Failure to Rename Books

[dc696969]

I subscribe to a published ebook in two formats - PDF and Mobi.
Prior to importing a new version of the book, I rename the current versions of the book to Book Title Vnn, where nn is the next sequential number.

I perform the rename in the Edit metadata screen and invariably get an error message which asserts that a Permission is denied. Sample error details are as follows:

******************
calibre, version 2.67.0
ERROR: Permission denied: Could not change the on disk location of this book. Is it open in another program?

Locked file: c:\users\xxxxxx\calibre\09 reference\paul thurrott\windows 10 field guide (250)\windows 10 field guide - paul thurrott.mobi

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\metadata\single.py", line 552, in apply_changes
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\metadata\basic_widgets.py", line 213, in commit
File "site-packages\calibre\db\legacy.py", line 810, in func
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 57, in call_func_with_lock
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 1039, in set_field
File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 1448, in windows_check_if_files_in_use
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\filenames.py", line 385, in __init__
IOError: [Errno 13] File is open in another process: u'c:\\users\\xxxxxx\\calibre\\09 reference\\paul thurrott\\windows 10 field guide (250)\\windows 10 field guide - paul thurrott.mobi'
****************

As you can see, the error message states that one of the books is open in another process - But I don't have the file open in any other process intitiated by me.
Thanks

[eschwartz]

Well, Windows claims that something else has a lock on that file... so I am not sure what you want us to say.
(And I must say, that Windows concept of locking files is just so absolutely, positively charming. )

...

There are programs that can tell you what process has a certain file open.

It may be e.g. an antivirus.

[BetterRed]

@dc696969 - Could be an AV or content indexer

This should help you track down what it is ==>> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/opened_files_view.html

If you are using a 3rd party file manager that could be the culprit, try closing it.

BR

[dc696969]

@BetterRed - Thanks for that.

I used opened_file_view, and it looks like it's Dropbox that has the file open. When I retry it after a short wait then the rename completes OK.

As I noted in the original post, I have no other process specifically invoked by me that has the file open - maybe Calibre has changed the file name once, which Dropbox is picking up and then Calibre is trying to change it again.

OR, maybe Calibre and Dropbox are in conflict when Calibre changes both a folder name and underlying file names?

[HarryT]

You don't have your Calibre library in Dropbox, do you? That's a really, REALLY bad idea. It's a question of "when" not "if" you'll end up with a corrupted library as a result.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by dc696969

maybe Calibre and Dropbox are in conflict when Calibre changes both a folder name and underlying file names?

No maybe's about mate, see third para in here ==>> I am getting errors with my calibre library on a networked drive/NAS?

What many people do is to suspend dropbox before they start calibre and resume it when they stop calibre, others don't use dropbox to do the syncing, instead they use one of the synch tools, like Sync Toy, FFS, Goodsync etc to do it as and when they choose. I favour the latter

BR

[dc696969]

Thanks @HarryT and @BetterRed.

Actually, I'm already doing asychronous syncing to a NAS with RoboCopy *and* using Dropbox - belt and braces!

But, I'll be sure to pause Dropbox before updating Calibre - thanks.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You don't have your Calibre library in Dropbox, do you? That's a really, REALLY bad idea. It's a question of "when" not "if" you'll end up with a corrupted library as a result.

I'll side with the OP on this.

Dropbox is perfectly safe. As long as you pause Dropbox while calibre is running.

Additionally, make sure to sync Dropbox before and after running calibre, to make sure Dropbox won't get confused when two computers try to update the same file -- this assumes you run calibre with the Dropboxed library on two computers.

[dc696969]

Thanks @eschwartz.
Good point. But in my case not necessary. I have Calibre on just one laptop and simply use Dropbox for offsite backup storage to supplement the other copy on my NAS.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I'll side with the OP on this.

Dropbox is perfectly safe. As long as you pause Dropbox while calibre is running.

Additionally, make sure to sync Dropbox before and after running calibre, to make sure Dropbox won't get confused when two computers try to update the same file -- this assumes you run calibre with the Dropboxed library on two computers.

That's a big caveat, though. Forget to pause it and you could find yourself up the proverbial creek. It's far safer (IMHO) to simply store a copy of your library in Dropbox, and use a sync tool to manually sync that copy with your live library.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dc696969

Thanks @HarryT and @BetterRed.

Actually, I'm already doing asychronous syncing to a NAS with RoboCopy *and* using Dropbox - belt and braces!

But, I'll be sure to pause Dropbox before updating Calibre - thanks.

It's not just a matter of pausing Dropbox.It's a matter of NEVER EVER use a directory linked to cloud storage for your working Calibre library because one day you will forget to pause the program and you will screw your library but good. All it takes is ONCE to screw your library.

On Windows you can use FreeFileSync to sync to your NAS and cloud storage after you have closed Calibre. But, your working library must be free from NAS & cloud storage.

[dc696969]

It's not just a matter of pausing Dropbox.It's a matter of NEVER EVER use a directory linked to cloud storage for your working Calibre library.

Thanks @JSWolf

Now, I do not doubt you - I can tell you have a strong opinion about this. But I am interested to understand the nature of the danger to the Calibre library if Dropbox is paused during any Calbre processing.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dc696969

Thanks @JSWolf

Now, I do not doubt you - I can tell you have a strong opinion about this. But I am interested to understand the nature of the danger to the Calibre library if Dropbox is paused during any Calbre processing.

The danger is that the one time you forget to pause Dropbox, you risk screwing your library and possibly the copy on Dropbox as well..

[dc696969]

Ah, indeed.
In UK we call it Sod's law - if it can happen, it will!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dc696969

Ah, indeed.
In UK we call it Sod's law - if it can happen, it will!

Murphy was the one who came up with the law. This Sod is plagiarizing.