Tips for upgrading 4.23 to 6.19.1?

Ma'am-I-Am · 06-03-2023, 02:30 AM

Not gonna lie, I'm really scared about upgrading from 4.23 to 6.19.1 on Win 10 64-bit.

Is anyone willing to give me a step-by-step process for a successful transition?

Sorry. The bun was just too frickin' cute to not put it in.

ownedbycats · 06-03-2023, 02:59 AM

Check what plugins you have installed and note them down. I think the incompatible ones will deactivate themselves. (There's a few plugins that haven't been updated, but most have.)

Make a backup of the library. The database structure changes.

Download and update Calibre.

Get that list of plugins and re-install them. (If you have DeDRM, you'll want the NoDRM fork.)

Check out the Calibre settings. A lot of changes so you may want to make adjustments. Add Full-Text Indexing to a toolbar or menu if you plan to use it, or adjust the order of columns in Look and Feel > Edit Metadata.

JSWolf · 06-03-2023, 03:57 AM

And make sure your Windows 10 is up-to-date with Windows Update. Too early a version of Windows 10 won't work with Calibre 6.

Ma'am-I-Am · 06-03-2023, 06:02 PM

Would it be a good idea to install 6 while still keeping 4 as a sort of safeguard? Or does the installation process remove older versions first?

theducks · 06-03-2023, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ma'am-I-Am

Would it be a good idea to install 6 while still keeping 4 as a sort of safeguard? Or does the installation process remove older versions first?

Not directly possible. Only one Calibre (same bit count) can be installed.
You could use (move your current settings and Library) Portable (on an external drive)
But there is a different problem. I believe your version is so old, there was a DB structure update, so not backward compatible.

ownedbycats · 06-03-2023, 06:45 PM

You can install 6.x portable (Windows only), but I wouldn't recommend as the database structure has changed.

Ma'am-I-Am · 06-03-2023, 07:26 PM

I also have a 5.30 .exe. Maybe install that one first, then upgrade to 6?
I *cannot* lose my databases!

ownedbycats · 06-03-2023, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ma'am-I-Am

I also have a 5.30 .exe. Maybe install that one first, then upgrade to 6?
I *cannot* lose my databases!

That's why you backup first.

Ma'am-I-Am · 06-03-2023, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

That's why you backup first.

I should have been more clear. My apologies. I meant the possibility of my database not migrating to the newer versions causes me extreme anxiety. However, no one has said that wouldn't happen, so I think I'll proceed as you suggested above and install 5.30 without any plugins. Isn't that what people did when Calibre moved to Python?

If that works, I'll move on to 6.

ownedbycats · 06-03-2023, 07:54 PM

Doesn't seem to have a point other than wasting time. Just upgrade directly to 6.x.

The big changes in the last few years were a DB upgrade, a Python upgrade, and a Qt upgrade.

BetterRed · 06-03-2023, 08:17 PM

↑ ↑ ↑ ✔

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ma'am-I-Am

I should have been more clear. My apologies. I meant the possibility of my database not migrating to the newer versions causes me extreme anxiety. However, no one has said that wouldn't happen, so I think I'll proceed as you suggested above and install 5.30 without any plugins. Isn't that what people did when Calibre moved to Python?

If that works, I'll move on to 6.

I just did a little experiment:

I copied my existing Test library (last used with v6.18.1) into a 4.23 portable install and added a DOCX, converted it to EPUB, and removed it. Then I upgraded it to 6.19.1 - the sky didn't fall in, what's more it picked up the existing 'data' folders I put there with version 6, and my calibre://URL links.

I see no point in transitioning via version 5, unless you have developed some private plugins that require older versions of Python or the Qt framework.

Providing you take library and configuration setting backups before you upgrade you can easily revert to 4.23 if something goes belly up -- which it wont -- because you did the backups.

BR

kovidgoyal · 06-03-2023, 10:18 PM

All calibre upgrades upgrade the database step-by-step, till it is current. So if you upgrade from 4 to 6 it goes via 5 internally anyway. SO just upgrade straight to 6.

