Upgrade from Ubuntu repo version to binary installer

[huladaddy]

I am currently running calibre 0.8.70 on Xubuntu that I installed from the Ubuntu repository (ppa.launchpad.net/n-muench/calibre). calibre currently resides at /usr/lib/calibre. I would like to upgrade to the newest version using the binary installer.

Can I simply upgrade overtop the old repository version, specifying the install location /usr/lib/calibre of course, or do I have to install a fresh copy?

Are there any other issues I should be aware of before I do the upgrade?

[gbm]

Originally Posted by huladaddy

I am currently running calibre 0.8.70 on Xubuntu that I installed from the Ubuntu repository (ppa.launchpad.net/n-muench/calibre). calibre currently resides at /usr/lib/calibre. I would like to upgrade to the newest version using the binary installer.

Can I simply upgrade overtop the old repository version, specifying the install location /usr/lib/calibre of course, or do I have to install a fresh copy?

Are there any other issues I should be aware of before I do the upgrade?

You can, but I recommend removing the repository version after backing up your library and the .config/calibre folder(just to be safe) then install using the binary installer

bernie

[huladaddy]

Originally Posted by gbm

You can, but I recommend removing the repository version after backing up your library and the .config/calibre folder(just to be safe) then install using the binary installer

bernie

Thanks.

I assume uninstalling my current version will leave the library intact -- books, metadata, custom columns and searches? Am I correct?

Regarding the .config/calibre folder, once I install using the binary installer, should I replace .config/calibre with my backed up version?

[eschwartz]

The binary installer will of course overwrite the binaries (actually, I think they used to be wrapper scripts) in "/usr/bin/" and there is zero purpose in keeping the old lib/calibre. I'd just get rid of the repo version -- what do you need it for??

Just running the binary installer will unpack the binaries in /opt/ by default and then run /opt/calibre_postinstall which sets up /usr/bin/ and installs .desktop files and bash_completion scripts and other fun stuff. There is no significant time used up by this extra step.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by huladaddy

Thanks.

I assume uninstalling my current version will leave the library intact -- books, metadata, custom columns and searches? Am I correct?

All this is stored in the library metadata.db

Regarding the .config/calibre folder, once I install using the binary installer, should I replace .config/calibre with my backed up version?

Installing won't recreate the config folder -- only running calibre again will. It cannot hurt to backup the config, but you don't have to move it -- just copy it. Then, if the upgrade looks wonky you can downgrade and run each updated version in turn to update the config, or whatever. Maybe. (If you want to.)

[eschwartz]

You may also wish to see
Sticky: Fully automatic calibre installer/updater for linux
(My baby. )

[huladaddy]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The binary installer will of course overwrite the binaries (actually, I think they used to be wrapper scripts) in "/usr/bin/" and there is zero purpose in keeping the old lib/calibre. I'd just get rid of the repo version -- what do you need it for??

Just running the binary installer will unpack the binaries in /opt/ by default and then run /opt/calibre_postinstall which sets up /usr/bin/ and installs .desktop files and bash_completion scripts and other fun stuff. There is no significant time used up by this extra step.

I am planning to uninstall my current version, then install using the binary installer. The other fellow mentioned backing up .config/calibre. Is there a reason for this? Is this where my preferences are stored?

I assume metadata.db in the calibre library folder contains not only metadata, but also my custom columns and searches. Is this correct? And I assume uninstalling the repo version will not remove the library folder. Is this correct?


EDIT:

I posted the above before I saw your next two posts. Thanks. I think I'm good to go.

[eschwartz]

By the way, thanks for bringing this to my mind -- I finally got around to streamlining my update script. See the sticky for details.