Best way to transfer Calibre library(ies) to a new PC?

Findingaway · 06-29-2023, 02:27 PM

Greetings,

I recently got a new laptop which I want to use as the place to store and maintain my calibre library.

Previously I used multiple libraries in Calibre and as I switch I want to integrate them into one library.

I have a copy of my "calibre libraries" folder and all subfolders (libraries, authors, books, .db, etc.) on a micro sd card.

As I began testing a new set-up for just a few books, I noticed that custom column metadata was populating inconsistently. Specifically:

I used add books from a folder, assume files within a subfolder are the same book
I had already added columns using lookup #cgenre, #lcc and #dcc
#dcc populated, #cgenre definitely DID NOT populate, and I'm unsure about #lcc

I do not know why this is happening. I checked that I used lookup names identical to those used on my old pc's calibre installation.

I will need to do mass edits in my cgenre (custom genre) column once it's populating correctly.

Is there a better method for doing this transfer? And any suggestions on easiest tool to learn for edits?

It's slow-going for me re-configuring the messy libraries. TIA for any help.

theducks · 06-29-2023, 03:27 PM

Simply Copy the ENTIRE old Calibre folder (includes metadata.db)
to the new PC
(do not overlay any existing books)

BetterRed · 06-29-2023, 06:45 PM

If you still have access to the old computer, use Calibre's Export/Import feature. It will transfer libraries AND settings, see ==>> How do I move my calibre data from one computer to another?

BR

Findingaway · 06-30-2023, 09:58 AM

Thank you both for your replies. Somehow I did not find the "how to transfer" link on my own.

My old calibre set-up contained multiple libraries. Those libraries are organized broadly by subject. Each library in the old set-up contains a "cgenre" column to further subdivide the contents.

Can you suggest an efficient way to re-configure the new set-up to use one library and metadata for creating subsets?

I understand if this question is more than anyone wants to answer

. If there were a Calibre for Dummies book I would buy it.

ownedbycats · 06-30-2023, 10:08 AM

I'm not sure how applicable this would be to your situation, but I have an enumerated (fixed set of permitted values) column, #booktype:

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I have a virtual library for each of them.

Assuming you haven't already merged (or at least still have the originals to merge from), you can use 'copy to library' on one library at a time (make sure #cgenre also exists in your new library!) and then bulk-edit to add your source-library entry.

Findingaway · 06-30-2023, 01:44 PM

ok thanks I will give it all a try soon

Findingaway · 07-01-2023, 12:38 PM

I'm testing how to do this and could use more help.

With only the Quickstart guide in my library, I manually populated the #cgenre column for the Quickstart guide with "Ref" . After applying that, I tried to populate the #genre column with NF.{#cgenre} . However that doesn't pick up the value from #cgenre; the #genre column for the book just has literally "NF.{#cgenre}"

This probably illustrates that I don't understand much. I used two columns with the thought that I could populate the new Genre column with the pre-existing values in #cgenre column and a prefix to indicate a higher level such as non fiction.

Findingaway · 07-01-2023, 01:01 PM

ps I've now gotten as far as adding the template tester and template function icons to the toolbar and writing "Program
NF.{cgenre}

Findingaway · 07-01-2023, 01:51 PM

I'm reading through the recipes thread and I find there are basics that I don't understand.

Is it possible to populate to populate the value of a custom column for a book with a template expression alone?

If not, do you start with writing a template function or writing and testing syntax in the tester?

06-29-2023, 02:27 PM	#1
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	Best way to transfer Calibre library(ies) to a new PC? Greetings, I recently got a new laptop which I want to use as the place to store and maintain my calibre library. Previously I used multiple libraries in Calibre and as I switch I want to integrate them into one library. I have a copy of my "calibre libraries" folder and all subfolders (libraries, authors, books, .db, etc.) on a micro sd card. As I began testing a new set-up for just a few books, I noticed that custom column metadata was populating inconsistently. Specifically: I used add books from a folder, assume files within a subfolder are the same book I had already added columns using lookup #cgenre, #lcc and #dcc #dcc populated, #cgenre definitely DID NOT populate, and I'm unsure about #lcc I do not know why this is happening. I checked that I used lookup names identical to those used on my old pc's calibre installation. I will need to do mass edits in my cgenre (custom genre) column once it's populating correctly. Is there a better method for doing this transfer? And any suggestions on easiest tool to learn for edits? It's slow-going for me re-configuring the messy libraries. TIA for any help.

06-30-2023, 10:08 AM	#5
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,969 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	I'm not sure how applicable this would be to your situation, but I have an enumerated (fixed set of permitted values) column, #booktype: I have a virtual library for each of them. Assuming you haven't already merged (or at least still have the originals to merge from), you can use 'copy to library' on one library at a time (make sure #cgenre also exists in your new library!) and then bulk-edit to add your source-library entry. Last edited by ownedbycats; 06-30-2023 at 10:15 AM.

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06-29-2023, 03:27 PM	#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	Simply Copy the ENTIRE old Calibre folder (includes metadata.db) to the new PC (do not overlay any existing books)

06-29-2023, 06:45 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,718 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If you still have access to the old computer, use Calibre's Export/Import feature. It will transfer libraries AND settings, see ==>> How do I move my calibre data from one computer to another? BR

06-30-2023, 09:58 AM	#4
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	Thank you both for your replies. Somehow I did not find the "how to transfer" link on my own. My old calibre set-up contained multiple libraries. Those libraries are organized broadly by subject. Each library in the old set-up contains a "cgenre" column to further subdivide the contents. Can you suggest an efficient way to re-configure the new set-up to use one library and metadata for creating subsets? I understand if this question is more than anyone wants to answer . If there were a Calibre for Dummies book I would buy it.

06-30-2023, 01:44 PM	#6
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	ok thanks I will give it all a try soon

07-01-2023, 12:38 PM	#7
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	I'm testing how to do this and could use more help. With only the Quickstart guide in my library, I manually populated the #cgenre column for the Quickstart guide with "Ref" . After applying that, I tried to populate the #genre column with NF.{#cgenre} . However that doesn't pick up the value from #cgenre; the #genre column for the book just has literally "NF.{#cgenre}" This probably illustrates that I don't understand much. I used two columns with the thought that I could populate the new Genre column with the pre-existing values in #cgenre column and a prefix to indicate a higher level such as non fiction.

07-01-2023, 01:01 PM	#8
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	ps I've now gotten as far as adding the template tester and template function icons to the toolbar and writing "Program NF.{cgenre}

07-01-2023, 01:51 PM	#9
Findingaway Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Galaxy Tab A	I'm reading through the recipes thread and I find there are basics that I don't understand. Is it possible to populate to populate the value of a custom column for a book with a template expression alone? If not, do you start with writing a template function or writing and testing syntax in the tester?

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