I could not imagine having to start from scratch now - Page 2

bdub · 01-31-2026, 04:13 PM

I migrated from Kindle to KOBO last year, and I used Calibre for the migration.

Starting from scratch wasn't that big of a deal. However, because I've used it less than a year, I'm still figuring it out.

DNSB · 01-31-2026, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdub

Starting from scratch wasn't that big of a deal. However, because I've used it less than a year, I'm still figuring it out.

I'm pretty certain that no one currently knows every feature of calibre and it's plugins.

There was a comment a while back about Word to the effect that while everyone uses 15% of the features, everyone uses a different 15%.

BetterRed · 01-31-2026, 05:35 PM

↑ ↑ ↑ ✔

Excel, Photoshop, The GIMP, Shotcut, Autodesk, Firefox, InDesign, Quark etc… and every half decent text editor known to mankind.

BR

JSWolf · 01-31-2026, 06:26 PM

I'd find it rather difficult to start over.

rrr · 02-01-2026, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

I do have a column that indicates the book is on a device. Not a separate column/icon/whatever for all my devices.

With your reader plugged in by usb cable, just click on the "ON DEVICE" column header.
I discovered that recently.

DNSB · 02-01-2026, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrr

With your reader plugged in by usb cable, just click on the "ON DEVICE" column header.
I discovered that recently.

That works when you have your device plugged in. I wanted an indication of which books were on a device without needing to have that device plugged in. I do have multiple devices and not all books are on all devices.

Bravura · 02-01-2026, 05:12 PM

In 2024, when I was looking into apps for managing e-books & such, I read that Calibre was the best and most complete, but that many people were put off by its steep learning curve. I'm not one of those people, so I downloaded it along with some others. The others that I downloaded were infantile compared to Calibre.

I had no idea what I was doing with it, but had a strong feeling that it was something powerful and very useful if I took the time to figure it out. So far, this has proven to be the case.

I feel like I've only scratched the surface, but with the help of the manual & the internet, Calibre is right now doing everything I want it to do. No doubt I'll be back with questions at some point.

LostHisMarbles · Today, 01:12 PM

As @Sirtel mentions, you might be surprised.

I only, -ever-, use the main Calibre for simple, straight out conversions.
(and that's only because i want to embed the SF Pro font, for which epub is best. That's it)

Have had and continue to have zero interest in the remaining 384643527 functions of Calibre.
In fact, this is why i never update Calibre. With each new version, ever more stuff to sort through, gets beyond tiring.

All those settings, re-enter them? F*** no.
After all these years, a function to import each and every setting so i don't have to re-enter it all? F*** no.

Who really cares about library import, when it's literally a single copy-paste away from completion? All of you. Settings import on the other hand? Apparently no one; you all.. have it default?
Never understood it, but in all fairness, i never understood most of you either

As with many other software suites out there, there comes a point where the outsider wonders if the software exists for the user's "needs", or the user's "needs".. expand.. in accordance with the software available ^^

So, to each their own.

Sirtel · Today, 03:37 PM

Why do you think we use default settings? Of course not. It's pretty easy to manually back up the calibre configuration folder and restore it via simple copy/paste. I've done it many, many times during the years I've been using calibre, just as I back up and restore my libraries. I've never used official back-up functions - just copy/pasting the relevant folders is much faster and simpler, for me.

My calibre install is pretty heavily customized. Never had a problem with restoring my customizations with a new install, via copy/pasting the configuration folder.

JSWolf · Today, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Why do you think we use default settings? Of course not. It's pretty easy to manually back up the calibre configuration folder and restore it via simple copy/paste. I've done it many, many times during the years I've been using calibre, just as I back up and restore my libraries. I've never used official back-up functions - just copy/pasting the relevant folders is much faster and simpler, for me.

My calibre install is pretty heavily customized. Never had a problem with restoring my customizations with a new install, via copy/pasting the configuration folder.

I've restored my settings when I was doing beta testing as it was easier then putting back settings that I changed for testing.

BetterRed · Today, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Why do you think we use default settings? Of course not. It's pretty easy to manually back up the calibre configuration folder and restore it via simple copy/paste. I've done it many, many times during the years I've been using calibre, just as I back up and restore my libraries. I've never used official back-up functions - just copy/pasting the relevant folders is much faster and simpler, for me.

