I moved my library and calibre now can't display the content

Ea · 10-31-2009, 09:07 AM

I moved my library database - changed the path in the settings and calibre moved the files. The files are in the new folder, but when I start up calibre, it doesn't display the books. I tried the 'check db integrity' - no change.

I moved the library to my Dropbox folder (online file repository) in order to share the library database with my netbook, where I've also installed calibre. On my netbook, I can likewise not get a list of the books in the library...

....except a book I added after moving the library. That works fine and can be accessed from calibre on both computers. It's the "old" books that doesn't display. Anything I can do except adding them again?

I tried adding a book I added yesterday. It simply just shows up as an extra copy. Both in the same 'author' folder, but two 'book' folders - one for today and one for yesterday.

My desktop computer runs OSX 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and my netbook Win 7

kovidgoyal · 10-31-2009, 10:28 AM

If you have a backup of your old folder move the file metadata.db from the old folder to the new one.

Rootman · 10-31-2009, 11:18 AM

I moved my library around a few times as I was experimenting with Calibre and suffered the same problem.

Using Windows Explorer I moved all my ebooks to another folder leaving the original folder in place with only the metadata.db alone in it. If any remnants of books are still in the library remove them. Now ADD all the books back into the library and Calibre will recopy the books back to the correct folder and add them back into the library.

Unfortunately if you have multiple formats or separate cover images they will have to be added back manually by editing each books metadata.

Worked for me!

itimpi · 10-31-2009, 11:53 AM

It is much easier to copy everything over (including the metadata.db file) and then simply tell Calibre to use the new location for the library.

Ea · 10-31-2009, 12:18 PM

The metadata file

Thanks, Kovid!

Of course I didn't make a backup

and there weren't any files left in the old directory. But in the new one, I found two metadata files; a new small one, and a large one saved yesterday, due to some conflict (probably bec. I had calibre open on my desktop while installing it on the netbook). Anyway, the old one works.

10-31-2009, 09:07 AM	#1
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I moved my library and calibre now can't display the content I moved my library database - changed the path in the settings and calibre moved the files. The files are in the new folder, but when I start up calibre, it doesn't display the books. I tried the 'check db integrity' - no change. I moved the library to my Dropbox folder (online file repository) in order to share the library database with my netbook, where I've also installed calibre. On my netbook, I can likewise not get a list of the books in the library... ....except a book I added after moving the library. That works fine and can be accessed from calibre on both computers. It's the "old" books that doesn't display. Anything I can do except adding them again? I tried adding a book I added yesterday. It simply just shows up as an extra copy. Both in the same 'author' folder, but two 'book' folders - one for today and one for yesterday. My desktop computer runs OSX 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and my netbook Win 7

10-31-2009, 11:18 AM	#3
Rootman Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 478 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Android & FBReader	I moved my library around a few times as I was experimenting with Calibre and suffered the same problem. Using Windows Explorer I moved all my ebooks to another folder leaving the original folder in place with only the metadata.db alone in it. If any remnants of books are still in the library remove them. Now ADD all the books back into the library and Calibre will recopy the books back to the correct folder and add them back into the library. Unfortunately if you have multiple formats or separate cover images they will have to be added back manually by editing each books metadata. Worked for me! Last edited by Rootman; 10-31-2009 at 11:20 AM.

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10-31-2009, 10:28 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,859 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	If you have a backup of your old folder move the file metadata.db from the old folder to the new one.

10-31-2009, 11:53 AM	#4
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	It is much easier to copy everything over (including the metadata.db file) and then simply tell Calibre to use the new location for the library.

10-31-2009, 12:18 PM	#5
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	The metadata file Thanks, Kovid! Of course I didn't make a backup and there weren't any files left in the old directory. But in the new one, I found two metadata files; a new small one, and a large one saved yesterday, due to some conflict (probably bec. I had calibre open on my desktop while installing it on the netbook). Anyway, the old one works.

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