Combining 2 Libraries

sespr · 11-25-2023, 01:56 PM

I currently have two laptops with Calibre and don't have the same books on them. I would like to merge, combine or, if I can't do that, add one to the other as a second library. I've not been able to find out how so far. Is there a process for that?

Thanks in advance.
Jim

Sirtel · 11-25-2023, 02:18 PM

Adding a second library:
Right-click on the library icon -> Switch/create library -> Use a previously existing library at the chosen new location.
Navigate to the location of your second library and click OK.

Merging two libraries:
This can only be done after you've added the second library. Select all the books in the library you want to merge, right-click and select Copy to library. After the books have been copied to the second library, you can delete the first library (right-click on the library icon -> remove library; note that you can only delete a library you're not currently in). For finding any duplicate books after merging, you can use the Find Duplicates plugin.

kjdavies · 11-25-2023, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Adding a second library:
Right-click on the library icon -> Switch/create library -> Use a previously existing library at the chosen new location.
Navigate to the location of your second library and click OK.

Merging two libraries:
This can only be done after you've added the second library. Select all the books in the library you want to merge, right-click and select Copy to library. After the books have been copied to the second library, you can delete the first library (right-click on the library icon -> remove library; note that you can only delete a library you're not currently in). For finding any duplicate books after merging, you can use the Find Duplicates plugin.

May be picking nits here, but an important -- critical, even -- first step is to get copies of both libraries on a single laptop. (It's not recommended to use libraries on network shares.)

Then you can switch between the two, or copy the contents of one to the other.

(I once had to update documentation that gave instructions on exactly how to insert diskettes into a computer -- "metal edge first, label side up" -- because we discovered it was not as obvious as we expected...)

Sirtel · 11-26-2023, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjdavies

May be picking nits here, but an important -- critical, even -- first step is to get copies of both libraries on a single laptop. (It's not recommended to use libraries on network shares.)

Then you can switch between the two, or copy the contents of one to the other.

(I once had to update documentation that gave instructions on exactly how to insert diskettes into a computer -- "metal edge first, label side up" -- because we discovered it was not as obvious as we expected...)

Yes, of course. I thought that was kind of obvious, but maybe it wasn't.

DNSB · 11-26-2023, 12:46 AM

There are times when dotting every i and crossing every t is necessary to ensure communication. What I may think from my experience is obvious is not necessarily obvious to someone else.

Much like making sure the secretary does not use magnets to stick 5.25" floppy disks to the side of the file cabinet to keep the backups handy.

11-25-2023, 01:56 PM	#1
sespr Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 17260 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle Paper White	Combining 2 Libraries I currently have two laptops with Calibre and don't have the same books on them. I would like to merge, combine or, if I can't do that, add one to the other as a second library. I've not been able to find out how so far. Is there a process for that? Thanks in advance. Jim

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11-25-2023, 02:18 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,473 Karma: 239219543 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Adding a second library: Right-click on the library icon -> Switch/create library -> Use a previously existing library at the chosen new location. Navigate to the location of your second library and click OK. Merging two libraries: This can only be done after you've added the second library. Select all the books in the library you want to merge, right-click and select Copy to library. After the books have been copied to the second library, you can delete the first library (right-click on the library icon -> remove library; note that you can only delete a library you're not currently in). For finding any duplicate books after merging, you can use the Find Duplicates plugin.

11-26-2023, 12:46 AM	#5
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,210 Karma: 168983734 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	There are times when dotting every i and crossing every t is necessary to ensure communication. What I may think from my experience is obvious is not necessarily obvious to someone else. Much like making sure the secretary does not use magnets to stick 5.25" floppy disks to the side of the file cabinet to keep the backups handy.