My calibre install is pretty heavily customized. Never had a problem with restoring my customizations with a new install, via copy/pasting the configuration folder.

Calibre has no "official back-up functions"

Export/Import was implemented to facilitate migrating calibre libraries and settings to another computer, including catering for differences between platforms. It bundles everything into a calibre specific (i.e proprietary) partitioned archive.

Save to Disk, operates at book level, and it has too many options to be considered as a backup tool.

The "Backup Configuration Folder" feature is an optional plugin… hence not 'official… very useful nevertheless.

That's why many calibre users use tools such as rsynch, Goodsync, Free File Sync etc to maintain a copy(ies) of their libraries that is updated on an incremental basis.

BR

Sirtel · Today, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've restored my settings when I was doing beta testing as it was easier then putting back settings that I changed for testing.

Besides new installations, I had an occasion when my laptop crashed (the battery was dying) and I lost all my calibre settings, because the configuration folder got corrupted. It was a matter of a couple of clicks to restore my config folder from backup and recover all my settings.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How to best start db from scratch?	manawydan	Library Management	24	05-24-2014 05:17 AM
Imagine	jw4.0	Introduce Yourself	7	01-22-2012 09:01 PM
PRS-300 What's the easiest way to start from scratch?	Angie	Sony Reader	2	09-16-2010 10:01 PM
iLiad How to totally clean out and start from scratch?	haven	iRex Developer's Corner	6	02-05-2009 11:31 PM

01-31-2026, 04:13 PM	#16
bdub Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 1102 Join Date: Sep 2025 Device: Kobo Clara BW	I migrated from Kindle to KOBO last year, and I used Calibre for the migration. Starting from scratch wasn't that big of a deal. However, because I've used it less than a year, I'm still figuring it out.

01-31-2026, 05:35 PM	#18
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,277 Karma: 30317806 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	↑ ↑ ↑ ✔ Excel, Photoshop, The GIMP, Shotcut, Autodesk, Firefox, InDesign, Quark etc… and every half decent text editor known to mankind. BR

01-31-2026, 06:26 PM	#19
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 81,993 Karma: 150266009 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I'd find it rather difficult to start over.

02-01-2026, 05:12 PM	#22
Bravura Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2024 Device: Laptop	In 2024, when I was looking into apps for managing e-books & such, I read that Calibre was the best and most complete, but that many people were put off by its steep learning curve. I'm not one of those people, so I downloaded it along with some others. The others that I downloaded were infantile compared to Calibre. I had no idea what I was doing with it, but had a strong feeling that it was something powerful and very useful if I took the time to figure it out. So far, this has proven to be the case. I feel like I've only scratched the surface, but with the help of the manual & the internet, Calibre is right now doing everything I want it to do. No doubt I'll be back with questions at some point.

Today, 01:12 PM	#23
LostHisMarbles Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 556044 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: Macbook	As @Sirtel mentions, you might be surprised. I only, -ever-, use the main Calibre for simple, straight out conversions. (and that's only because i want to embed the SF Pro font, for which epub is best. That's it) Have had and continue to have zero interest in the remaining 384643527 functions of Calibre. In fact, this is why i never update Calibre. With each new version, ever more stuff to sort through, gets beyond tiring. All those settings, re-enter them? F* no. After all these years, a function to import each and every setting so i don't have to re-enter it all? F* no. Who really cares about library import, when it's literally a single copy-paste away from completion? All of you. Settings import on the other hand? Apparently no one; you all.. have it default? Never understood it, but in all fairness, i never understood most of you either As with many other software suites out there, there comes a point where the outsider wonders if the software exists for the user's "needs", or the user's "needs".. expand.. in accordance with the software available ^^ So, to each their own.

Today, 03:37 PM	#24
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,642 Karma: 245099999 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Why do you think we use default settings? Of course not. It's pretty easy to manually back up the calibre configuration folder and restore it via simple copy/paste. I've done it many, many times during the years I've been using calibre, just as I back up and restore my libraries. I've never used official back-up functions - just copy/pasting the relevant folders is much faster and simpler, for me. My calibre install is pretty heavily customized. Never had a problem with restoring my customizations with a new install, via copy/pasting the configuration folder.