Correcting Directory Structure in Calibre

Aussiecubs · 03-24-2018, 02:18 AM

In the process of upgrading and transferring my Calibre library between different computers over a few years I have managed to finish up with a sub-directory called "calibre" in my calibre directory.

So half my books are stored in a directory D:\calibre\ and half my books are stored in a directory D:\calibre\calibre\.

I would like to fix this mess up and have all my books in the main directory e.g. D:\calibre\.

I am reluctant to start messing about shifting files using Windows explorer as I am guessing this will wreck the Calibre data base.

I would appreciate some advice on the best way to go about fixing this problem.

Cheers,

Aussiecubs

BetterRed · 03-24-2018, 03:15 AM

@Aussiecubs - rename the library at D:\calibre\calibre library to something like 'Some Books', this is to avoid confusing yourself. Then select all the books in the 'Some Books' library, and use the Copy to library tool (should be in your book list context menu) to copy them to the 'calibre' library.

BR

Aussiecubs · 03-25-2018, 01:18 AM

Hi BetterRed, Thank you for your advice which has pointed me in the right direction. When you suggested to the rename the library I finally worked out that I had two libraries even though I was working on the assumption I only had the one, called Calibre. As part of the process of moving my collection to a new drive I had somehow or other moved the original library into D:\Calibre and then copied a second version of it into D:\Calibre\Calibre. I finished up with double the physical amount of books eg: 9800 files for a collection of only 1,500 books.

I fixed it by exporting my Library to a new directory and then imported it back in to a fresh empty directory with a different name.

I now have on library with 1,500 books and only 3,300 files.

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers,

Aussiecubs

Divingduck · 03-25-2018, 05:07 AM

An other workaround can be to move all books (book folder) in an new library folder and then open the new library. Doing it that way results in a library with an incomplete database file metadata.db because it will not match to both libraries (or in an empty database if you forgot to copy that file). The book folders itself have all necessary information's to rebuild the metadata.db. Run ->library maintenance ->restore library for rebuilding the library based on all existing books. Afterwards you need to check the library once more and correct the findings.

Note: This is not a general way to consolidate libraries (there are better solutions) but a workaround if all other way's won't work as good solution for a special case.

Aussiecubs · 03-25-2018, 09:46 PM

Thank you Divingduck for your suggestion. Calibre is certainly a powerful product and I am just starting to get the hang of it now and I am appreciative of the help on offer from experienced users such as you and BetterRed.

Cheers,

Aussiecubs

03-24-2018, 02:18 AM	#1
Aussiecubs Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Sony ereader	Correcting Directory Structure in Calibre In the process of upgrading and transferring my Calibre library between different computers over a few years I have managed to finish up with a sub-directory called "calibre" in my calibre directory. So half my books are stored in a directory D:\calibre\ and half my books are stored in a directory D:\calibre\calibre\. I would like to fix this mess up and have all my books in the main directory e.g. D:\calibre\. I am reluctant to start messing about shifting files using Windows explorer as I am guessing this will wreck the Calibre data base. I would appreciate some advice on the best way to go about fixing this problem. Cheers, Aussiecubs Last edited by Aussiecubs; 03-24-2018 at 02:22 AM.

03-25-2018, 05:07 AM	#4
Divingduck Wizard Posts: 1,166 Karma: 1410083 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Germany Device: Sony PRS-650	An other workaround can be to move all books (book folder) in an new library folder and then open the new library. Doing it that way results in a library with an incomplete database file metadata.db because it will not match to both libraries (or in an empty database if you forgot to copy that file). The book folders itself have all necessary information's to rebuild the metadata.db. Run ->library maintenance ->restore library for rebuilding the library based on all existing books. Afterwards you need to check the library once more and correct the findings. Note: This is not a general way to consolidate libraries (there are better solutions) but a workaround if all other way's won't work as good solution for a special case. Last edited by Divingduck; 03-25-2018 at 05:10 AM.

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03-24-2018, 03:15 AM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,783 Karma: 30237628 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@Aussiecubs - rename the library at D:\calibre\calibre library to something like 'Some Books', this is to avoid confusing yourself. Then select all the books in the 'Some Books' library, and use the Copy to library tool (should be in your book list context menu) to copy them to the 'calibre' library. BR

03-25-2018, 01:18 AM	#3
Aussiecubs Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Sony ereader	Hi BetterRed, Thank you for your advice which has pointed me in the right direction. When you suggested to the rename the library I finally worked out that I had two libraries even though I was working on the assumption I only had the one, called Calibre. As part of the process of moving my collection to a new drive I had somehow or other moved the original library into D:\Calibre and then copied a second version of it into D:\Calibre\Calibre. I finished up with double the physical amount of books eg: 9800 files for a collection of only 1,500 books. I fixed it by exporting my Library to a new directory and then imported it back in to a fresh empty directory with a different name. I now have on library with 1,500 books and only 3,300 files. Thanks again for your help. Cheers, Aussiecubs

03-25-2018, 09:46 PM	#5
Aussiecubs Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Sony ereader	Thank you Divingduck for your suggestion. Calibre is certainly a powerful product and I am just starting to get the hang of it now and I am appreciative of the help on offer from experienced users such as you and BetterRed. Cheers, Aussiecubs