Restore One Book from Export?

enuddleyarbl · 04-01-2023, 09:53 PM

I just now messed up a book in Calibre. I have an Export from last night. Can I import (restore) just that one book somehow? I'm worried if I just run Import it will restore everything.

ownedbycats · 04-01-2023, 10:02 PM

Import will put back everything, I think.

Is it the book file or metadata that's messed up? I don't remember how exports are stored, but you may be able to extract a single book file using 7-Zip or Universal Extractor and just copy it back in.

If the errors are in the metadata, trickier. I've had some success replacing the opf with a backup and running 'Restore Database' but this is slow and I don't know if entirely reliable.

enuddleyarbl · 04-01-2023, 10:41 PM

I think I've messed up the book file, itself. I was trying to run a test with kepubify (to see if my problems with kepub footnotes might be from the KoboTouchExtended driver instead of with kepubs in general). But, it did something I didn't expect and replaced the book in the source location (my Calibre library) instead of putting it in its own directory. It did very unexpected things to the book as well.
a
Anyway, I'll poke around with the Calibre export files and see if I can pull the book out of that with 7-zip.

ownedbycats · 04-01-2023, 11:21 PM

Is it possible to re-acquire the original book file? That might be the simplest solution.

enuddleyarbl · 04-01-2023, 11:26 PM

It was a book I'd produced to show and test various classes. I'd posted a copy on these forums, so I can always go back to that version. I was just hoping to get that most-recent version from the Export.

It also looks like the Export files are not just straight compressed files. When I view or extract them, the content doesn't look anything like my library.

ownedbycats · 04-01-2023, 11:30 PM

Dang. You might have some luck with 7Zip's 'Open Inside' on the files inside the export but I really don't remember a thing about the structure.

BetterRed · 04-01-2023, 11:38 PM

@enuddleyarbl - Calibre Export/Import was not implemented as a backup tool, it's was created to simplify moving a calibre installation from an 'old' computer to a 'new' computer.

I suggest you do a search in this subforum for 'backup' in thread titles. And I recommend you use one of the folder & file synchronisation tools to mirror libraries and configuration, Free File Synch is popular amongst calibre users.

BR

chaley · 04-02-2023, 05:38 AM

Import all the books into a new library then copy the one book from there.

enuddleyarbl · 04-02-2023, 09:30 PM

Just to be safe, I loaded Calibre onto a laptop and imported the exported library there. Grabbed the book and brought it back to my main computer and added it back in. All is well in the world.

ownedbycats · 04-02-2023, 10:48 PM

I didn't realize it was possible to import to a new library, or I would've just suggested that in the first place.

Sirtel · 04-02-2023, 11:07 PM

As BetterRed said, there are much easier ways to have a working backup than Export/Import, which doesn't let you extract a single file (you'll have to import the whole library first). Not to say faster (file syncing tools only update the data that's changed; export/import does the entire library every time you use it).

BetterRed · 04-03-2023, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I didn't realize it was possible to import to a new library, or I would've just suggested that in the first place.

I tried it once. It didn't work, but it was on one of the reading group's Mac laptops, so it was probably me clicking the wrong buttons.

Funny thing was, I managed to find the 'lost' books in Time Machine… of which the Mac owner knew zilch, they didn't even know what it was.

BR

enuddleyarbl · 04-03-2023, 08:40 AM

I had seen the paragraph in the manual about importing libraries where it talks about choosing libraries and locations:

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...ter-to-another

But was still worried about it overwriting things. However, after going through it on the laptop, there wouldn't have been a problem. After accepting the warning dialog, it pops up another dialog about the libraries available to import and asks where it should put them. I only had to import the small library where this book was and I could have put it anywhere. So, I would have been fine doing this on my main machine.

theducks · 04-03-2023, 11:17 AM

The time I tried Import/Export, it did a wonderful job of making a complete copy of my active (that that show on the Quick Switch List) set of Libraries.

Import allows you to select a sub-set of that list, but not inside a Library.

For the average Joe, it is a great way to create a basic backup of all the pieces without needing to know where things are.

For my routine (sorta Daily

), I keep that Mirror copy on another system with Free File Sync (The copy is fully functional, but I never use it there for any thing other than to pull a book to fix a oops! in the regular use Library)

04-01-2023, 09:53 PM	#1
enuddleyarbl Guru Posts: 776 Karma: 1538394 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kobo Forma	Restore One Book from Export? I just now messed up a book in Calibre. I have an Export from last night. Can I import (restore) just that one book somehow? I'm worried if I just run Import it will restore everything.

