Library/Dropbox

Nicko · 11-09-2013, 05:25 PM

Not being familiar with Dropbox I seem to have moved my Library. I used to find it under C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library\
It is now C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Calibre Library.
Can someone please tell me how to sort this out so I don't get confused when I do a backup of Library.

FizzyWater · 11-09-2013, 06:27 PM

Assuming you haven't made any changes to the library (or even the metadata within the library):

First, switch the library in Calibre from the original location to the new Dropbox location:

Click on the Calibre Library toolbar button
Choose "Switch/create library..."
Navigate to the Dropbox location in the "New Location" box
Leave the selection as "Use the previously existing library at the new location" button selected
Click OK

That'll switch you to the new library in the Dropbox folder.

Then delete (or backup/move, just to be safe) the old library. Calibre will point to the new location and do any changes from there. You could also rename the old library copy (Calibre Library-old, for example) and leave it where it is and switch back and forth between them, if you're not sure the two libraries are exactly the same. Then you can delete the old one once you know you've made any necessary adjustments. (YOu can move and/or copy books from one library to the other).

I use Dropbox and have by Calibre library saved there. I would make the following suggestion as well: I turn off the Dropbox syncing most of the time and only run it once in awhile. However, if you want to leave it running most of the time, I'd suggest you turn it off before you open Calibre. If Dropbox tries to backup or copy your metadata.db file while you're working in it, it can cause problems.

Good luck!

Nicko · 11-09-2013, 08:01 PM

Thanks for your help, much appreciated. I have recently added books to the Library or is that not the sort of changes you mean. What other changes I may have made would affect your instructions?.

eschwartz · 11-10-2013, 02:27 AM

You could probably just delete the new copy since it is basically a clone of what your main library WAS at some (recent?) point. Or at least that's what it sounds like.

Afterward, if you want, you can move the main library copy to dropbox and have it sync.

Nicko · 11-10-2013, 04:30 PM

Thanks for your suggestion.

Nicko · 11-12-2013, 04:01 PM

FizzyWater, Not sure which changes to the library that your mean. Can you comment further please?. Thanks.

Nicko · 12-06-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Assuming you haven't made any changes to the library (or even the metadata within the library):

Good luck!

I am not sure what you mean. Can you please explain further. Perhaps someone else is awake to what this means. I edit metadata after reading a book.

eschwartz · 12-06-2013, 04:28 PM

Any metadata that you changed will have been changed in the library calibre was reading, which should be at C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library\

And Dropbox has a copy at C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Calibre Library.

If you switch libraries to the one in dropbox, it will show the state of your library as it was when the copy was made. If you have added books, changed the titles, tags, authors, ids, anything whatsoever other than just clicking on books to read it or sending them to a device, you will have unsaved changes in the original library that do not appear in the dropbox library.

Perhaps I can illustrate with a Mashal.

Imagine you have a word document. C:\Users\Patrick\My Documents\Book-list.docx. You edit it a lot, maybe ('cause it has a list of your books in it.) Then one day, you accidentally save a copy of this doc in Dropbox, at C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Book-list.docx

You don't even realize this, of course. You continue using C:\Users\Patrick\My Documents\Book-list.docx with blithe assurance, notating a whole bunch of new books, books read, random thoughts of the day, whatever.

A while later you come upon C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Book-list.docx and are like "hey, cool, why don't I use this instead?" But it is a little unreasonable to expect the changes to have been applied to the Dropboxed doc, when it was never opened for editing!! The one in My Documents was the one edited!

Nicko · 12-06-2013, 06:21 PM

Thankyou very much for that explanation which is now clear to me. I really appreciate you taking the time to give such a detailed reply.

Regarding "Any metadata that you changed will have been changed in the library calibre was reading, which should be at C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library\"
When I checked this it shows as being empty?.

eschwartz · 12-07-2013, 08:09 PM

There's nothing there in the file explorer?

Then it sounds like you actually moved the Calibre Library folder to the Dropbox, not just copied it.

In which case, it's not a backup, it's the same library all along.

Did you by any chance do this (see attachment) at any time?

It sounds like you should have no worries, just leave everything alone, and you can continue using your library as before. (even though the location has changed, that should not change anything.) And it will be backed up in Dropbox, which you may or may not want.

Nicko · 12-07-2013, 09:34 PM

Thanks eschwatz, Ref the attachment. No I did not do that.
What I would really like to do is to put my Calibre Library back to where it was before: "C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library" and also have a backup in Dropbox. It appears that, as you say, I didn't copy it to Dropbox I just moved it. Can I move it back, and also have a backup in Dropbox. Sorry to be so dumb but Dropbox appears to have confused me somewhat. I guess I have had too many birthdays!!

eschwartz · 12-07-2013, 09:49 PM

You can use the option in the attachment to move the library back to wherever you want it. Then go to Windows Explorer, select C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library and either press Ctrl+C or right-click and select Copy. Then either right-click and paste or use Ctrl+V to paste into The Dropbox folder.

Do NOT drag it there, that will only move it again!

However, first consider whether this is necessary. calibre can function just as well in either location, and if you only copy the library, then dropbox will not update as you add new books, since per my explanation, your doc was never opened from dropbox, only from My Documents.

Do you just want to be able to open the calibre library directly from your user folder, instead of going to dropbox first? If so, you may want to take a look at this link: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows...out-moving-it/

You can create a symlink, so that the same folder can be opened from either location, and it is THE SAME FOLDER!!

Nicko · 12-07-2013, 10:18 PM

Thanks once again for your help and patience, it is much appreciated.
I now have the information that I need to sort out my options. Cheers.

