Help! New User-accidentally used REMOVE FORMAT

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Divingduck

@BetterRed, I do not feel so (uber-overreacting).

I have a different view and explained to Kovid why. He took his decision early in the morning (my time) and that was/is allways ok for me.

I like to discuss with respect and that is why I like MobileRead. I can't really laugh about your last post.

Regards,
DD

No offence intended, but for sake of peace and harmony, last para removed.

On the substantive issue I agree with Kovid. Rather than trying to make the Remove Formats drop down in the Bulk MDE General tab safer to operate, it would be better to remove the drop down, given that much safer (and I would would argue much easier) ways to do bulk removal of formats are available in the Remove Books tool, viz:



I wouldn't have thought removing that particular control/widget would have any impact on the rest of Bulk MDE, which is what you seem to be suggesting. Anyway it's Kovid's decision.

BR

[kovidgoyal]

Sorry, family stuff going on so I haven't had a chance to stay on top of this, but basically, I am only proposing the removal of the "Remove format" control from that dialog, nothing else. And that is because it is implemented better elsewhere.

[Fussimist]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for weighing in, but I was wasn't criticizing the design or asking what I did - I just want to fix it. Alll my books are still there, but I have removed the epub designation. Is there a way to add the formatting back in so I can open them again? Thanks, Lee

[jhowell]

In calibre a "format" is the actual e-book.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Fussimist

Hi everyone,
Thanks for weighing in, but I was wasn't criticizing the design or asking what I did - I just want to fix it. Alll my books are still there, but I have removed the epub designation. Is there a way to add the formatting back in so I can open them again? Thanks, Lee

@Lee - ignore the prior discussion, not a reflection on you, rather a reflection on some of us for not reading your post carefully enough.

Have you looked in the Windows Recycle Bin - the format files (EPUBs) should be in there. Should look something like this



If they are then I can tell/show you how to get them back. How many books are we talking about?

BR

[phossler]

@Lee -- I've had pretty good results with

http://www.piriform.com/recuva

There's a freeware and Pro version

If the files were not overwritten, Recuva 'might' be able to get them back

You might have to re-add them to the Calibre DB

As others have said, the .epub is the actual book, so look for things like MyBook.epub

[BetterRed]

@phossler - if Lee hasn't emptied the Recycle Bin since they inadvertently removed the EPUBs they will be in the Recycle Bin, hence there will not be need for a tool such a Recuva.

BR

[phossler]

Yes, it is only a second choice in case

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by phossler

Yes, it is only a second choice in case

But you didn't say that.

If they're not in the Recycle Bin, my next question would be what version of Windows. You can configure Windows (7/8/8.1/10) to retain previous versions/backups automatically. I've come across folks who have Previous Versions or Backup configured yet are blissfuly unaware they they do. If the OP has either configured then those copies are simpler to restore.

And then there's the option to download the EPUBs from source again.

Recuva is a tool of last resort. It works best immediately after a blunder. Once several days have elapsed, as in this instance, its recovery rate is likely to be paltry, especially if the files were on the system drive, even more so if you don't direct Recuva to write to a different drive.

BR

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Sorry, family stuff going on so I haven't had a chance to stay on top of this, but basically, I am only proposing the removal of the "Remove format" control from that dialog, nothing else. And that is because it is implemented better elsewhere.

After years of going to the bulk metadata to use the Remove Format feature I may have a stroke if I need to change my work flow. It was convenient to select a bunch of books and just click the dropdown on the remove format selection to see what formats existed for these books. Yes I can do this (less intuitively) with the method under remove books, but I'm afraid my head might explode.

Either way thanks for the great program.