Need help merging libraries from old to new

[artistwantab]

Hey everyone...

I am struggling understanding how calibre works.

Most databases I have used....

mediamonkey
mediacompanion
itunes

Have a simple "refresh" feature when new files are added to an existing database it simply adds them.

I had a computer crash but my calibre folder structures were all saved on a network drive. I figured it would be no issue to add simply add the old database to the new database but when I try to "Add New" is says the folder is not empty.

I cant figure out how to add all these books without starting from scratch again?

Thanks in advance

[Sirtel]

The main rule of calibre is - do nothing with the files directly, don't add/move/delete anything in the library folder itself. Everything must be done via the GUI.

To merge two libraries: first, create a new, empty library (by clicking on the library icon -> Switch/create new library). Then switch back to the old library, select all the books, right-click and choose Copy to library... After this, switch to the new library and use the Find Duplicates plugin to find the duplicate books. If everything is fine, remove the old library (by clicking on the library icon and choosing Remove library...).

Again, don't add/copy/move/delete anything in the library folder. Only via the GUI.

[theducks]

Sirtel advice is 100% spot on

The GUI has Copy to Library on the context menu (add it using Preferences: Toolbars... if you need to)

The Calibre you are using needs to know BOTH Libraries.
The Usage is while viewing the FROM library.

Select the book to copy: select Copy to Library (from the ctx-menu):Select the destination Library ...delete after makes it a Move.


There is a commandline interface method, but it is a bit more effort to use as you need to 'select first, then ...
Pick the GUI

[artistwantab]

Thank You.

Not the answer I was hoping for but it it what it is.

So now I need to recreate the folder structure I meticulously set up.

So....in the future how to back up everything needed to do a simply cut an paste when a computer crashes or I update my computer so I don't have to rebuild all my databases again

[theducks]

Originally Posted by artistwantab

Thank You.

Not the answer I was hoping for but it it what it is.

So now I need to recreate the folder structure I meticulously set up.

So....in the future how to back up everything needed to do a simply cut an paste when a computer crashes or I update my computer so I don't have to rebuild all my databases again

Calibre DOES NOT allow you to determine the structure of folders. You do not need to have a special one.
It keeps track of where the books are. Just like the old corner Library, just with a larger breadth card catalog. (The image is where I got my first Library card in the 50's. You went to the shelf the card catalog specified) . You simply fill out the search box or use the Tag browser to help construct the search (This, but not That. + or - in the tag browser)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by artistwantab

Thank You.

Not the answer I was hoping for but it it what it is.

So now I need to recreate the folder structure I meticulously set up.

So....in the future how to back up everything needed to do a simply cut an paste when a computer crashes or I update my computer so I don't have to rebuild all my databases again

Do not change the default folder structure of your calibre library. That will mess up your database. Calibre is incompatible with user-created folder systems - it needs to have its own system, and that is not customizable by the user.

As I said before, the main rule of calibre is: DO NOT CHANGE THE FOLDERS AND FILES OF YOUR CALIBRE LIBRARY. Everything must be done via the GUI.

In the future you can just copy and paste your library folder in its entirety, provided you haven't changed anything in there manually.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Do not change the default folder structure of your calibre library. That will mess up your database. Calibre is incompatible with user-created folder systems - it needs to have its own system, and that is not customizable by the user.

As I said before, the main rule of calibre is: DO NOT CHANGE THE FOLDERS AND FILES OF YOUR CALIBRE LIBRARY. Everything must be done via the GUI.

In the future you can just copy and paste your library folder in its entirety, provided you haven't changed anything in there manually.

Are we assuming they are starting WITH a Calibre Library??

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by theducks

Are we assuming they are starting WITH a Calibre Library??

No idea, but it can't be ruled out IMO.

[artistwantab]

Let me clarify....sorry

So I have MULTIPLE libraries and all structured like this.

First separated by type (novels, tech...ect.)

This sorted by authors name unless its a specific book regardless of author like Dr. Who.



If the image doesn't show click here.

So as you can see LOTS of libraries I now have to recreate.

Hoping I can cut and paste the old data to a new install so I don't need to rebuild this every time.

BTW...If you are going to say Calibre sorts it already for me but...I am OCD and my brain wants this....you can argue with my therapist if you disagree ...lol

[artistwantab]

One last note....yes it is Calibre I am using and have always used for books other then Audiobooks.

It wasn't till a computer crash that I found out the hard way that you couldn't simply put the old library into the correct folder and hit refresh and calibre would simply add the books back into the db similar to other media databases.

All my books are stored on an external hard drive but calibre was installed on the local drive.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by artistwantab

One last note....yes it is Calibre I am using and have always used for books other then Audiobooks.

It wasn't till a computer crash that I found out the hard way that you couldn't simply put the old library into the correct folder and hit refresh and calibre would simply add the books back into the db similar to other media databases.

All my books are stored on an external hard drive but calibre was installed on the local drive.

YOU DO NOT ADD books from the old library backup. The backup IS A LIBRARY. Simply copy it (the Library folder) over to a folder on the new drive. The us Create/Switch: use existing: <the folder>. Done! (except for overall user settings).
If you rename the copied FOLDER before the Create/Switch, that will be the Library name you see in Calibre .

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by artistwantab

Let me clarify....sorry

So I have MULTIPLE libraries and all structured like this.

First separated by type (novels, tech...ect.)

This sorted by authors name unless its a specific book regardless of author like Dr. Who.

So as you can see LOTS of libraries I now have to recreate.

Hoping I can cut and paste the old data to a new install so I don't need to rebuild this every time.

BTW...If you are going to say Calibre sorts it already for me but...I am OCD and my brain wants this....you can argue with my therapist if you disagree ...lol

You don't change any folders or files in your library folder manually. Calibre does its own thing there and if you mess with it, you'll corrupt your library. To see if anything is messed up, run Check Library, especially the part about the database and files matching.

Again, DO NOT CHANGE THE FILES AND FOLDERS IN YOUR CALIBRE LIBRARY.

It's not me who disagrees with you on this point. It's calibre. Manual changes in the library folder won't sync to the database, and that means the database will no longer match the files.

[artistwantab]

Originally Posted by theducks

YOU DO NOT ADD books from the old library backup. The backup IS A LIBRARY. Simply copy it (the Library folder) over to a folder on the new drive. The us Create/Switch: use existing: <the folder>. Done! (except for overall user settings).
If you rename the copied FOLDER before the Create/Switch, that will be the Library name you see in Calibre .

That works...it saves me a lot of work for sure.

In the future is there a way of saving those setting so if I install calibre in a new computer I don't need to do that...I can just simply apply the old settings to a new calibre installation.

[artistwantab]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

It's not me who disagrees with you on this point. It's calibre. Manual changes in the library folder won't sync to the database, and that means the database will no longer match the files.

I was making a joke because from your perspective it probably makes no sense separating the library alphabetically.

I have been told to simply live with it unless its destructive

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by artistwantab

I was making a joke because from your perspective it probably makes no sense separating the library alphabetically.

I have been told to simply live with it unless its destructive

It doesn't matter what makes sense to me personally. Calibre has a very strict file/folder structure and it's not user configurable. I.e. you can of course configure it, no one's stopping you, but in doing so you'll mess up your library database.

Many people have made this mistake and usually they notice it when their library is already beyond saving. Then they'll have to start from scratch.

If you want to keep your books in separate folders based on genres, tags or even alphabetically, the only way to do it with calibre is to create separate physical libraries (using the GUI, not manually).