Hundreds of books vanished in thin air. YIKES!

birkmaggs · 10-13-2014, 09:23 PM

About 1/3 of my 2000+ library vanished for reasons I don't comprehend. I started getting a lot "no available formats." I went in and looked and the folders are still there with opf and metadata, but the books are gone. I still have them in other folders, but this has shaken me.

Just venting.

birkmaggs · 10-13-2014, 09:30 PM

I think it has to do with switching libraries. But I ve already deleted all the other libraries I don't want so I guess I'll have to search the disk and upload them again. At least I still have the titles and metadata in the data base.

theducks · 10-13-2014, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birkmaggs

I think it has to do with switching libraries. But I ve already deleted all the other libraries I don't want so I guess I'll have to search the disk and upload them again. At least I still have the titles and metadata in the data base.

Calibre does not just up and remove formats (You are missing formats because you say there still is cover and OPF)

There is a remove files of a specific formats from selected books

That operation should have been fairly obvious as it brings up a list of formats WITH counts of each should you select and proceed

There is a option to delete books on Send, but that is the BOOK (all associated files gone)

could you be in the wrong Library? (

and you deleted the others

)

birkmaggs · 10-13-2014, 11:15 PM

I didn't delete any formats because the files i was trying to open were pdfs, but there are still lots of pdfs that were not deleted. In any event, if i delete the book, shouldn't it entirely disappear? The folders are there and each one has an opf and a cover. Just no book.

theducks · 10-13-2014, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birkmaggs

I didn't delete any formats because the files i was trying to open were pdfs, but there are still lots of pdfs that were not deleted. In any event, if i delete the book, shouldn't it entirely disappear? The folders are there and each one has an opf and a cover. Just no book.

If you use Calibre to delete a book (line item), all traces should go.
Is it possible you have 'ownership' issues with folders in the Library (I would not expect Calibre to be quiet about this

)?

theducks · 10-13-2014, 11:48 PM

Is the Library in a Dropbox type folder? You must pause synch, better yet: Also make it one way

birkmaggs · 10-14-2014, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Is the Library in a Dropbox type folder? You must pause synch, better yet: Also make it one way

copy.com
I m not clear about your instructions.

birkmaggs · 10-14-2014, 12:40 AM

ill move the library back on the hd and use copy.com as a backup

jecilop · 10-14-2014, 05:55 AM

If you accidentally deleted the associated book files (and not the folder,cover, opf), then those files ARE in the recycle bin.

I speak from having done this accidentally through format removal inadvertantly choosing the wrong files.

Assuming you don't always clear the recycle bin, check there.
Restore, however, does NOT just put it back as you would thing.
However, it does create a location with all of these files in the same directory where you keep the main library folder from which they were deleted.

You'd have to add them back as well as any metadata that may not have been included in the actual file.

theducks · 10-14-2014, 10:54 AM

Cloud file services (copy, Dropbox...) fight with Calibre's name changes.
You must pause those (at least on the Library) when using Calibre.

Not limited to the following issues: (there is a FAQ section on this)
You changed a name,
Calibre moved (renamed the folders) the book.
The cloud tried to put (synch) the old folders back

(covers,OPF are usually smaller, so they got done fast)

birkmaggs · 10-14-2014, 06:31 PM

almost 1000 books gone. I guess I learned my lesson.

eschwartz · 10-15-2014, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Is the Library in a Dropbox type folder? You must pause synch, better yet: Also make it one way

Quote:

Originally Posted by birkmaggs

copy.com
I m not clear about your instructions.

Use something like FreeFileSync for Windows (or rsync for OSX and linux) to perform a "mirror" sync -- it will copy all files in your library into a folder in your Dropbox. Then it will update the copy in Dropbox, but unlilke a regular sync it will not push changes from Dropbox to the main library.

Excellent way to keep backups.

hank · 10-20-2014, 05:57 PM

I have a lot of folders that show up as duplicates, which contain only covers and .opf, or only .opf.
I'd like to just find all of those and remove these folders that contain nothing other than .jpg, .opf, or both.

Any way?

itimpi · 10-20-2014, 06:05 PM

Run the Library Maintenance option and you will be told about discrepancies where the file system does not match what is stored in the calibre database.

FizzyWater · 10-20-2014, 06:08 PM

Do you use the Dropbox option that lets you specify specific folders (not necessarily in the Dropbox folder) to sync? I saw on their blog that they did have a problem with files being deleted from those folders. I'd have to see if I can find the link - but I remember mostly that I was grateful I hadn't chosen to use that option.

10-13-2014, 09:23 PM	#1
birkmaggs Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: galaxy 2	Hundreds of books vanished in thin air. YIKES! About 1/3 of my 2000+ library vanished for reasons I don't comprehend. I started getting a lot "no available formats." I went in and looked and the folders are still there with opf and metadata, but the books are gone. I still have them in other folders, but this has shaken me. Just venting.

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10-13-2014, 09:30 PM	#2
birkmaggs Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: galaxy 2	I think it has to do with switching libraries. But I ve already deleted all the other libraries I don't want so I guess I'll have to search the disk and upload them again. At least I still have the titles and metadata in the data base.

10-13-2014, 11:15 PM	#4
birkmaggs Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: galaxy 2	I didn't delete any formats because the files i was trying to open were pdfs, but there are still lots of pdfs that were not deleted. In any event, if i delete the book, shouldn't it entirely disappear? The folders are there and each one has an opf and a cover. Just no book.

10-13-2014, 11:48 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,072 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Is the Library in a Dropbox type folder? You must pause synch, better yet: Also make it one way

10-14-2014, 12:40 AM	#8
birkmaggs Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: galaxy 2	ill move the library back on the hd and use copy.com as a backup

10-14-2014, 05:55 AM	#9
jecilop Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 139980 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Android	If you accidentally deleted the associated book files (and not the folder,cover, opf), then those files ARE in the recycle bin. I speak from having done this accidentally through format removal inadvertantly choosing the wrong files. Assuming you don't always clear the recycle bin, check there. Restore, however, does NOT just put it back as you would thing. However, it does create a location with all of these files in the same directory where you keep the main library folder from which they were deleted. You'd have to add them back as well as any metadata that may not have been included in the actual file.

10-14-2014, 10:54 AM	#10
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,072 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Cloud file services (copy, Dropbox...) fight with Calibre's name changes. You must pause those (at least on the Library) when using Calibre. Not limited to the following issues: (there is a FAQ section on this) You changed a name, Calibre moved (renamed the folders) the book. The cloud tried to put (synch) the old folders back (covers,OPF are usually smaller, so they got done fast)

10-14-2014, 06:31 PM	#11
birkmaggs Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: galaxy 2	almost 1000 books gone. I guess I learned my lesson.

10-20-2014, 05:57 PM	#13
hank Dinosaur Posts: 107 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2004 Device: Clie TH55, SJ30, VisorEdge, Palm3xe	I have a lot of folders that show up as duplicates, which contain only covers and .opf, or only .opf. I'd like to just find all of those and remove these folders that contain nothing other than .jpg, .opf, or both. Any way?

10-20-2014, 06:05 PM	#14
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Run the Library Maintenance option and you will be told about discrepancies where the file system does not match what is stored in the calibre database.

10-20-2014, 06:08 PM	#15
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	Do you use the Dropbox option that lets you specify specific folders (not necessarily in the Dropbox folder) to sync? I saw on their blog that they did have a problem with files being deleted from those folders. I'd have to see if I can find the link - but I remember mostly that I was grateful I hadn't chosen to use that option.

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