Ma'am-I-Am · 06-04-2023, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

All calibre upgrades upgrade the database step-by-step, till it is current. So if you upgrade from 4 to 6 it goes via 5 internally anyway. SO just upgrade straight to 6.

OK! Thank you, Kovid. The highest recommendation I can get.

theducks · 06-04-2023, 11:23 AM

I have never had any Calibre DB upgrade go south.
That said
Start ONLY with a known good DB.. Run Library Maintenance (and fix any issues) BEFORE

Ma'am-I-Am · 06-04-2023, 07:08 PM

Upgrade done, no problems so far! Call me a chicken and dip me in batter.
What is a nodrm fork and how does it differ from the de-drm plug-in?

06-03-2023, 02:30 AM	#1
Ma'am-I-Am Preferred pronouns: We/Us Posts: 134 Karma: 282160 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: <--- Over There, USA Device: Kindle PW 2	Tips for upgrading 4.23 to 6.19.1? Not gonna lie, I'm really scared about upgrading from 4.23 to 6.19.1 on Win 10 64-bit. Is anyone willing to give me a step-by-step process for a successful transition? Sorry. The bun was just too frickin' cute to not put it in.

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06-03-2023, 02:59 AM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 7,587 Karma: 54930589 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Check what plugins you have installed and note them down. I think the incompatible ones will deactivate themselves. (There's a few plugins that haven't been updated, but most have.) Make a backup of the library. The database structure changes. Download and update Calibre. Get that list of plugins and re-install them. (If you have DeDRM, you'll want the NoDRM fork.) Check out the Calibre settings. A lot of changes so you may want to make adjustments. Add Full-Text Indexing to a toolbar or menu if you plan to use it, or adjust the order of columns in Look and Feel > Edit Metadata.

06-03-2023, 03:57 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 71,862 Karma: 122094787 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	And make sure your Windows 10 is up-to-date with Windows Update. Too early a version of Windows 10 won't work with Calibre 6.

06-03-2023, 06:02 PM	#4
Ma'am-I-Am Preferred pronouns: We/Us Posts: 134 Karma: 282160 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: <--- Over There, USA Device: Kindle PW 2	Would it be a good idea to install 6 while still keeping 4 as a sort of safeguard? Or does the installation process remove older versions first?

06-03-2023, 06:45 PM	#6
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 7,587 Karma: 54930589 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	You can install 6.x portable (Windows only), but I wouldn't recommend as the database structure has changed.

06-03-2023, 07:26 PM	#7
Ma'am-I-Am Preferred pronouns: We/Us Posts: 134 Karma: 282160 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: <--- Over There, USA Device: Kindle PW 2	I also have a 5.30 .exe. Maybe install that one first, then upgrade to 6? I cannot lose my databases!

06-03-2023, 07:54 PM	#10
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 7,587 Karma: 54930589 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Doesn't seem to have a point other than wasting time. Just upgrade directly to 6.x. The big changes in the last few years were a DB upgrade, a Python upgrade, and a Qt upgrade.

06-03-2023, 10:18 PM	#12
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 42,968 Karma: 20900374 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	All calibre upgrades upgrade the database step-by-step, till it is current. So if you upgrade from 4 to 6 it goes via 5 internally anyway. SO just upgrade straight to 6.

06-04-2023, 11:23 AM	#14
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,101 Karma: 53103620 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I have never had any Calibre DB upgrade go south. That said Start ONLY with a known good DB.. Run Library Maintenance (and fix any issues) BEFORE

06-04-2023, 07:08 PM	#15
Ma'am-I-Am Preferred pronouns: We/Us Posts: 134 Karma: 282160 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: <--- Over There, USA Device: Kindle PW 2	Upgrade done, no problems so far! Call me a chicken and dip me in batter. What is a nodrm fork and how does it differ from the de-drm plug-in?

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