Mass delete of .mobi files

[lynncal]

So, I wanted to get rid of all of my mobi ebook formats as I have the epubs. The mobi format books were taking up over 15GB of space. I decided to run a command in the cmd window (I'm running Windows 7) in the Calibre files home directory:


cd c:\calibre library
forfiles /S /M *mobi /C "cmd /c move @files F:\mobi

My files were moved from the calibre library folders, but the links in the GUI interface are still there. I'm in SQLite and found the table with the formats, but am hesitant to build and run any script that might corrupt the database in my attempts to remove this link. I'm working off of a copy of the database, so I don't do anything by mistake that would wreck things.

Does anyone have a SQL script that removes format links where there is no format file there?

Thanks.

Lynn

[itimpi]

You should have used the option from within Calibre to delete books of a specific format! That would have kept the library files in step with the Calibre database. Working at the command line level will always leave your library in an inconsistent state and should be avoided.

You best option now is to run the Calibre Library maintenance option and tell it to fix any errors when it flags up lots of missing book files.

[kovidgoyal]

Just right click the remove books button and choose remove files of a specific format

[fidvo]

You've already broken the Number 1 rule of using Calibre. Don't mess with the files in the library folder. Let me repeat that. Don't mess with the files in the library folder.

Normally this would result in a lot of headaches and pain and a bit of swearing as you try to fix what you broke, but in this case you're in luck. You can still delete these books from the Calibre database, using the method you should have used in the first place.

Start the Calibre program. Filter your books for deletion (use "Formats" in the Tab browser to show only .mobi books). Select all the filtered books, then right-click on one of them and choose Remove -> Remove files of a specific format from books. Choose Mobi and press OK. This will remove the mobi formats from the books while preserving the epub formats. Normally this will also delete the mobi files from the library folder, but you already did that yourself. And yes, I tested it to make sure it won't get an error.

[lynncal]

Thanks everyone. I guess I have to learn my lessons the hard way, but lesson learned!

[Th0m5k]

Thanks for this thread.

What if you want to mass remove mobis but only if there is already an epub version?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Th0m5k

Thanks for this thread.

What if you want to mass remove mobis but only if there is already an epub version?

In the left column under Formats, select epub or enter 'formats:"=EPUB"' in the search box. In the book browser, select all. Right click, Remove books => Remove files of a specific format from selected books, select Mobi and OK.