version 4 and 5 databases compatible?

Freakeao · 04-30-2021, 03:08 PM

Is there a difference in the databases created/edited by calibre version 4 and 5 ?

I'm running 5 on windows, and the most easily accessible version on my linux install is 4.x. If I add books on linux and then edit metadata on windows will things get messed up?

georgemk · 04-30-2021, 03:32 PM

V4.23 is the only V4 version that can use V5 databases safely.

Freakeao · 04-30-2021, 03:44 PM

Can v5 read/write v4?

georgemk · 04-30-2021, 04:08 PM

Once a V4 database has been opened by V5 then only V4.23 or any V5 Calibre can read/write to it.

ownedbycats · 04-30-2021, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgemk

Once a V4 database has been opened by V5 then only V4.23 or any V5 Calibre can read/write to it.

to be more precise, some operations from pre-4.23 versions will work, but a lot of others (notably attempting to delete books) will result in errors.

JSWolf · 04-30-2021, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freakeao

Is there a difference in the databases created/edited by calibre version 4 and 5 ?

I'm running 5 on windows, and the most easily accessible version on my linux install is 4.x. If I add books on linux and then edit metadata on windows will things get messed up?

If you open your Calibre database in v5.x and you then want to go back to a pre-5 version, the only version you can use is 4.23 as that's the only pre-5 version what will work with a v5 database.

Freakeao · 04-30-2021, 06:13 PM

All good info to know. Thanks.

Is there a way to downgrade a v5 DB to v4? Either thru export/import or ? I'm considering downgrading my desktop to a v4 setup if that's possible, or would prevent problems.

Still considering all the options.

JSWolf · 04-30-2021, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freakeao

All good info to know. Thanks.

Is there a way to downgrade a v5 DB to v4? Either thru export/import or ? I'm considering downgrading my desktop to a v4 setup if that's possible, or would prevent problems.

Still considering all the options.

What's wrong with version 5.x?

But if you do want to downgrade, just use 4.23.

Freakeao · 04-30-2021, 06:57 PM

Nothings wrong with 5.x at all. But I'm trying to setup an ARM64 server for some automated calibre processing. I'm using docker and so far the best/only images I can find are using calibre 4.12. So I want to get to a setup where most is running on ARM64 headless server, but if I want to manually edit things using calibre from my desktop I can do it and not mess anything up.

ownedbycats · 04-30-2021, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freakeao

All good info to know. Thanks.

Is there a way to downgrade a v5 DB to v4? Either thru export/import or ? I'm considering downgrading my desktop to a v4 setup if that's possible, or would prevent problems.

Still considering all the options.

Your best option is to use 4.xx to create a new library with "copy structure" checked and copy all the books over to it.

kovidgoyal · 04-30-2021, 10:24 PM

The only incompatibility between the databases is the from v5 onwards the database uses the sqlite FTS extension. This extension is not present in *some* builds of v4 calibre before v 4.23, notably on windows. IIRC on linux FTS is present in all v4 builds anyway so the databases are fully compatible.

04-30-2021, 03:08 PM	#1
Freakeao Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	version 4 and 5 databases compatible? Is there a difference in the databases created/edited by calibre version 4 and 5 ? I'm running 5 on windows, and the most easily accessible version on my linux install is 4.x. If I add books on linux and then edit metadata on windows will things get messed up?

04-30-2021, 03:32 PM	#2
georgemk Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 291844 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: Kobo Nia	V4.23 is the only V4 version that can use V5 databases safely. Last edited by georgemk; 04-30-2021 at 03:35 PM.

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04-30-2021, 03:44 PM	#3
Freakeao Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	Can v5 read/write v4?

04-30-2021, 04:08 PM	#4
georgemk Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 291844 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: Kobo Nia	Once a V4 database has been opened by V5 then only V4.23 or any V5 Calibre can read/write to it.

04-30-2021, 06:13 PM	#7
Freakeao Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	All good info to know. Thanks. Is there a way to downgrade a v5 DB to v4? Either thru export/import or ? I'm considering downgrading my desktop to a v4 setup if that's possible, or would prevent problems. Still considering all the options.

04-30-2021, 06:57 PM	#9
Freakeao Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	Nothings wrong with 5.x at all. But I'm trying to setup an ARM64 server for some automated calibre processing. I'm using docker and so far the best/only images I can find are using calibre 4.12. So I want to get to a setup where most is running on ARM64 headless server, but if I want to manually edit things using calibre from my desktop I can do it and not mess anything up.

04-30-2021, 10:24 PM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,251 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The only incompatibility between the databases is the from v5 onwards the database uses the sqlite FTS extension. This extension is not present in some builds of v4 calibre before v 4.23, notably on windows. IIRC on linux FTS is present in all v4 builds anyway so the databases are fully compatible.

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