Question about re-adding books (+metadata/covers)

seannymurrs · Today, 10:33 AM

Long story short, my Calibre library was hosed. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but something must have happened to the metadata.db because my library is now empty even though all of the files are still where they are supposed to be. I've resorted to creating a new library and re-adding all of my books. I was hoping that, since the opf, json, and cover files are all still in the subfolders with the ebook files, that Calibre would be able to read that data when re-adding the books. That doesn't seem to be the case, however. I tried adding books using the folder and subfolder option, and I clicked yes on the option to have Calibre treat all files in the same folder as the same book. All of my books appear to get added, but none of the metadata and/or covers are included. Am I missing something, or is it just not possible to include that data when adding books?

Sirtel · Today, 10:50 AM

First, before all the manual rebuilding, have you tried to simply point Calibre to the location of your library? (Switch/create library - use a previously existing library at the new location)

seannymurrs · Today, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

First, before all the manual rebuilding, have you tried to simply point Calibre to the location of your library? (Switch/create library - use a previously existing library at the new location)

I did try that, and it just shows an empty library.

Sirtel · Today, 12:03 PM

Did you look in the library folder and is the metadata.db file gone?

seannymurrs · Today, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Did you look in the library folder and is the metadata.db file gone?

The file is still there.

theducks · Today, 02:08 PM

Before you go the painful way (because you tried stuff that did in the easy way)
Are you sure you did the create / switch Use Existing to the correct location.
The correct location will have:
many Author folders
Inside those will be Title(id) folders
Inside will be the formats (if not an 'empty book') AND metadata.opf (this is the individual backup for the entry) AND possibly cover.jpg
The Metadata and Cover are what you see in the Library view.

Sirtel · Today, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seannymurrs

The file is still there.

Then you should be able to point Calibre to it. Be sure you select the correct location in the dialog.

If the metadata.db exists, there should be no need to rebuild the library, unless it's corrupted somehow.

JSWolf · Today, 02:19 PM

If the library is corrupt, there could be an issue with the drive.

Sirtel · Today, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the library is corrupt, there could be an issue with the drive.

We don't know if it's corrupt at this point. Seems to me like Calibre has forgotten the library location for some reason.

seannymurrs · Today, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

We don't know if it's corrupt at this point. Seems to me like Calibre has forgotten the library location for some reason.

I think the database has to be corrupt somehow. I tried copying the entire library (including the metadata.db file) to a separate location, and then pointed Calibre to that new location (and told it to use the library that's already there). I still got an empty library.

seannymurrs · Today, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Before you go the painful way (because you tried stuff that did in the easy way)
Are you sure you did the create / switch Use Existing to the correct location.
The correct location will have:
many Author folders
Inside those will be Title(id) folders
Inside will be the formats (if not an 'empty book') AND metadata.opf (this is the individual backup for the entry) AND possibly cover.jpg
The Metadata and Cover are what you see in the Library view.

Correct, this is what I've been doing. It adds the books, but all it has is the title and author (no other metadata or cover). I've confirmed that the opf and cover jpeg files are still there with the ebook files themselves.

theducks · Today, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seannymurrs

Correct, this is what I've been doing. It adds the books, but all it has is the title and author (no other metadata or cover). I've confirmed that the opf and cover jpeg files are still there with the ebook files themselves.

Then, use the Library maintenance tool (on the Library icon or using the Commandline tool) to Rebuild the DB.
Do Not try ADD (at this time) , rebuild is fairly quick (~3 books a second) as it just reads the metadata.OPF file in the folder and does not even need to open the book

JSWolf · Today, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seannymurrs

I think the database has to be corrupt somehow. I tried copying the entire library (including the metadata.db file) to a separate location, and then pointed Calibre to that new location (and told it to use the library that's already there). I still got an empty library.

With this library selected, click on the library name in the toolbar and select Library maintenance > Restore database. That will read all of your eBooks and grab the data from the metadata.opf files and rebuild the database.

Let us know how this goes.

seannymurrs · Today, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

With this library selected, click on the library name in the toolbar and select Library maintenance > Restore database. That will read all of your eBooks and grab the data from the metadata.opf files and rebuild the database.

Let us know how this goes.

I'm not sure what was going on, but doing this worked when I tried it this latest time. I had tried it previously, and got an error about failing to restore preferences and column settings (or something along those lines). I'm not sure what fixed it, but somewhere along copy the entire library directory around to different folders and drives seems to have gotten things working again. I can't remember exactly how many books I had in my library before, so I can't say for sure I have every one back, but I don't see anything noticeably missing. Thanks for the help, everyone!

theducks · Today, 05:05 PM

Preferences and Column settings (restore) come from 2 places.
1 is the JSON file in the Library folder (there is one for each Library)

2 User preferences (other than Per Library) come from the configuration folder. I don't believe this is the one Restore is complaining about.

Not having anything (calibre) in use, is needed. A Full reboot before, would insure that is good to go.

Today, 10:33 AM	#1
seannymurrs Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2018 Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro (10.5")	Question about re-adding books (+metadata/covers) Long story short, my Calibre library was hosed. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but something must have happened to the metadata.db because my library is now empty even though all of the files are still where they are supposed to be. I've resorted to creating a new library and re-adding all of my books. I was hoping that, since the opf, json, and cover files are all still in the subfolders with the ebook files, that Calibre would be able to read that data when re-adding the books. That doesn't seem to be the case, however. I tried adding books using the folder and subfolder option, and I clicked yes on the option to have Calibre treat all files in the same folder as the same book. All of my books appear to get added, but none of the metadata and/or covers are included. Am I missing something, or is it just not possible to include that data when adding books?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Fatal Error when adding metadata and covers.	jgforbes	Library Management	1	02-19-2020 09:37 PM
Blank covers when adding new books after 4.0	mrkalle	Library Management	1	10-07-2019 04:11 AM
Question About Adding Image Covers vs Conversion	deback	Conversion	12	10-25-2017 08:53 AM
Adding Metadata - Workflow question	oldbwl	Library Management	7	12-15-2014 02:58 AM
Bulk Metadata + Adding Covers	Josieb1	Library Management	2	07-31-2012 12:46 PM

Today, 10:50 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,126 Karma: 224756896 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	First, before all the manual rebuilding, have you tried to simply point Calibre to the location of your library? (Switch/create library - use a previously existing library at the new location)

Today, 12:03 PM	#4
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,126 Karma: 224756896 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Did you look in the library folder and is the metadata.db file gone?

Today, 02:08 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,799 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Before you go the painful way (because you tried stuff that did in the easy way) Are you sure you did the create / switch Use Existing to the correct location. The correct location will have: many Author folders Inside those will be Title(id) folders Inside will be the formats (if not an 'empty book') AND metadata.opf (this is the individual backup for the entry) AND possibly cover.jpg The Metadata and Cover are what you see in the Library view.

Today, 02:19 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,957 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If the library is corrupt, there could be an issue with the drive.

Today, 05:05 PM	#15
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,799 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Preferences and Column settings (restore) come from 2 places. 1 is the JSON file in the Library folder (there is one for each Library) 2 User preferences (other than Per Library) come from the configuration folder. I don't believe this is the one Restore is complaining about. Not having anything (calibre) in use, is needed. A Full reboot before, would insure that is good to go.

Advert

Advert