How do I combine Libraries?

MikiSunshine · 06-29-2023, 04:25 PM

I just found my old Calibre library on a backup, having spent most of the day cataloging & trying to reconstruct my current library. I have a lot of duplicate books that have been cataloged and those that haven't been done yet. I also seem to have multiple calibre libraries with different names. Calibre, Calibre Dropbox and Calibre Library. They each seem to have duplicates and original books in them.

If I combine them I would most likely have a lot more. And a lot more duplicates. I'm not worried about that but I would like to combine all my books into one library. I don't have that many that I need more than one... yet. But I don't know how. I'm so confused and really don't know how to handle this.

Also, is there a way, once combined, to delete those duplicates and make sure I only have those books that have already been cataloged with all the metadata I've been including?

MikiSunshine
Calibre Semi-Newbie Extraordinaire

ownedbycats · 06-29-2023, 04:31 PM

Use the 'Copy to Library' option. Alternately, Add Books > Add from Folders and Subfolders.

If you use custom columns, make sure they're all the same between libraries or you might lose the information from those.

Check out the Find Duplicates plugin.

You may also want to check out Virtual Libraries.

theducks · 06-29-2023, 06:18 PM

Copy to Library is preferred because it uses what is in Calibre as Metadata
vs
Add books, that uses whatever is in the book (Assumes Calibre is NOT configured to use the filename)

ownedbycats · 06-29-2023, 06:20 PM

I believe Find Duplicates also has inter-library checking, in case you want to clean it up first.

MikiSunshine · 06-30-2023, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Use the 'Copy to Library' option. Alternately, Add Books > Add from Folders and Subfolders.

If you use custom columns, make sure they're all the same between libraries or you might lose the information from those.

Check out the Find Duplicates plugin.

You may also want to check out Virtual Libraries.

I found the Copy to Archive and downloaded the plugin before I saw this. Still, thanks. I now have the manual bookmarked. As the ex-wife of a programmer with his own program, I should know to RTFM! 🤣

06-29-2023, 04:25 PM	#1
MikiSunshine Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Margate, FL Device: Kindle	How do I combine Libraries? I just found my old Calibre library on a backup, having spent most of the day cataloging & trying to reconstruct my current library. I have a lot of duplicate books that have been cataloged and those that haven't been done yet. I also seem to have multiple calibre libraries with different names. Calibre, Calibre Dropbox and Calibre Library. They each seem to have duplicates and original books in them. If I combine them I would most likely have a lot more. And a lot more duplicates. I'm not worried about that but I would like to combine all my books into one library. I don't have that many that I need more than one... yet. But I don't know how. I'm so confused and really don't know how to handle this. Also, is there a way, once combined, to delete those duplicates and make sure I only have those books that have already been cataloged with all the metadata I've been including? MikiSunshine Calibre Semi-Newbie Extraordinaire

06-29-2023, 04:31 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,942 Karma: 74999999 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Use the 'Copy to Library' option. Alternately, Add Books > Add from Folders and Subfolders. If you use custom columns, make sure they're all the same between libraries or you might lose the information from those. Check out the Find Duplicates plugin. You may also want to check out Virtual Libraries. Last edited by ownedbycats; 06-29-2023 at 04:34 PM.

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06-29-2023, 06:18 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,031 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Copy to Library is preferred because it uses what is in Calibre as Metadata vs Add books, that uses whatever is in the book (Assumes Calibre is NOT configured to use the filename)

06-29-2023, 06:20 PM	#4
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,942 Karma: 74999999 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	I believe Find Duplicates also has inter-library checking, in case you want to clean it up first.

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