04-01-2023, 10:02 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,971 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Import will put back everything, I think. Is it the book file or metadata that's messed up? I don't remember how exports are stored, but you may be able to extract a single book file using 7-Zip or Universal Extractor and just copy it back in. If the errors are in the metadata, trickier. I've had some success replacing the opf with a backup and running 'Restore Database' but this is slow and I don't know if entirely reliable. Last edited by ownedbycats; 04-01-2023 at 10:06 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Restore books on Pocket book touch lux 3	thinguyenhalu	General Discussions	0	07-08-2019 11:45 PM
How to restore books on Pocket Book touch lux 3	Apollinare	PocketBook	3	12-19-2018 12:33 PM
Accidentally Removed Book. How to Restore?	MarjaE	Library Management	1	08-04-2016 03:02 PM

04-01-2023, 10:41 PM	#3
enuddleyarbl Guru Posts: 776 Karma: 1538394 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kobo Forma	I think I've messed up the book file, itself. I was trying to run a test with kepubify (to see if my problems with kepub footnotes might be from the KoboTouchExtended driver instead of with kepubs in general). But, it did something I didn't expect and replaced the book in the source location (my Calibre library) instead of putting it in its own directory. It did very unexpected things to the book as well. a Anyway, I'll poke around with the Calibre export files and see if I can pull the book out of that with 7-zip.

04-01-2023, 11:21 PM	#4
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,971 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Is it possible to re-acquire the original book file? That might be the simplest solution.

04-01-2023, 11:26 PM	#5
enuddleyarbl Guru Posts: 776 Karma: 1538394 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kobo Forma	It was a book I'd produced to show and test various classes. I'd posted a copy on these forums, so I can always go back to that version. I was just hoping to get that most-recent version from the Export. It also looks like the Export files are not just straight compressed files. When I view or extract them, the content doesn't look anything like my library.

04-01-2023, 11:30 PM	#6
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,971 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Dang. You might have some luck with 7Zip's 'Open Inside' on the files inside the export but I really don't remember a thing about the structure.

04-01-2023, 11:38 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,722 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@enuddleyarbl - Calibre Export/Import was not implemented as a backup tool, it's was created to simplify moving a calibre installation from an 'old' computer to a 'new' computer. I suggest you do a search in this subforum for 'backup' in thread titles. And I recommend you use one of the folder & file synchronisation tools to mirror libraries and configuration, Free File Synch is popular amongst calibre users. BR

04-02-2023, 05:38 AM	#8
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,446 Karma: 8012886 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	Import all the books into a new library then copy the one book from there.

04-02-2023, 09:30 PM	#9
enuddleyarbl Guru Posts: 776 Karma: 1538394 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kobo Forma	Just to be safe, I loaded Calibre onto a laptop and imported the exported library there. Grabbed the book and brought it back to my main computer and added it back in. All is well in the world.

04-02-2023, 10:48 PM	#10
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,971 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	I didn't realize it was possible to import to a new library, or I would've just suggested that in the first place.

04-02-2023, 11:07 PM	#11
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,470 Karma: 239219543 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	As BetterRed said, there are much easier ways to have a working backup than Export/Import, which doesn't let you extract a single file (you'll have to import the whole library first). Not to say faster (file syncing tools only update the data that's changed; export/import does the entire library every time you use it).

04-03-2023, 08:40 AM	#13
enuddleyarbl Guru Posts: 776 Karma: 1538394 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kobo Forma	I had seen the paragraph in the manual about importing libraries where it talks about choosing libraries and locations: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...ter-to-another But was still worried about it overwriting things. However, after going through it on the laptop, there wouldn't have been a problem. After accepting the warning dialog, it pops up another dialog about the libraries available to import and asks where it should put them. I only had to import the small library where this book was and I could have put it anywhere. So, I would have been fine doing this on my main machine.

04-03-2023, 11:17 AM	#14
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,048 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The time I tried Import/Export, it did a wonderful job of making a complete copy of my active (that that show on the Quick Switch List) set of Libraries. Import allows you to select a sub-set of that list, but not inside a Library. For the average Joe, it is a great way to create a basic backup of all the pieces without needing to know where things are. For my routine (sorta Daily ), I keep that Mirror copy on another system with Free File Sync (The copy is fully functional, but I never use it there for any thing other than to pull a book to fix a oops! in the regular use Library)