Moving from Mac to PC

ficbot · 11-17-2015, 06:26 PM

I have just moved my Calibre library onto my new computer, which is a Windows 10 laptop. This is my first non-Mac in well over a decade, and I think it will be fine once it is set up, but I am having some issues with my library transfer.

I keep the library in my Dropbox folder, but wanted to set my Calibre library set up right away, so I put it on a thumb drive. Most of the files copied over just fine, but I got an error message partway through that some of the files had names which were too long (I have always let Calibre auto-name the files...)

So I skipped those, and assumed the Dropbox download onto the new computer would fill in the blanks. It did so, but when I spot-checked three books I knew had this problem, the database said the files were there, but they were not.

I did a forum search and ran the database repair, it also found some books with mac junk files in there, which it flagged.

My goals are two-fold: I want to generate a list of all the books with no format (i.e. it did not copy over the file because it was too long; I can rescue these off my backup drive and rename them before I bring them in) and I want to delete all the mac junk files.

How can I most easily get this all fixed?

BetterRed · 11-17-2015, 06:36 PM

@ficbot

Select all books (ctrl+a), then Remove selected formats(alt+del), then select the unwanted mac junk file types

Then a search for formats:false will find books with no valid format

BR

eschwartz · 11-18-2015, 01:10 AM

When switching OSes, I would always run a database restore.
Also, too-long pathnames on Windows are a struggle

I am pretty sure you can still have problems -- easily -- when moving to Windows. You should be able to copy them with a shorter name, and hen the database restore should fix everything.

ficbot · 11-18-2015, 07:55 AM

The database restore somehow removed all the mobi files. I un-restored and they are back. I don't know what happened.

gbm · 11-18-2015, 12:01 PM

This is how I copied my library from my Linux box to my Windows 10 tablet, with no problems.

Set up file sharing between your Mac and Windows 10 PC's'.
***On your Mac make a copy of your library using the Mac's file manager***.
On your Mac open calibre and change to the copy of your library you just made.
On your Mac in calibre use switch/create library to make a new blank library in your shared folder using copy structure from the current library.
On your Mac in calibre select all ebooks and use copy to library delete after copy to copy your current library to the new library in your shared folder.
Now using the file manger of your Mac copy the library in your Mac's shared folder to a shared folder on your Windows PC. Do not use Dropbox or any cloud service. You can use a usb stick but faster using network.
On your Windows PC move your library from the shared folder to the root of your c drive or to the root of your user account. You can use the root of any other drive you have installed.

This should give you a working library with no too long file names.

Remember step #5 open that library with the Mac's file manger any ebook files left will be one's you will have to manually check to make sure they where transfered.

Now go and run library maintenance.

luck
bernie

eschwartz · 11-18-2015, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

The database restore somehow removed all the mobi files. I un-restored and they are back. I don't know what happened.

That sounds suspiciously like the actual *.mobi files are no longer present on disk. Can you actually read them?

ficbot · 11-18-2015, 11:41 PM

Yes, I can read them.

The database restore did generate a list of the problem files; I have found that if I go in, re-add them and then convert the source file to mobi, I can then add and delete formats as normal and it is not stuck anymore where the book says it has some formats and it does not. But overall, the upgrade process has not been nearly as painless as I thought it would be and that was disappointing.

eschwartz · 11-19-2015, 12:03 AM

Well, there is obviously some form of disconnect between the filenames calibre expected and the filenames that were actually there. But I thought a database restore is able to handle anything so long as the book folders have a unique number, and all the ebook files and metadata.opf and cover.jpeg are inside that folder.

11-17-2015, 06:26 PM	#1
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Moving from Mac to PC I have just moved my Calibre library onto my new computer, which is a Windows 10 laptop. This is my first non-Mac in well over a decade, and I think it will be fine once it is set up, but I am having some issues with my library transfer. I keep the library in my Dropbox folder, but wanted to set my Calibre library set up right away, so I put it on a thumb drive. Most of the files copied over just fine, but I got an error message partway through that some of the files had names which were too long (I have always let Calibre auto-name the files...) So I skipped those, and assumed the Dropbox download onto the new computer would fill in the blanks. It did so, but when I spot-checked three books I knew had this problem, the database said the files were there, but they were not. I did a forum search and ran the database repair, it also found some books with mac junk files in there, which it flagged. My goals are two-fold: I want to generate a list of all the books with no format (i.e. it did not copy over the file because it was too long; I can rescue these off my backup drive and rename them before I bring them in) and I want to delete all the mac junk files. How can I most easily get this all fixed?

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11-17-2015, 06:36 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,662 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@ficbot Select all books (ctrl+a), then Remove selected formats(alt+del), then select the unwanted mac junk file types Then a search for *formats:false* will find books with no valid format BR

11-18-2015, 01:10 AM	#3
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)	When switching OSes, I would always run a database restore. Also, too-long pathnames on Windows are a struggle I am pretty sure you can still have problems -- easily -- when moving to Windows. You should be able to copy them with a shorter name, and hen the database restore should fix everything.

11-18-2015, 07:55 AM	#4
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	The database restore somehow removed all the mobi files. I un-restored and they are back. I don't know what happened.

11-18-2015, 12:01 PM	#5
gbm Wizard Posts: 2,179 Karma: 8800000 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD,Hisence Sero 7 Pro RIP, Nook STR, jetbook lite	This is how I copied my library from my Linux box to my Windows 10 tablet, with no problems. Set up file sharing between your Mac and Windows 10 PC's'. *On your Mac make a copy of your library using the Mac's file manager. On your Mac open calibre and change to the copy of your library you just made.* On your Mac in calibre use switch/create library to make a new blank library in your shared folder using copy structure from the current library. On your Mac in calibre select all ebooks and use copy to library delete after copy to copy your current library to the new library in your shared folder. Now using the file manger of your Mac copy the library in your Mac's shared folder to a shared folder on your Windows PC. Do not use Dropbox or any cloud service. You can use a usb stick but faster using network. On your Windows PC move your library from the shared folder to the root of your c drive or to the root of your user account. You can use the root of any other drive you have installed. This should give you a working library with no too long file names. Remember step #5 open that library with the Mac's file manger any ebook files left will be one's you will have to manually check to make sure they where transfered. Now go and run library maintenance. luck bernie

11-18-2015, 11:41 PM	#7
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Yes, I can read them. The database restore did generate a list of the problem files; I have found that if I go in, re-add them and then convert the source file to mobi, I can then add and delete formats as normal and it is not stuck anymore where the book says it has some formats and it does not. But overall, the upgrade process has not been nearly as painless as I thought it would be and that was disappointing.

11-19-2015, 12:03 AM	#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)	Well, there is obviously some form of disconnect between the filenames calibre expected and the filenames that were actually there. But I thought a database restore is able to handle anything so long as the book folders have a unique number, and all the ebook files and metadata.opf and cover.jpeg are inside that folder.

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