Calibre Sync broken by Calibre v9?

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

For a large library, it would quicker to copy the v9'd database somewhere safe, then alter the books table to reinstate the isbn, lccn and flags columns and drop the books_page_links table.

Should be scriptable.

BR

Yes, it's quite fast and it's maintaned between updates.

[dizzy274]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If going back fails, then what you can do is with 8.16.2, with a copy of the library, rebuild the database.

I've tried reverting to 8 and it seems to have worked, I haven't done any exhaustive testing, but the error message has disappeared and one other problem has been resolved. Really early days, but looks promising.

Briefly, I downloaded Calibre 8.16.2 installer, exported the Calibre 9 Library ( not used in the end ), renamed the metadata.db, installed 8.16.2, ran the restore database option, ( ran MegaSync to sync my Box Calibre Library to its copy on Mega, which is what my Sync looks at, not relevant to anyone but me ), ran Calibre Sync, it updated it's database with no errors and seems to work ok.

The problem I mentioned was to do with series changes, the changes showed up correctly in the series filter, but when you looked at the actual book it still had the original series information displayed.

I'll do some more testing when I get the time.

[Josieb1]

I’ve just found this thread and at least it explains why calibre sync doesn’t work anymore. Tbh I don’t understand it, or the workaround. It’s a pity it’s not maintained anymore.

[rjh4242]

I have also reverted to 8.16.2 as suggested above. It seems to have worked with no problems and calibre sync is now fully working again as far as I can see.

It's sad that it seems the developer is no longer maintaining calibre sync. At the moment I don't feel I need the functionality in calibre 9, but that may change, at which point calibre sync will be unusable.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for accessing a calibre library online from an iPad/iPhone without calibre itself running on a PC? My current use case is that I copy my calibre libraries from my computer to online storage (Box/OneDrive/pCloud) and access them with calibre sync from my iPad/iPhone. This enables me to have full access to all my books anytime from anywhere in the world without a) having the books using up space on the devices (I have thousands) and b) requiring a computer running calibre to be on all the time to provide the web server.

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by rjh4242

Does anyone have any other suggestions for accessing a calibre library online from an iPad/iPhone without calibre itself running on a PC? My current use case is that I copy my calibre libraries from my computer to online storage (Box/OneDrive/pCloud) and access them with calibre sync from my iPad/iPhone. This enables me to have full access to all my books anytime from anywhere in the world without a) having the books using up space on the devices (I have thousands) and b) requiring a computer running calibre to be on all the time to provide the web server.

A forum member is developing a similar app called Calibre View. I haven't tested it yet; I tried to, but I wasn't clear on the permissions language, and have been too busy with other things to follow up just yet.

[PACot]

Originally Posted by VelvetElvis

Updated to Calibre 9, and now Calibre Sync is failing to update on any of our tablets, with the error shown below. Not sure if it's related to the Calibre update or not

Anyone else having issues updating Calibre Sync, or know of the cause? Sent the developer an email but have not heard back.

I have the same problem. I'm using Calibre since many years and Calibre sync is an useful companion.:hhttps://www2.mobileread.com/i/smiliesadd1/help.gifelp:

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by PACot

I have the same problem. I'm using Calibre since many years and Calibre sync is an useful companion.:hhttps://www2.mobileread.com/i/smiliesadd1/help.gifelp:

It's not a bug in calibre. It's because calibre_sync is using unused database entries that have been removed in calibre 9.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by dizzy274

I've tried reverting to 8 and it seems to have worked, I haven't done any exhaustive testing, but the error message has disappeared and one other problem has been resolved. Really early days, but looks promising.

Briefly, I downloaded Calibre 8.16.2 installer, exported the Calibre 9 Library ( not used in the end ), renamed the metadata.db, installed 8.16.2, ran the restore database option, ( ran MegaSync to sync my Box Calibre Library to its copy on Mega, which is what my Sync looks at, not relevant to anyone but me ), ran Calibre Sync, it updated it's database with no errors and seems to work ok.

The problem I mentioned was to do with series changes, the changes showed up correctly in the series filter, but when you looked at the actual book it still had the original series information displayed.

I'll do some more testing when I get the time.

At times like this I wish I understood how to code and do stuff like this . I only ever used calibre sync as a reference but its a pain it's gone now.

[VelvetElvis]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

At times like this I wish I understood how to code and do stuff like this . I only ever used calibre sync as a reference but its a pain it's gone now.

You might want to read this thread I posted, asking for the possible ramifications to editing the metadata.db file. It fixed the Calibre Sync issue, but after reading Kovid's response, I backed it the changes.

Unfortunately, his claim that there's a beta fix to Calibre Sync was misplaced.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...66#post4565866

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by VelvetElvis

You might want to read this thread I posted, asking for the possible ramifications to editing the metadata.db file. It fixed the Calibre Sync issue, but after reading Kovid's response, I backed it the changes.

Unfortunately, his claim that there's a beta fix to Calibre Sync was misplaced.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...66#post4565866

The post was from @PeterT and he said it was calibre web that has a beta and not calibre sync.

[ron_harvey]

Originally Posted by dizzy274

I've tried reverting to 8 and it seems to have worked, I haven't done any exhaustive testing, but the error message has disappeared and one other problem has been resolved. Really early days, but looks promising.

Briefly, I downloaded Calibre 8.16.2 installer, exported the Calibre 9 Library ( not used in the end ), renamed the metadata.db, installed 8.16.2, ran the restore database option, ( ran MegaSync to sync my Box Calibre Library to its copy on Mega, which is what my Sync looks at, not relevant to anyone but me ), ran Calibre Sync, it updated it's database with no errors and seems to work ok.

The problem I mentioned was to do with series changes, the changes showed up correctly in the series filter, but when you looked at the actual book it still had the original series information displayed.

I'll do some more testing when I get the time.

This did not work for me, not sure why. Restoring the database left me with only my most recently added books (added after updating to 9.x?). Not sure what I am doing wrong.

Someone please write more detailed instructions, or perhaps point me to what I am doing wrong?

Thanks!

[VelvetElvis]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The post was from @PeterT and he said it was calibre web that has a beta and not calibre sync.

Which isn't germane to my post.
Kovid responded directly to my thread, and mistakenly claimed Calibre SYNC has a beta.

[JSWolf]

Calibre Sync is not broken by calibre 9. Calibre Sync is broken by using columns in the database it should never have used.

[VelvetElvis]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Calibre Sync is not broken by calibre 9. Calibre Sync is broken by using columns in the database it should never have used.

The change in Calibre 9 *regardless of the reason* broke Calibre Sync.

No one is *blaming* anyone, only that the change caused CS to fail.This has been covered extensively in several threads, and which you had already pointed out yesterday. At this point, it's just pedantry.

[ReadingEnjoyer]

I emailed the developer of Calibre Sync. I hope he will fix it soon. The last update on Android was in April 2025. There is as far as I can tell, no alternative. I purchased Calibre Sync awhile ago and have relied on it extensively. I'm surprised it is the only program like it.