Accidentally Duplicated Entire Library!

[SouLThinking]

I don't know why or how I did this but well that's not true.
I was trying to move around some stuff on my hard drive and I started to move my calibre folder to my 2nd drive and then hit cancel right in the middle because I was thinking it would mess up my calibre. So I thought since my folder was still there everything was ok. So I went into calbre and my library was gone. I should have closed out and opened back up but no...I hit add books from directory and selected Calibre library folder. Ok after about an hour of it adding the books..I went into it and all my old files for every book were there but also a new folder for that book was there with todays date on it. So basically the whole library is duplicated. Do I have to go in and delete everything manually or what can I do to fix this?

*mad at myself*

[BetterRed]

@SouLThinking Find Duplicates plugin might help

BR

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by SouLThinking

I went into it and all my old files for every book were there but also a new folder for that book was there with todays date on it. So basically the whole library is duplicated. Do I have to go in and delete everything manually or what can I do to fix this?

Just to be safe you may wish to back up your library to another location.

Now, if you are sure your calibre library via the GUI is back up to speed. Go to the dropdown arrow next to the library icon and choose Library Maintenance - Check Library. The first part will check the database integrity the second part (click yes) will let you know any items in the directory that are not part of the database. At this point you can choose those extra items and have them deleted.

[speakingtohe]

If DoctorOhh' solution doesn't work, you could start with a new library
In preferences adding books check ignore duplicate formats
add the books to the new library using the second option
It may take an hour or two, but you should have a clean library.

Doctor Ohh's solution is probably better though

Helen

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

If DoctorOhh' solution doesn't work, you could start with a new library

You reminded me of another option.

SouLThinking could go to the Library icon and choose Switch/create library and simply move the library to a new location. Only folders and files known to the database will be moved the rest will be left behind.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

You reminded me of another option.

SouLThinking could go to the Library icon and choose Switch/create library and simply move the library to a new location. Only folders and files known to the database will be moved the rest will be left behind.

Ahh good one

[gabby98]

that last suggestion that DoctorOhh put forth sounds like the best bet, but you could also highlight/select all the files you know are from the original library and move to a new library using Calibre...that will probably give you the same result as speakingtohe's solution but may not take as long

[SouLThinking]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

Just to be safe you may wish to back up your library to another location.

Now, if you are sure your calibre library via the GUI is back up to speed. Go to the dropdown arrow next to the library icon and choose Library Maintenance - Check Library. The first part will check the database integrity the second part (click yes) will let you know any items in the directory that are not part of the database. At this point you can choose those extra items and have them deleted.

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I've had a crazy work week and haven't been online. Ok, I am doing these steps now. I'll post my results. It was taking forever to delete all the duplicates! thanks for all the replies

[SouLThinking]

Ok I see it has extra titles and it looks like all my duplicates..should I delete them or do the 2nd options. What's quicker? or Easier ? Probably 2nd right?

[JSWolf]

Install the find duplicates plugin and let that find the dupes and help you delete them.

[SouLThinking]

The find duplicates didn't work. It said none were found but when you go into that author's folder you see 2 separate entries for each book with different numbers...not a calibre expert..don't know that the numbers in parenthesis is anyway. But no the find duplicates doesn't work.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by SouLThinking

The find duplicates didn't work. It said none were found but when you go into that author's folder you see 2 separate entries for each book with different numbers...not a calibre expert..don't know that the numbers in parenthesis is anyway. But no the find duplicates doesn't work.

numbers are for each line item (title), usually, the are assigned in order of creation, but a (author) rename may cause a new number to be assigned(the old on becomes obsolete) .
The number is not the same as the one on the Left BUT each one on the left does represents a book with a number.

[SouLThinking]

Ok I am going with option 2..so I guess once I move the library I can go delete the other one..and it's all back to good right?

[SouLThinking]

Originally Posted by theducks

numbers are for each line item (title), usually, the are assigned in order of creation, but a (author) rename may cause a new number to be assigned(the old on becomes obsolete) .
The number is not the same as the one on the Left BUT each one on the left does represents a book with a number.

Thanks I always wondered.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SouLThinking

The find duplicates didn't work. It said none were found but when you go into that author's folder you see 2 separate entries for each book with different numbers...not a calibre expert..don't know that the numbers in parenthesis is anyway. But no the find duplicates doesn't work.

I suggest you check each directory to make sure there is actually a book in each directory because if you really did duplicate the eBooks, then find duplicates would have found them as duplicates.

I also suggest you create another library (based on your current libraries structure) to use to copy the books you want to keep. That way, after you finish figuring out which to keep you just copy to the new library and eventually you'll have a clean library with no duplicated entries.