Complete loss of data

[HenrysAxe]

Greetings book and device lovers. I'll try to keep this short and can go into more detail if necessary at a later time. I use Calibre (version is not displayed) with a MacBook Pro and OS X 10.8.5. In the past, when I would download the newest versions, I'd often lose my Calibre data. I had read somewhere that this is sometimes caused when installing new versions. So I stopped going for the versions that offered minor fixes. I think it's been four versions since I last downloaded any new versions (the current offering is 1.13.0) That's a sketch of the history behind the current issue. All operations have been great since I stopped upgrading with every new version. I last used the software two days ago to read a weekly newspaper I receive. This evening I opened Calibre and much to my dismay all of the home page information was wiped clean with -zeros- galore. I don't keep a large number of items in my Calibre library - I had maybe 45-50 titles and several that were next on my list to read. I'm anxious to get to the root of the problem especially given my memory for what I want to read next is not the sharpest in town. So any would be greatly appreciated. I offer this caveat: I am not the most savvy computer user and a very slow tech learner. I did not grow up with all of these great new items - in fact FDR was president when I was born, AM radio was considered top entertainment, and pickles really did cost a nickel. I hope you, kind reader, can understand from whence I come. Thank you in advance. HenrysAxe

[eschwartz]

Can you still find the folder that contains your library? It should be called "Calibre Library" and be in your Home folder or Documents folder.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by HenrysAxe

In the past, when I would download the newest versions, I'd often lose my Calibre data. I had read somewhere that this is sometimes caused when installing new versions.

This is extremely rare (if ever) and most likely unique to your situation. Upgrading calibre never causes data loss. On occasion a setting may switch state, but other than that actual data is just not touched during upgrades.

Originally Posted by HenrysAxe

I last used the software two days ago to read a weekly newspaper I receive. This evening I opened Calibre and much to my dismay all of the home page information was wiped clean with -zeros- galore.

So no correlation to any upgrade. I'm not an OS X user but we need more info to try and help you.

Do you use Dropbox or other cloud sync software?
Is your library run via a network server?
Do you ever have two computers connected to the same library at the same time?

Originally Posted by HenrysAxe

I last used the software two days ago to read a weekly newspaper I receive.

Did you read this on your computer or on your Kindle?

Originally Posted by HenrysAxe

This evening I opened Calibre and much to my dismay all of the home page information was wiped clean with -zeros- galore.

How do you open calibre? When you say "home page" what exactly are you referring to? What does "wiped clean with -zeros- galore" mean? Exactly what do you see?

[theducks]

@HenrysAxe
Data loss extremely rare and usually proceeded by user intervention

Calibre settings are stored in the (usually hidden) <configuration folder>.

These include the location of the last used Library.

These are NEVER deleted by uninstalling.
That folder is why an update knows where to find the existing Library.

Are you running some sort of 'Cleaner' software?
Are your user files kept on some sort of a Network/cloud server?

Bottom line: You need to have done OTHER things to break(lose) the Library. An update won't do that. Messing around inside the Library folder can

[HenrysAxe]

It doesn't seem to exist in my docs. I'm going to do some hunting via Time Machine.

[HenrysAxe]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

This is extremely rare (if ever) and most likely unique to your situation. Upgrading calibre never causes data loss. On occasion a setting may switch state, but other than that actual data is just not touched during upgrades.



So no correlation to any upgrade. I'm not an OS X user but we need more info to try and help you.

Do you use Dropbox or other cloud sync software?
Is your library run via a network server? I use Dropbox only for photos and do use a seedbox to store my material
Do you ever have two computers connected to the same library at the same time? No, I only use the laptop.



Did you read this on your computer or on your Kindle?
I read newspapers and magazines on the computer - I like the larger screen.


How do you open calibre? When you say "home page" what exactly are you referring to? What does "wiped clean with -zeros- galore" mean? Exactly what do you see?

[I]Calibre is in my dock, so I double click to open it. Been doing it that way for as long as I've had the software. Home page is the term I use for the opening screen of the software - the left column has the various categories 'authors' , 'languages', 'series' etc etc[ These categories would display the number of items in ( ) after the title of the category. What I have now is a zero after each category/I]

Time Machine did not yield any results - I checked on a random day from last week and also last month.

[HenrysAxe]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Can you still find the folder that contains your library? It should be called "Calibre Library" and be in your Home folder or Documents folder.

The Time Machine search did not yield anything.