Returning to Full Library from Virtual Library

[The Texas Dude]

Learning about Virtual Libraries: Created VL and now can't return to all books. Reselecting Virtual Library button shows same subset of books. Showing "VL as Tabs" gives "All Books" name without showing all books.

Help please.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by The Texas Dude

Learning about Virtual Libraries: Created VL and now can't return to all books. Reselecting Virtual Library button shows same subset of books. Showing "VL as Tabs" gives "All Books" name without showing all books.

Help please.

Press Alt+R and select None from the VL button drop down, viz



Also tap the Escape key to clear any active Search.

BR

[The Texas Dude]

Thanks BetterRed, but those didn't work either!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by The Texas Dude

Thanks BetterRed, but those didn't work either!

are you seeing the Red Minus button in BR's image? That means a VL is being shown


Also the Status bar at the bottom of Calibre will only have 2 Values (books, selected), not 3 (books, selected, total)

If you only see 2 values, you did something to make them go bye-bye
Get your backup out and use the find duplicates PI to locate the ones in the backup that ARE NOT in the main

[The Texas Dude]

Theducke - thanks for your analysis.

1. Any advantage to reinstall Calibre to see if some flag gets reset?
2. There is no red minus on the VL drop down menu.
3. There are only two values on the Status Bar: books and selected.
4. Calibre Library seems full size on disk - they're apparently still around. (5226 folders, 92.5gb, 17k books)
5. My backups are directory-level copies of the Calibre application which can replace the data (etc.), but not reset the calibre pgm. (VL shows only 389 books - would be easier to replace everything.)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by The Texas Dude

Theducke - thanks for your analysis.

1. Any advantage to reinstall Calibre to see if some flag gets reset?
2. There is no red minus on the VL drop down menu.
3. There are only two values on the Status Bar: books and selected.
4. Calibre Library seems full size on disk - they're apparently still around. (5226 folders, 92.5gb, 17k books)
5. My backups are directory-level copies of the Calibre application which can replace the data (etc.), but not reset the calibre pgm. (VL shows only 389 books - would be easier to replace everything.)

The red minus is next to the VL button... BUT
only 2 values (### books, 1 Selected) says you are NOT looking at a VL

BACKUP before doing this, just in case
Try (on Library Icon) Library Maintenance :restore Database (will take a bit of time)
The VL Structures are part of the DB (each Library can have a different set of VL) The metadata_db_prefs_backup file in the library folder allows RESTORATION of DB structure. medatadata.opf in each TITLE folder populates the DB (along with the cover.jpeg)

[The Texas Dude]

Oh my, oh my! While backing up I pressed Calibre Library icon and all books came out of hiding!! Seem to be all here.

Wha'd I do wrong, Doctor? Wha'd I do right (besides following your instructions)?

Thanks very much theducks. Very much!

(ps In former life, I used to live and love in MtnView.)

[BetterRed]

The red minus is only shown when there is an active VL. In my screen shot my 'Current' VL was active at the time. When I select 'None' it goes away. When there is an active VL it's name is shown in the Title bar after the current Library name, when there's no active VL nothing is displayed, viz:



There's a tweak for VL's, Highlight the virtual library name when using a Virtual Library. Here's what I have in that tweak:



I set it to 'transparent' because the active VL name is displayed in the Title Bar, IMO having it in the search bar adds unnecessary redundant clutter. When you use VL Tabs the name is not displayed in the search bar, which makes the setting of this tweak irrelevant.

There's probably no point in reinstalling calibre, because the data that controls VL's (and most everything else) is stored in the global preferences directory or in the library preferences. The former is accessible by clicking the Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open configuration directory button, the only VL related setting I would expect to find in there is the aforementioned tweak, everything else is in the Library metadata database Preferences table, for example Preferences->Behaviour->Virtual library to apply when the current library is opened:

Use this virtual library on calibre startup if the current library is being used. Also applied when switching to this library. Note that this setting is per library.

@The Texas Dude - could you try setting Preferences->Behaviour->Virtual library to apply when the current library is opened: to 'blank', then restart calibre. You should see all your books in the All books VL Tab.

Maybe you could post some relevant screen shots.

Added : we x-posted, seems the problem went away of its own accord. Software that can think for itself -- now that is a scary thought

BR

[The Texas Dude]

Or very sensitive software giving me the answer to make me want to live another day...
Thanks, BR.

[theducks]

was your device connected? You may have been looking at device view

[The Texas Dude]

Not certain on device status, but these 389 were not loaded thereon.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

was your device connected? You may have been looking at device view

Originally Posted by The Texas Dude

Not certain on device status, but these 389 were not loaded thereon.

London to Brick On that's what it was. My excuse is that I don't connect any devices to calibre

BR