Database corruption: fix?

richorlin · 05-21-2025, 04:31 PM

Somehow both the original and my external backup metadata files got corrupted and I can't open Calibre from original directory or the backup.
When I try, I get the error that there is no Calibre library.
Is there a workaround to force Calibre to open a library an reindex?
The only option I can think of is to create a new library and import all the books. That's 20K of books. Then they will not be in any date order, but all one date.
Than you for any help.

ownedbycats · 05-21-2025, 04:47 PM

Try Library > Library Maintenace >Restore Database. If not work, re-importing to new library. Make sure to add custom columns back first.

richorlin · 05-21-2025, 05:02 PM

Thanks, but I can’t open the library. It says there is no library in that folder, although there are 20k books there and the index files.

DNSB · 05-21-2025, 05:25 PM

You could try running calibredb from the command line with calibre closed. See restore_database for some help. If you don't specify the library path, it will default to the one stored in your settings.

Code:

calibredb restore_database -r --library-path=<path to your library>

You might want to first try to create a new library. Switch to the new library and Add books from folders and subfolders pointing to your old library as the source.

richorlin · 05-21-2025, 05:45 PM

I’ll try your suggestion for using the command line. From past experience, adding the books doesn’t preserve the original date. So all ten years of books have the same date.

richorlin · 05-21-2025, 05:51 PM

How do I run calibredb from terminal (macos). Comes back command not found.

BetterRed · 05-21-2025, 07:01 PM

First para ==>> calibre User Manual: Command Line Interface

BR

richorlin · 05-21-2025, 11:44 PM

Ran the terminal command and 50 mins later Calibre was up and running. Thanks all. A great community of users!

05-21-2025, 04:31 PM	#1
richorlin Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Kindle	Database corruption: fix? Somehow both the original and my external backup metadata files got corrupted and I can't open Calibre from original directory or the backup. When I try, I get the error that there is no Calibre library. Is there a workaround to force Calibre to open a library an reindex? The only option I can think of is to create a new library and import all the books. That's 20K of books. Then they will not be in any date order, but all one date. Than you for any help.

05-21-2025, 05:25 PM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,923 Karma: 174631582 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	You could try running calibredb from the command line with calibre closed. See restore_database for some help. If you don't specify the library path, it will default to the one stored in your settings. Code: calibredb restore_database -r --library-path=<path to your library> You might want to first try to create a new library. Switch to the new library and Add books from folders and subfolders pointing to your old library as the source.

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05-21-2025, 04:47 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,395 Karma: 80947541 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Try Library > Library Maintenace >Restore Database. If not work, re-importing to new library. Make sure to add custom columns back first.

05-21-2025, 05:02 PM	#3
richorlin Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Kindle	Thanks, but I can’t open the library. It says there is no library in that folder, although there are 20k books there and the index files.

05-21-2025, 05:45 PM	#5
richorlin Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Kindle	I’ll try your suggestion for using the command line. From past experience, adding the books doesn’t preserve the original date. So all ten years of books have the same date.

05-21-2025, 05:51 PM	#6
richorlin Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Kindle	How do I run calibredb from terminal (macos). Comes back command not found.

05-21-2025, 07:01 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,066 Karma: 30277960 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	First para ==>> calibre User Manual: Command Line Interface BR

05-21-2025, 11:44 PM	#8
richorlin Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Kindle	Ran the terminal command and 50 mins later Calibre was up and running. Thanks all. A great community of users!

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