Windows Portable to Linux

[KoopaOne]

Hi Guys,

I had to move from Windows to Linux. I made a complete backup of my windows portable installation including db and everything.

i then installed Calibre for Linux and what do i now need to do to get back to the state i had before?

[theducks]

Will assume that you have an EMPTY library on your Linux box.

To get the books there:
Copy the ENTIRE contents of the Library folder (metadata.db is one of the items)
Paste that into the Linux box Library folder

Settings (the configuration folder part) can be a bit trickier as they contain (case sensitive) paths.
BTW settings come in 2 flavors: Per Library (eg columns) and per user (format of language, dates....)

So lets ask, How much customization (using Calibre Preferences menu) have you done? How many plugins have you added ?
then we can suggest a plan.
BTW What would you say your Computer skills level are at for each of Linux and Windows?

[gbm]

Originally Posted by KoopaOne

Hi Guys,

I had to move from Windows to Linux. I made a complete backup of my windows portable installation including db and everything.

i then installed Calibre for Linux and what do i now need to do to get back to the state i had before?

1. How did you back up your calibre:

• Did you use How do I move my calibre data from one computer to another?
• Or just make a copy?

2. Do you still have access to the windows computer?

bernie

[KoopaOne]

My knowledge of Linux is good, Windows is pretty good. I can program in Python, so no newb here.
I did not do a backup from inside Calibre, since it's the Portable Version - i simply copied the complete directory structures to a external HD.

[gbm]

Originally Posted by KoopaOne

My knowledge of Linux is good, Windows is pretty good. I can program in Python, so no newb here.
I did not do a backup from inside Calibre, since it's the Portable Version - i simply copied the complete directory structures to a external HD.

Do you still have access to the windows computer?

From the calibre manual:

Note

This import/export functionality is only available from calibre version 2.47 onwards. If you have an older version of calibre, or if you encounter problems with the import/export, you can just copy over your calibre library folder manually, as described in the next paragraph.

Spoiler:

Simply copy the calibre library folder from the old to the new computer. You can find out what the library folder is by clicking the calibre icon in the toolbar. Choose the Switch/create calibre library action and you will see the path to the current calibre library.

Now on the new computer, start calibre for the first time. It will run the Welcome wizard asking you for the location of the calibre library. Point it to the previously copied folder. If the computer you are transferring to already has a calibre installation, then the Welcome wizard wont run. In that case, right-click the calibre icon in the toolbar and point it to the newly copied directory. You will now have two calibre libraries on your computer and you can switch between them by clicking the calibre icon on the toolbar. Transferring your library in this manner preserver all your metadata, tags, custom columns, etc.

bernie

[theducks]

Originally Posted by KoopaOne

My knowledge of Linux is good, Windows is pretty good. I can program in Python, so no newb here.
I did not do a backup from inside Calibre, since it's the Portable Version - i simply copied the complete directory structures to a external HD.

Thanks, That means we do not have to detail every click .
So, how much customization did you do?
You might get away with copying the config folder over and just adjusting the (Current) Library Location(s)

[BetterRed]

@KoopaOne - if you still have access to the Windows portable install it may be better to use calibre's export/import feature referenced by gbm. Its my understanding is that it caters for the differences between the two platforms (operating system and file system)

BR