keeping only one format in Calibre

[Cybermidas]

I have uploaded my entire library in cloud storage and now is running out of space. I have two formats for each books saved (epub, mobi). So I thought maybe keeping only one format per book in will save space.

How do I keep only mobi format for each book(where available) and epub otherwise.

Please forgive me for the bad English. Its not my first language.

[Joanna]

Perform a search:
formats:"=EPUB" and formats:"=MOBI"

Select all the books. From the right-click menu choose the option "Remove books/Remove files of a specific format from selected books...". Choose EPUB on the list.

One thing though: maybe you'd like to keep the EPUB files, just in case? You could create a separate library for that (one that would not be stored in the cloud).

[theducks]

+1 for archiving the original format (even if it was mobi)

ANY Conversion (not just books) introduces artifacts

Sometime later, Mobi may not be your primary format.
Converting BACK to EPUB will now have 2 conversions of artifacts

Always convert FROM the original

[Cybermidas]

ok...
Thanks @theducks
so I should keep the epub and get rid of the mobi?
I have a kindle for sideloading and reading, so thought maybe mobi would be better.
However, I can always covert before sideloading.

@Joanna....
Would you mind confirming the below steps please?
1. Search formats:"=EPUB" and formats:"=MOBI"
2. Select all the books. From the right-click menu choose the option "Remove books/Remove files of a specific format from selected books...". Choose EPUB (or mobi) on the list.

What will happen to those books which have only one format?

[eschwartz]

Step one selects only the books that have both formats.

And yes, those are the right steps. Alternatively, you could use "remove all formats except ___" to keep only the format you want.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Cybermidas

ok...
Thanks @theducks
so I should keep the epub and get rid of the mobi?
I have a kindle for sideloading and reading, so thought maybe mobi would be better.
However, I can always covert before sideloading.


What will happen to those books which have only one format?

You need Mobi (or AZW3) today

What I am saying, is:
ARCHIVE all EPUB (assumes they are all Masters)
Archive (optional) All Mobi that do NOT have an EPUB, since this implies that THEY are masters for the book title


IMHO, My idea of archive is ANOTHER Library, since the you now have Metadata, that may NOT be inside the book.

Gotta ask: Are you disk space limited? Seems like a lot of work (and room for ).

[Cybermidas]

@theducks...no I have sufficient disk space...but the tendency of HDD failure scares me. I lost my whole library once (HDD failed and external HDD refused to work). So, I back up everything in cloud now. But I am running out of space there too. So, I thought that if I keep only one format it will save a lot of space.

Also, how do I archive?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Cybermidas

@theducks...no I have sufficient disk space...but the tendency of HDD failure scares me. I lost my whole library once (HDD failed and external HDD refused to work). So, I back up everything in cloud now. But I am running out of space there too. So, I thought that if I keep only one format it will save a lot of space.

Also, how do I 'archive'?

Archive is just a word for a task in this case.

I create additional Libraries (same Structure), and (right-click) Copy to Library, that which I wish to 'Archive',
Then I cleanup

I would really recommend getting someone to help figure out why your external drive fails.
Does it have External Power (not all USB ports supply enough for rotating HD)?

[Cybermidas]

I sent it to service center, i a vain hope to recover. But even they surrendered.

[Cybermidas]

Just as we were discussing this, My HDD got sick. The partition which contained all the books, got corrupted!! Thankfully most of the books were backed up. Only last 2weeks or so might get lost. Still, it sucks!!