-04-2023, 11:09 AM

I had to recover my Calibre database files so now I have them all as separate .epub, cover, and metadata files ( see attached screen shot). As such it will not import into Calibre.
Is there a way to get them back into a Calibre library while maintaining the metadata?
NB: I also have a metadata_pre_restore.db file.

Click image for larger version

Name: Screen shot.PNG
Views: 161
Size: 4.3 KB
ID: 199459

theducks · 02-04-2023, 09:38 PM

Metadata.opf is a fairly recent image of the database entry. Recover is its purpose. (those are updated shortly after a metadata change at a rate of about 3 per second for bulk changes)

Right click The Library Icon: Library Maintenance: restore database
Rebuilds the db from those IF IN THEIR NORMAL PLACE.

JLMV · 02-10-2023, 04:06 PM

theducks thanks!
My problem may be the 'IF IN THEIR NORMAL PLACE'; when I point Calibre to the folder with all the individual book, cover and metadata files, it does not see it as a library. When I import them, the metadata for each of them does not seem to come along. I guess I first need to convince Calibre that my folder with recovered files is actually a library, but how?

theducks · 02-10-2023, 04:13 PM

metadata.db IS THE LIBRARY.
Recover rebuilds that using the other piece of the structure def backup: metadata_db_prefs_backup.json

If that is missing, then recover can't proceed and you need to add (the hard way and lose lots of metadata).

kovidgoyal · 02-10-2023, 07:27 PM

right click on add books, choose add books from folders and the select one book per folder and the select the parent folder containing these recovered books. That will re add them including their metadata.

JLMV · 02-11-2023, 12:07 PM

TheDucks, Kovid, thanks for your support!
I think I did what you suggested and I got a library. However the way in which I had the authors name and forname separated by a comma for instance is mostly gone. Also not all covers were recombined with the correct books, despite they carry the original (pre-recovery) individual book folder number in their name. It is a pity as it was a 30000 books library but I guess the details are lost now?

theducks · 02-11-2023, 01:25 PM

Figure out what you did wrong in the first place and never do that again.

Quality check plugin has a FIX (section) that will flip authors comma<>no comma
ONLY USE THAT on the records you want to fix.

JLMV · 02-11-2023, 03:58 PM

I also found 70% of the books had no format.
Anyway, I have my books through ADD BOOKS although without the metadata I added and changed in the past. I settle for that. All the same, thank you guys!

02-04-2023, 11:09 AM	#1
JLMV Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2023 Device: Amazon Kindle	How to load recovered books into Calibre and retain metadata? I had to recover my Calibre database files so now I have them all as separate .epub, cover, and metadata files ( see attached screen shot). As such it will not import into Calibre. Is there a way to get them back into a Calibre library while maintaining the metadata? NB: I also have a metadata_pre_restore.db file.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Calibre not allowing add book or down load Metadata	vickywink	Calibre	4	05-22-2021 03:34 PM
Calibre Library Gone & Recovered > Steps	allowingtoo	Calibre	9	10-07-2013 10:21 AM
Reinstall Calibre after a disk crash, have a recovered Library folder	indigene	Library Management	3	11-07-2012 10:14 AM
Can I move books to another computer and retain metadata?	Cariad	Library Management	10	02-12-2012 04:38 AM
I broke calibre at install time -- recovered	allan_vancouver	Calibre	0	01-13-2010 04:59 PM

02-04-2023, 09:38 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,054 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Metadata.opf is a fairly recent image of the database entry. Recover is its purpose. (those are updated shortly after a metadata change at a rate of about 3 per second for bulk changes) Right click The Library Icon: Library Maintenance: restore database Rebuilds the db from those IF IN THEIR NORMAL PLACE.

02-10-2023, 04:06 PM	#3
JLMV Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2023 Device: Amazon Kindle	theducks thanks! My problem may be the 'IF IN THEIR NORMAL PLACE'; when I point Calibre to the folder with all the individual book, cover and metadata files, it does not see it as a library. When I import them, the metadata for each of them does not seem to come along. I guess I first need to convince Calibre that my folder with recovered files is actually a library, but how?

02-10-2023, 04:13 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,054 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	metadata.db IS THE LIBRARY. Recover rebuilds that using the other piece of the structure def backup: metadata_db_prefs_backup.json If that is missing, then recover can't proceed and you need to add (the hard way and lose lots of metadata).

02-10-2023, 07:27 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,347 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	right click on add books, choose add books from folders and the select one book per folder and the select the parent folder containing these recovered books. That will re add them including their metadata.

02-11-2023, 12:07 PM	#6
JLMV Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2023 Device: Amazon Kindle	TheDucks, Kovid, thanks for your support! I think I did what you suggested and I got a library. However the way in which I had the authors name and forname separated by a comma for instance is mostly gone. Also not all covers were recombined with the correct books, despite they carry the original (pre-recovery) individual book folder number in their name. It is a pity as it was a 30000 books library but I guess the details are lost now?

02-11-2023, 01:25 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,054 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Figure out what you did wrong in the first place and never do that again. Quality check plugin has a FIX (section) that will flip authors comma<>no comma ONLY USE THAT on the records you want to fix.

02-11-2023, 03:58 PM	#8
JLMV Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2023 Device: Amazon Kindle	I also found 70% of the books had no format. Anyway, I have my books through ADD BOOKS although without the metadata I added and changed in the past. I settle for that. All the same, thank you guys!

Advert

Advert