Calibre just destroyed my hard drive data

[twowheels]

It looks like you originally stored your library on your Desktop. Why? I'm not sure... that said, I just created a temporary folder called "ImportantStuff", created a library there, and then tried to delete it... I get a warning that says:

All files from /home/twowheels/ImportantFolder will be permanantly deleted. Are you sure?

(bold text is used in the dialog)

In your case it would have said "C:\Documents And Settings\Uses\dz1\Desktop\" (or something like that)... looks to me like it's fair warning.

Sorry, but I think you should read dialogs more carefully in the future.

[user_none]

Originally Posted by dz1

I'm not asking for much. Just give me other options other than using calibre. If there are no other options then just say so.

There are none.

[EowynCarter]

That, come to think of it, is sad. I like choice

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by dz1

[edited] you assumed [edited] that my calibre library was set to desktop when i pressed the button. I did previously have a library at desktop but changed it to a new location. My library was actually set to desktop/files/books/books when i pressed the button that says delete library. Yet instead of deleting that library it deletes a totally different one. There wasn't even an option shown to me by the program to delete my current library as all it showed was the word desktop. Another contributing factor is that you put books in libraries, so it is quite proper for the user to expect that when it says "delete library" then it deletes only books.

Make a mistake and then squirm trying to figure out ways to blame someone else for it.

You really imagine that you can come into a forum dedicated to a program, make insulting statements about it based on your own mistakes and then expect people on that forum to help you? Were you ever given even basic lessons in manners.

[Agama]

Originally Posted by twowheels

It looks like you originally stored your library on your Desktop. \Desktop\" (or something like that)... looks to me like it's fair warning.

Sorry, but I think you should read dialogs more carefully in the future.

Yes, it certainly appears to be one of those ID-TEN-T problems, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_error#ID-10-T_Error).

@dz1 : Since you mention that you've been using calibre for years, then you no doubt already know just how good it is. So quit blaming other folks, restore your library and put it down to experience.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

That, come to think of it, is sad. I like choice

Write one! Healthy competition is good.

[speakingtohe]

Did you check the recycle bin and try to restore from there or was that deleted too.
BTW i always delete manually from Windows and double triple check .
I may try the calibre delete one of these days as it is no doubt faster.

Another contributing factor is that you put books in libraries, so it is quite proper for the user to expect that when it says "delete library" then it deletes only books.

That is just wrong. If caibre checked each and every one of my 10,000 books and their multiple formats to ensure each was indeed a 'book', it could take it weeks

[kacir]

Originally Posted by dz1

I uncover a major flaw in your program and all you can do is hurl insults. You should be thanking me for uncovering such a major problem in your flawed program and also apologising for the damage your program has done. Instead you hurl insults like some arrogant fool.

Excuse me, please. I saw your post before it was edited by moderators. It was you that came here hurling insults.

Calibre is used daily by millions of users. It is no exaggeration. Millions.

You probably found a bug. Perhaps an old record, from time when your Desktop was set to be your library remained somewhere.

Please check this forum. Many users come here and ask for help *politely*. Usually they get an answer in a very short time. Often Kovid himself comes with an answer. Very often there is patch (in form of new version) available next Friday.


Regarding replacement.
There isn't single program that would have the same functionality as Calibre.
Some people are using software that lets you catalogue your paper books / software / movies / whatever collection. But such software doesn't manage your books or convert them to different format, or send then to device, or download book metadata and covers from net, or download and format news, or let you query your book database, or let you export books to any directory structure based on metadata.
Some users maintain elaborate directory structure with books, like I did before I started to use Calibre.
There are some programs for converting book formats, but they usually convert only from single format to another format.
For conversion of your books you can use:
- Openoffice - there is nice plugin that lets you produce epub), it can save files as pdf.
- bookdesigner
- mobipocket designer
- various on-line conversion tools
- tool made by Amazon for producing kindle books
- nice (commercial) software called Jutoh for creating epubs
- very similar open-source epub authoring tool called Sigil
- convertlit
- lit2epub (this is what I like to use on my Linux machine)
- ghoststscript
- dozens of other programs listed in our wiki
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_conversion
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_software
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Book_authoring_software
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/More_eBook_software

Tell us what you do with Calibre, and there might be program that does what you need to do. There is no other program that could replace complete Calibre functionality.

[user_none]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

That, come to think of it, is sad. I like choice

You've mentioned your own unfinished app in the past as what you personally use instead of calibre. Why no release it? If you do it as open source others might be willing to contribute.

[dz1]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

:
You really imagine that you can come into a forum dedicated to a program, make insulting statements about it based on your own mistakes and then expect people on that forum to help you? Were you ever given even basic lessons in manners.

I think it is you who is lacking in manners. You hurled insults at me only because i criticised your program. The statements i made were truthful and I am understandably angry about what your program did to my data. Hurling insults at someone who has uncovered a serious bug in your program and has had data wiped because of it does not strike me as a smart thing to do. You should be using your time and energy to fix this problem.

[user_none]

Originally Posted by dz1

You should be using your time and energy to fix this problem.

Looks to me like the problem is you. Kovid can only do so much... Reading comprehension in regard to a dialog that says it will delete all data on your desktop being ignored after you've said that is okay isn't in Kovid's toolbox.

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by dz1

I think it is you who is lacking in manners. You hurled insults at me only because i criticised your program. The statements i made were truthful and I am understandably angry about what your program did to my data. Hurling insults at someone who has uncovered a serious bug in your program and has had data wiped because of it does not strike me as a smart thing to do. You should be using your time and energy to fix this problem.

Sigh, I see you are just not going to accept that you made a mistake. I'll try to explain what you did to you one last time:

1) You chose your desktop as the calibre library
2) You then created a new library
3) You asked calibre to delete your old library, which was your desktop
4) calibre then asked you the following question:

All files from C:\Users\your username\Desktop will be 
                permanently deleted. Are you sure?

5) You clicked Yes.
6) calibre deleted, as it said it would, all the files in C:\Users\your username\Desktop
7) Then you decided to throw a hissy fit, in public.

Grow up.

[dz1]

Originally Posted by user_none

Looks to me like the problem is you. Kovid can only do so much... Reading comprehension in regard to a dialog that says it will delete all data on your desktop being ignored after you've said that is okay isn't in Kovid's toolbox.

It would be silly to do nothing about this problem as you suggest. It is a genuine problem that should be easy enough to fix.

[user_none]

How would you fix it? Put a dialog box that informs the user what files would be deleted and have them confirm before doing so?

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by user_none

How would you fix it? Put a dialog box that informs the user what files would be deleted and have them confirm before doing so?

I doubt that would help. If the OP cannot be bothered to read a single sentence, what are the chances he will scroll down a list of hundreds of files and figure out that he doesn't actually want the delete to happen?