Backing up the library structure and metadata only (without the book files)?

[ktsl]

Is there an option to backup the library metadata database and the library structure (i.e. the folders), without backing up the whole library, i.e. the ebook files themselves? Specifically, backing up the folder structure, the metadata.db, metadata_db_prefs_backup.json, and the .opf files in each folder?

The reason for asking is this: Calibre manages the library by managing those metadata files aforementioned. The actual ebook files themselves (the .epub) are seldomly altered. The danger of a corrupted library lies in the database, not the ebook files. Meanwhile, backing up the whole library folder is quite heavy.

[kovidgoyal]

calibre has no backup facility at all. If you want to backup only the db using whatever backup tools you use, feel free, but note that anytime you change the title and author of any entry the file names and folder names will go out of sync with the database. SO only do this if you never intend to edit those two fields.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ktsl

... backing up the whole library folder is quite heavy.

Not if you use a file/folder sync tool to mirror the library, after the first backup it only backs up the changed files, plenty to choose from ==>> Comparison of file synchronization software - Wikipedia

FreeFileSync and rsync are popular amongst calibre users, SyncToy too. And a few of us use GoodSync,

BR

[ktsl]

note that anytime you change the title and author of any entry the file names and folder names will go out of sync with the database. SO only do this if you never intend to edit those two fields.[/QUOTE]
That's a good point, and good know. Thanks.

I've put the library in dropbox. (Yes I have read the sticky notes.) So far I've seen two books out of ~500 that have duplicates with "_(case conflict)" at the end of the file names. Upon manually deleting them things seem fine. Are there any other, more serious problems one should expect?

[ktsl]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Not if you use a file/folder sync tool to mirror the library, after the first backup it only backs up the changed files, plenty to choose from ==>> Comparison of file synchronization software - Wikipedia

FreeFileSync and rsync are popular amongst calibre users, SyncToy too. And a few of us use GoodSync,

BR

Thank you.

Speaking of which, can I use git to backup calibre library?

[ktsl]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

note that anytime you change the title and author of any entry the file names and folder names will go out of sync with the database.

That's a good point. It makes little sense to do such a back then.

Just came to my mind, can I use git to back up calibre library? I can gitignore the ebook files - or not, since except the initial commit the updates are lightweight.

[kovidgoyal]

You can use whatever you want to backup a calibre library, just be careful to backup everything in the folder, otherwise your backups will not be directly restorable.

[ktsl]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

You can use whatever you want to backup a calibre library, just be careful to backup everything in the folder, otherwise your backups will not be directly restorable.

Got it. That makes sense.