11-09-2013, 05:25 PM	#1
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	Library/Dropbox Not being familiar with Dropbox I seem to have moved my Library. I used to find it under C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library\ It is now C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Calibre Library. Can someone please tell me how to sort this out so I don't get confused when I do a backup of Library.

11-09-2013, 06:27 PM	#2
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Assuming you haven't made any changes to the library (or even the metadata within the library): First, switch the library in Calibre from the original location to the new Dropbox location: Click on the Calibre Library toolbar button Choose "Switch/create library..." Navigate to the Dropbox location in the "New Location" box Leave the selection as "Use the previously existing library at the new location" button selected Click OK That'll switch you to the new library in the Dropbox folder. Then delete (or backup/move, just to be safe) the old library. Calibre will point to the new location and do any changes from there. You could also rename the old library copy (Calibre Library-old, for example) and leave it where it is and switch back and forth between them, if you're not sure the two libraries are exactly the same. Then you can delete the old one once you know you've made any necessary adjustments. (YOu can move and/or copy books from one library to the other). I use Dropbox and have by Calibre library saved there. I would make the following suggestion as well: I turn off the Dropbox syncing most of the time and only run it once in awhile. However, if you want to leave it running most of the time, I'd suggest you turn it off before you open Calibre. If Dropbox tries to backup or copy your metadata.db file while you're working in it, it can cause problems. Good luck!

12-06-2013, 06:21 PM	#9
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	Thankyou very much for that explanation which is now clear to me. I really appreciate you taking the time to give such a detailed reply. Regarding "Any metadata that you changed will have been changed in the library calibre was reading, which should be at C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library\" When I checked this it shows as being empty?. Last edited by Nicko; 12-06-2013 at 06:39 PM.

12-07-2013, 08:09 PM	#10
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	There's nothing there in the file explorer? Then it sounds like you actually moved the Calibre Library folder to the Dropbox, not just copied it. In which case, it's not a backup, it's the same library all along. Did you by any chance do this (see attachment) at any time? It sounds like you should have no worries, just leave everything alone, and you can continue using your library as before. (even though the location has changed, that should not change anything.) And it will be backed up in Dropbox, which you may or may not want. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by eschwartz; 12-07-2013 at 08:12 PM.

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11-09-2013, 08:01 PM	#3
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	Thanks for your help, much appreciated. I have recently added books to the Library or is that not the sort of changes you mean. What other changes I may have made would affect your instructions?.

11-10-2013, 02:27 AM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You could probably just delete the new copy since it is basically a clone of what your main library WAS at some (recent?) point. Or at least that's what it sounds like. Afterward, if you want, you can move the main library copy to dropbox and have it sync.

11-10-2013, 04:30 PM	#5
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	Thanks for your suggestion.

11-12-2013, 04:01 PM	#6
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	FizzyWater, Not sure which changes to the library that your mean. Can you comment further please?. Thanks.

12-06-2013, 04:28 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Any metadata that you changed will have been changed in the library calibre was reading, which should be at C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library\ And Dropbox has a copy at C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Calibre Library. If you switch libraries to the one in dropbox, it will show the state of your library as it was when the copy was made. If you have added books, changed the titles, tags, authors, ids, anything whatsoever other than just clicking on books to read it or sending them to a device, you will have unsaved changes in the original library that do not appear in the dropbox library. Perhaps I can illustrate with a Mashal. Imagine you have a word document. C:\Users\Patrick\My Documents\Book-list.docx. You edit it a lot, maybe ('cause it has a list of your books in it.) Then one day, you accidentally save a copy of this doc in Dropbox, at C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Book-list.docx You don't even realize this, of course. You continue using C:\Users\Patrick\My Documents\Book-list.docx with blithe assurance, notating a whole bunch of new books, books read, random thoughts of the day, whatever. A while later you come upon C:\Users\Patrick\Dropbox\Book-list.docx and are like "hey, cool, why don't I use this instead?" But it is a little unreasonable to expect the changes to have been applied to the Dropboxed doc, when it was never opened for editing!! The one in My Documents was the one edited!

12-07-2013, 09:34 PM	#11
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	Thanks eschwatz, Ref the attachment. No I did not do that. What I would really like to do is to put my Calibre Library back to where it was before: "C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library" and also have a backup in Dropbox. It appears that, as you say, I didn't copy it to Dropbox I just moved it. Can I move it back, and also have a backup in Dropbox. Sorry to be so dumb but Dropbox appears to have confused me somewhat. I guess I have had too many birthdays!!

12-07-2013, 09:49 PM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You can use the option in the attachment to move the library back to wherever you want it. Then go to Windows Explorer, select C:\Users\Patrick\Calibre Library and either press Ctrl+C or right-click and select Copy. Then either right-click and paste or use Ctrl+V to paste into The Dropbox folder. Do NOT drag it there, that will only move it again! However, first consider whether this is necessary. calibre can function just as well in either location, and if you only copy the library, then dropbox will not update as you add new books, since per my explanation, your doc was never opened from dropbox, only from My Documents. Do you just want to be able to open the calibre library directly from your user folder, instead of going to dropbox first? If so, you may want to take a look at this link: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows...out-moving-it/ You can create a symlink, so that the same folder can be opened from either location, and it is THE SAME FOLDER!!

12-07-2013, 10:18 PM	#13
Nicko Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 5590 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite3	Thanks once again for your help and patience, it is much appreciated. I now have the information that I need to sort out my options. Cheers.

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