Sync Libraries

[Tanjamuse]

I tried searching but couldn't find the answer I need.

How do I get it to update the metadata when copying from one library to another, and overwriting duplicates?

I have one library on my laptop and would like another on my back-up harddrive, to make sure I don't loose anything should the computer crash.

I hope you can help me, with something useful, a setting I've missed or maybe how to connect the harddrive as a "device" ... ?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Tanjamuse

I tried searching but couldn't find the answer I need.

How do I get it to update the metadata when copying from one library to another, and overwriting duplicates?

I have one library on my laptop and would like another on my back-up harddrive, to make sure I don't loose anything should the computer crash.

I hope you can help me, with something useful, a setting I've missed or maybe how to connect the harddrive as a "device" ... ?

From the FAQ
http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#id41

[Tanjamuse]

I'm sorry I don't understand. I know how to copy from one library to another, but when I do, it doesn't update with the new metadata from the first library.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Tanjamuse

I'm sorry I don't understand. I know how to copy from one library to another, but when I do, it doesn't update with the new metadata from the first library.

IMHO Copy to Library does not do a good the job when Merging existing titles because it is trying to protect the metadata that exists. This is really a good thing, just not what you want.

If you have 'tidied' the source, you could test updating the metadata FROM the book (the blue i in the metadata editor. There is no bulk mode, but you can use Previous/Next and Cancel to abort the current BOOKS update

[Tanjamuse]

It didn't work with the Blue I, I don't suppose you have any other suggestions? Can I connect a usb hdd or sd card to and use it as a Device?

[BetterRed]

@Tanjamuse - if this is for the purpose of backup then I would use an file synch tool rather than calibre. FreeFileSync is highly regarded and its used by a number of calibre users

Re your question on using a usb drives - yes you can. It would be a whole lot simpler and faster than using your network. And you can do it any time - on a plane, in a train, in a cafe whilst you eat lunch. To mitigate risk of losing the usb drive you could also synch the usb to the desktops hdd.

What operating system/file system do you use on your laptop and your desktop?

BR

[Tanjamuse]

I only have a laptop, and a SD card ...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Tanjamuse

I only have a laptop, and a SD card ...

What kind of laptop? Windows? Mac OSX? Linux?

If you are on Windows, use FreeFileSync with the "Mirror" option to backup your stuff on the backup hdd. You can use it for more than just your calibre library folder.

If you have a MacBook, just use Time Machine, which already does everything you need.

If you are on linux, set up a regular rsync job to backup stuff (lots of good guides on that).

FreeFileSync will work on all three anyway.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Tanjamuse

I only have a laptop, and a SD card ...

@Tanjamuse Sorry - I have no idea where the thought you wanted to backup to another computer came from - maybe it was something theducks said or didn't say

I suggest you use a usb drive - flash thumb drive or HDD. In which case you could use a file synch tool (like Free File Synch) to backup the entire library - once you have created an initial replica then in future it will only copy changes. A 1TB usb3 hdd is about the same price as a 64GB thumb drive.

And you might want to use the same thing for your other data - photos, music, documents, etc.

Free File Synch ==>> http://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/

Don't run any file synching tool like FFS whilst calibre is running

BR

[theducks]

I think I assumed the backup HD was on another system.

The FAQ still applies, just to the first part.
Copy the ENTIRE Library Folder to the storage (SDcard) with Calibre shut down.

IMHO SD cards are slow and will take a long time to replicate a Library, for larger (>1K books) libraries.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

I think I assumed the backup HD was on another system.

The FAQ still applies, just to the first part.
Copy the ENTIRE Library Folder to the storage (SDcard) with Calibre shut down.

IMHO SD cards are slow and will take a long time to replicate a Library, for larger (>1K books) libraries.

Then it must have been telepathy because nothing you actually wrote indicated that Tanjamuse had 2 computers - my prior comment was tongue in cheek.

I regard SD cards as a disposable artefact, I would never advise using for backup purposes. My experience (camera's) is that they're too slow, unreliable and too easily lost. IMO USB3 HDD is the way to go.

I ran into another flaky graphics adapter yesterday, good one too, ASUS 620GT, just out of warranty. Couldn't see anything obvious - caps weren't domed. no dust build up etc. We replaced it with an AMD ATI adapter.

BR

[judyni]

I use a file sync program. I would suggest you consider if this is the only thing you want backed up. If not, get yourself a portable USB drive. They are quite cheap now and very compact. Then decide which file sync program to use and start backing up your important information.

[Tanjamuse]

Would you mind giving me a guide as to how I sync? And does it pick up changes in the metadata or added metadata or custom columns ?

[BetterRed]

@Tanjamuse - a file sync program operates on the folders and files in the library, that includes the database (metadata.db) - its not aware of what's in them.

Essentially the file sync program will maintain a copy of the library, it will keep it up to date by detecting additions, deletions & changes. The first time you run it the entire library folder will be copied from your laptop hard disk to the usb drive, this will take a while (possibly hours) depending on the size of your library (in disk space terms). After that only the adds, deletions and changes will be actioned - so it will be much quicker - typically a few minutes.

As eschwartz suggests with FFS you would use Mirror option. The 'beauty' of using a folder and file synchronisation approach is that the when something goes wrong and you need to recover a file, the library on your backup drive looks exactly like it does on your laptop, and you can use your 'normal' file manager to copy files and folders etc - you could also use it as a calibre library in its own right.

You haven't told us what sort of laptop - Windows, Apple Mac or Linux.

BR

[Tanjamuse]

It's windows 7.