Sync or Transfer CC settings and eBook Library from One Android Device to Another

[dbareis]

I've been using wireless sync to download books to my Nexus 7 tablet, this is not the whole calibre library. I have now bought a Samsung TAB A and wish to get the same setup on the new device in as painless a manner as possible.

At first I considered drop box and cloud connection but that seems to only be a poor substitute for the wireless connection to Calibre on my laptop and can't be used to sync state between multiple devices.

Is there a way to use Google Drive or DROPBOX to at least copy the books if not the settings?

Is there any export/import or Backup/restore mechanism I would be able to use?

I tried the CC FAQ, searching the web and this forum without luck. I thought it would be simple given that many people read from multiple devices.

Hopefully someone comes up with an answer, if not I'll continue looking...

[chaley]

See our FAQ Can I make a backup of my CC settings and CC's book database?

[Android] How do I reinstall CC without losing all my book information? has more detail on the steps.

You will need to copy the book files themselves. One way to do that is the one you suggest: use a cloud service as a file transfer agent. Another way is to use CC's sync updated books, which works because a missing book file is always considered "old". The steps:

1. In CC go to Settings / Connecting to calibre and enable (check) the function Wireless device connection - sync newer.
2. Connect to calibre as a wireless device using the line Wireless device / sync books.
3. Wait.

If there is a network problem just run it again. It will pick up where it left off.

[dbareis]

Originally Posted by chaley

See our FAQ [Android] How do I reinstall CC without losing all my book information? has more detail on the steps.

You will need to copy the book files themselves.

Thanks for that information, I did eventually find the option mentioned in the above link to backup everything except the book files.

The following hopefully helps someone in the future:

To transfer the files I used a program called "WIFILE" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....netgel.wifile) which is a browser based file manager.

I used WIFILE to "download" the book folder on my nexus which gave me a zip file which I could transfer to the new device. Unfortunately this didn't have an unzip option so I used rar (https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.rarlab.rar) to unpack the zip file.

Not that I read many books at once but I also wanted to look into syncing/restoring the reading position within the books. I use FBREADER (https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ary.ui.android) so I found it has a "book network" options for syncing between multiple reader devices.

[Incanus]

Hello:

What about the covers?

If I have the covers and library mapped on one device with covers on maximum possible resolution, how do I transfer that to another device, without having to resync all the cover again for max resolution?

Also: where is the cover data stored?

Awaiting your kind reply,

[INCANUS]

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Incanus

Hello:

What about the covers?

If I have the covers and library mapped on one device with covers on maximum possible resolution, how do I transfer that to another device, without having to resync all the cover again for max resolution?

Also: where is the cover data stored?

Awaiting your kind reply,

[INCANUS]

CC stores covers in its database. If you transfer the database from one machine to another then the covers will go along. Use CC's backup and restore functions to get a copy of the database.

[Incanus]

Originally Posted by chaley

CC stores covers in its database. If you transfer the database from one machine to another then the covers will go along. Use CC's backup and restore functions to get a copy of the database.

Awsome! Will do.

Much obliged,

[INCANUS]

[Incanus]

Originally Posted by Incanus

Awsome! Will do.

It worked... and then it didn't.

1. First, I updated the cover size on one device (let's call it A) to 480px using the Wireless Device connection to Calibre: for +12.000 e-books, well, it took a while for A to complete this task
2. Then, I made a full back-up of CC database for A
3. I restored the A CC database back-up on another device (let's call it B).
4. After restoring the CC database, B had it's covers on 480 px :-)
5. Finally, I connected B to Calibre using the Wireless Device connection... and CC on B proceeded again to sync all of the covers for the +12.000 ebooks; for B, that did took a while, too :-(

Did I do something wrong?

Sick on sync, :-P

[INCANUS]

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Incanus

Did I do something wrong?

Sick on sync, :-P

[INCANUS]

It shouldn't do that if you are connecting to the same calibre library with the same cover settings. When you restored the database did you also restore the settings? If you didn't then CC probably synced to fetch a smaller cover.

I just ran a test. I don't have 2 devices at the moment so I simulated your process with one. I did the backup (equivalent to device A), cleared CC's memory (destroyed its database), started the now-empty CC (equivalent of device B), restored the database and settings, then connected. CC didn't download any covers.

[Incanus]

Originally Posted by chaley

It shouldn't do that if you are connecting to the same calibre library with the same cover settings.

Indeed: and so I was.

Originally Posted by chaley

When you restored the database did you also restore the settings? If you didn't then CC probably synced to fetch a smaller cover.

I did check and the settings were the same: 480px

Originally Posted by chaley

I just ran a test. I don't have 2 devices at the moment so I simulated your process with one [...] CC didn't download any covers.

Well, something did went wrong in my case: it's over and done, though, and I won't be repeating this procedure for the forseable future

'tis one of those CC users' life's little mistery

Kind regards,

[INCANUS]