Need Help So I Don't Screw It Up Again

[Sydney's Mom]

I had a problem getting books into Calibre, and ended up doing something that removed the ratings on books I had already read (I have it set not to download ratings), and changed the date to the current date. This was so confusing, I went and found a back-up.

So, I restored all those folders to a folder called Calibre. Hopefully, that will allow me to manipulate the folders. If it helps, I use Dropbox for my Calibre library.

Now that I have them, how do I get them into Calibre, so the date stays at the original date. (Would like to get ratings as well, so I know which books I have read).

Any help is much appreciated. Debra

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I had a problem getting books into Calibre, and ended up doing something that removed the ratings on books I had already read (I have it set not to download ratings), and changed the date to the current date. This was so confusing, I went and found a back-up.

So, I restored all those folders to a folder called Calibre. Hopefully, that will allow me to manipulate the folders. If it helps, I use Dropbox for my Calibre library.

Now that I have them, how do I get them into Calibre, so the date stays at the original date. (Would like to get ratings as well, so I know which books I have read).

Any help is much appreciated. Debra

If you have a read T/F column: Set the Search/Filter #read:true (adjust the column name as needed)
Select All
(assumes the Get Metadata has at least Ratings (only?) set for you favorite source)
Bulk Edit mode: Get metadata

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by theducks

If you have a read T/F column: Set the Search/Filter #read:true (adjust the column name as needed)
Select All
(assumes the Get Metadata has at least Ratings (only?) set for you favorite source)
Bulk Edit mode: Get metadata

Yes, books I have read have 0read0 and a rating.


Any idea how I can get these into Calibre without changing the date? I originally used the add books, and it wiped out all the dates, showing the date I added them.

[theducks]

Scratch my idea.
You are trying to restore a Library from just the files without using the metadata.db.

You are basically starting over... UNLESS you had used Modify EPUB (assumes all books are EPUB) and had it update the metadata/cover in the book (with what used to show in Calibre).
In that case, set the Import to read metadata (not use the filename) as the book should have all the current values (except date , which is supplied by Calibre when it makes the DB entry)

2 Morals
1) Always make a FULL backup of the Library folder. If you goof, you just replace the folder wit the backup

2) Use a custom column for status and mostly leave Calibre columns for their original purpose (date=record creation timestamp)

[Sydney's Mom]

Well, I did make a complete back up. I just added some books afterwards, so I just wanted to restore the ones from before. But I can just restore to a different Calibre library, and if I like what I see, I can add the books from the last couple months. Does that sound right?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Well, I did make a complete back up. I just added some books afterwards, so I just wanted to restore the ones from before. But I can just restore to a different Calibre library, and if I like what I see, I can add the books from the last couple months. Does that sound right?

YES
then you can switch to 'messed up' and Select the 'new books': Copy to Library: good Library

[Sydney's Mom]

YAY, It Worked!!!! Thank you, thank you. I can see the books by date, seeing I tried to read them all in 2008, then started hopping around in 2010. Thank you, thank you!! K coming your way!