What is the difference between the main metadata.db and sub-directory metadata.db?

iridius · 02-23-2011, 04:36 AM

What is the difference between the main metadata.db and sub-directory metadata.db files?

If I have a library but have lost teh metadata.db file in the root, will the metadata.db files in the subdirectories for each book do anything?

Thanks.

DoctorOhh · 02-23-2011, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iridius

What is the difference between the main metadata.db and sub-directory metadata.db files?

There is only one metadata.db file and that is in the root of your calibre library. The other files you see are metadata.opf files.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iridius

If I have a library but have lost teh metadata.db file in the root, will the metadata.db files in the subdirectories for each book do anything?

Those other metadata files are all opf files and yes these files could be used to rebuild your metadata.db (calibre database) by using the Restore database menu option under Library maintenance (see attached).

Starson17 · 02-23-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Those other metadata files are all opf files and yes these files could be used to rebuild your metadata.db (calibre database) by using the Restore database menu option under Library maintenance (see attached).

The reconstructed metadata.db file should have all the original book related info. It won't have an non-book related info. My primary concern about non-book related info that will be missing is custom recipes. I have many of them.

Custom columns are also stored there and won't get recovered. I run a separate backup solely on the metadata.db file, in conjunction with a full backup of all books and the metadata.db file.

Personally, I'd never use the Restore database menu option as it wouldn't give me what I want most - recipes. I'd simply use my best backed up metadata.db (with my recipes) and then run an error analysis on the db to find books that are in the folders, but not in the db.

kovidgoyal · 02-23-2011, 10:17 AM

restore database does restore custom columns (custom column and user categories metadata is stored in the OPF files).

Starson17 · 02-23-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

restore database does restore custom columns (custom column and user categories metadata is stored in the OPF files).

Great! Is there anything other than custom recipes that doesn't get restored? I don't think I'm ready to give up my metadata.db backups yet, but it would be nice to know that I could get back even if I'd lost my backups by running restore and grabbing my original recipe mods (which I usually keep in my recipe development area).

kovidgoyal · 02-23-2011, 12:44 PM

settings stored in the db like column layout hidden categories in the tag browser and so on.

02-23-2011, 04:36 AM	#1
iridius Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3, iPhone (to get Dell Streak & iPad)	What is the difference between the main metadata.db and sub-directory metadata.db? What is the difference between the main metadata.db and sub-directory metadata.db files? If I have a library but have lost teh metadata.db file in the root, will the metadata.db files in the subdirectories for each book do anything? Thanks.

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02-23-2011, 10:17 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	restore database does restore custom columns (custom column and user categories metadata is stored in the OPF files).

02-23-2011, 12:44 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	settings stored in the db like column layout hidden categories in the tag browser and so on.