Messed up Library [open thread]

[EvM1]

Yep. It failed.

[EvM1]

Is the best way to restore it to save it to disk from the device?

[BetterRed]

@EvM1 - what do you see if you open the folder "C:\users\Ev\Documents\Calibre Library" in File Explorer

I assume a metadata.db file, what about author folders?

Please don't change that folder or its contents in any way.

BR

[BetterRed]

@EvM1 - When calibre has some sort of error it gives an option to copy the error details to the clipboard - which you can paste into a post here. We can't give detailed responses to error conditions if we can't see the error message.

Originally Posted by EvM1

Is the best way to restore it to save it to disk from the device?

Perhaps - I don't know anything about Kindle devices. And I have my android devices set to ignore in calibre. I 'manage' the book files I have on them the same way as any other file type - via file managers and file transfer agents.

Hopefully someone who knows how that side of calibre works can jump in an tell you how to go about it.

BR

[EvM1]

Unfortunately, I didn't copy the error.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@EvM1 - what do you see if you open the folder "C:\users\Ev\Documents\Calibre Library" in File Explorer?

I assume a metadata.db file, what about author folders?

Please don't change that folder or its contents in any way.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@EvM1 - do a search (Win+S) for 'metadata.db' - you may need to click 'Search My Stuff'.

Added : Tell me what it finds

@EvM1 - you didn't respond directly to these posts of mine

BR

[EvM1]

Sorry. I had already started adding the files again from my Documents folder on the computer. When I first searched for the metadata.db file, it was non-existent. Now there is one because I've added 300 of the files.

[theducks]

EvM1
You are wasting helping experts time and effort when you go off and do your own thing, by ignoring advice that is given to prevent further damage and improve chances of recovery.

Advice depends on timely answers to questions AND the user NOT doing something else (that changes the conditions) before the response.

24hrs is usually the extreme for one of the experts to respond. The Guru usually checks in IF NEEDED for the case. ( I don't see him jumping in here. Maybe the troops had this one covered just fine.)

Helpers are Volunteers. Please do not waste their efforts.

[EvM1]

I had started doing that before the suggestion was given. Not after.

[Rellwood]

@EvM1

If you are still dealing with a ruined library I have three pieces of advice that has saved me a lot of time recently.

First....check to see if the folders that used to hold your libraries have a previous version you can back up to. If you haven't deleted or moved the actual folder, regardless of deleting everything in it, there is a possibility of restoring it to a previous date. You can find out by right clicking on the folder and looking under the properties.

For the most part my own folders only go back a week but if I realize I have made a big mistake I revert it back as soon as I realize it so I don't waste a bunch of time trying to repair what only needs to be restored. Just don't get too happy doing this or else you will end up with a gazillion books since you have restored every folder in the hopes of finding the one that has all the metadata you are looking for.

Also, consider getting a good file manager program from the Web. There is one in particular that offers a free 30 day trial of it's pro version and in that thirty days you can get A LOT done.

Finally, don't empty your recycle bin. Many people don't realize that you can simply point to the bin as a source to import books. This is helpful in the case of an accidental delete when merging files. Import a folder that holds one book and use the recycle bin as the source. List the files in order of date deleted and you will see the last deleted book. You might not get the OPF file,but you can be sure you will get the actual book.


Good luck!