Mirroring a calibre library

[maddz]

Is there a way to mirror a calibre library across two different instances of calibre on different computers? Ideally I'd like changes in one instance to be applied to the other instance.

My main instance of calibre is on the big iMac in the 'office'; I have a secondary instance on a Mac Mini in a different room. I use the Mac Mini to clean up book files as it's more comfortable - the iMac is on my partner's desk and I can't sit on his office chair for long periods. (It's also the coldest room in the house, so winter evenings aren't nice.)

The reason for this set-up is that the Mac Mini is exclusively my machine, and the iMac has his account on it. We share books in our libraries - calibre is located on our shared drive.

[Sirtel]

FreeFileSync, mirror mode.

[JSWolf]

FreeFileSync is the best way to keep libraries in sync. You just have to network the computers so you can access one from the other.

[maddz]

This is where it gets tricky: what's the best way to pull preferences across from the v7 instance on the iMac to the v9 instance on the Mac Mini?

I've so far resisted updating the iMac instance because of all my custom columns and views...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

This is where it gets tricky: what's the best way to pull preferences across from the v7 instance on the iMac to the v9 instance on the Mac Mini?

I've so far resisted updating the iMac instance because of all my custom columns and views...

Copy the contents of the preferences directory to a USB stick on the iMac. Then make a copy of the preferences directory on the Mac Mini. Next delete the contents of the preferences directory on the Mac Mini and copy the preferences from the USB Stick to the preferences directory on the Mac Mini. You should be all set. However, you do not want to run calibre 7 and calibre 9 on the same libraries. The databases are different. In calibre 9, unused fields have been removed and there is a pages column added.

If you have a bunch of books in calibre 7 and then loaded the library on calibre 9, it will have to spend time calculating the page numbers. It's just easier to go calibre 9 on both and if you can't, forget using calibre on the iMac.

[PeterT]

I've always been a big believer in not initially deleting the preferences folder on the new computer but renaming it (or taking a backup of it) before restoring the copied one.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by maddz

This is where it gets tricky: what's the best way to pull preferences across from the v7 instance on the iMac to the v9 instance on the Mac Mini?

I've so far resisted updating the iMac instance because of all my custom columns and views...

Columns (and anything current Library specific) is in the DB for that Library.
Preferences are the more globally used (user) items (PI's sometimes have both Library DB and User settings. The Library setting part is in the DB.)

[maddz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

However, you do not want to run calibre 7 and calibre 9 on the same libraries. The databases are different. In calibre 9, unused fields have been removed and there is a pages column added.

I was planning to do the upgrade before transferring the library. I've checked there's nothing in the v9 library that isn't in the v7 library, and it's the v7 I plan to use as the source data.

You mention a page count column? Is there an equivalent word count? I use word count to define novels vs shorter formats, and don't really use page count (Count pages plug-in).

[maddz]

Actually, I tell a lie: both machines are on v7. The Mini is on 7.26, and the iMac is on 7.25.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

I was planning to do the upgrade before transferring the library. I've checked there's nothing in the v9 library that isn't in the v7 library, and it's the v7 I plan to use as the source data.

You mention a page count column? Is there an equivalent word count? I use word count to define novels vs shorter formats, and don't really use page count (Count pages plug-in).

calibre's page count is used to define the width of the books for the new bookshelf view. So if you don't use the bookshelf view, you can ignore it. Just hide the column and turn it off from Book details. I have the calibre page number turned off. O use the page number and word count from the Count Pages plugin.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

Actually, I tell a lie: both machines are on v7. The Mini is on 7.26, and the iMac is on 7.25.

Can you run calibre 9 on both computers?

[theducks]

You can move a Calibre 7 TO Calibre 9. It will detect it on first open (there will be some delay. Just let it run) and upgrade the DB.

You just can not go back to using the Library with Calibre 7

[maddz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you run calibre 9 on both computers?

Should be able to; both are on Sequoia 15.7.4. I plan on making a back-up of the iMac version as that's the primary library.

It's the Mac Book Pro and the old iMac that won't. The latter I use for audio rips - slot load CD drive and line-in for vinyl (when the external CD drive has got buried since the last time I used it). We won't talk about the PowerPC gathering dust in the hall (or the Win 7 netbook lurking around).

[maddz]

Originally Posted by theducks

You can move a Calibre 7 TO Calibre 9. It will detect it on first open (there will be some delay. Just let it run) and upgrade the DB.

You just can not go back to using the Library with Calibre 7

Will it keep the preferences and custom set-up?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by maddz

Will it keep the preferences and custom set-up?

Preferences (configuration folder) is a separate backup.
The update 9 only changes what is no longer valid. (removes the ISBN column which was not normally used. ISBN is store as identifiers)