Disappearing books when using multiple libraries

[Fiacha]

This is rather late but

At some point I told Calibre to keep its catalog in C:\Calibre books
At some later point I created a backup in D:\Calibre books and proceeded to ignore both directories.

After upgrading to 7.56 and then to 7.57 I eventually noticed that my count of books had dropped from 1300 to 300

I then checked the backup on D: and see that the missing books are sitting there.

I tried adding books from the backup on D: and they added successfully. However, the books are added to the backup catalog on D: rather than to the primary catalog on C:. The catalog on D: now contains old subdirectories with invalid index numbers and new directories with valid index numbers.

This leads to two questions
Why didn't they add to the primary catalog?
How would you suggest that I get to a clean catalog?
I am thinking of saving all of the books to disk, deleting the messed up catalog,
and adding the saved set. (The 'Use a bigger hammer' approach.)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Fiacha

This is rather late but

At some point I told Calibre to keep its catalog in C:\Calibre books
At some later point I created a backup in D:\Calibre books and proceeded to ignore both directories.

After upgrading to 7.56 and then to 7.57 I eventually noticed that my count of books had dropped from 1300 to 300

I then checked the backup on D: and see that the missing books are sitting there.

I tried adding books from the backup on D: and they added successfully. However, the books are added to the backup catalog on D: rather than to the primary catalog on C:. The catalog on D: now contains old subdirectories with invalid index numbers and new directories with valid index numbers.

This leads to two questions
Why didn't they add to the primary catalog?
How would you suggest that I get to a clean catalog?
I am thinking of saving all of the books to disk, deleting the messed up catalog,
and adding the saved set. (The 'Use a bigger hammer' approach.)

Create a 'New Library' (arrow next to the Library Icon). Give it a distinct name
Now you can switch between via the same arrow.
In one of the original Libraries. Select books: Right-click 'Copy to Library.. (the choice is yours)

That is the proper way to combine/split. Note that the Index numbers will not remain the same, but that only matters to the Library (Calibre)

[kovidgoyal]

@Fiacha: As your post has nothing to do with 0.8 I suggest opening a separate thread for it. And generally speaking, use the variosu options availabe in the calibre menu(click the arrow next to the calibre icon on the toolbar and look at library maintenance).

[Fiacha]

Thanks. I was worried that some of the wierdness was due to trying out 08

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by Fiacha

Thanks. I was worried that some of the wierdness was due to trying out 08

You should be able to verify that easily by just deleting the tweak activating the 0.8 code.