Help: back up has wrecked my library

henrypartridge · 08-11-2011, 11:30 AM

I organised my Calibre library, correcting mistakes on downloaded books (eg author and title reversed.) Then backed up to an external hard drive. Now my library has totally reverted to the uncorrected version and when looking in the Calibre Library folder all the books are as downloaded from the internet. What have I done wrong, can I correct it without starting from scratch.

If I have to start from scratch can I back up in the format that i want to keep the library in?

Any help gratefully appreciated.

user_none · 08-11-2011, 11:46 AM

Calibre only writes metadata to the files themselves in specific circumstances. Metadata changes such as author and cover are stored in calibre's database and will be written to the ebook file if possible and only when necessary.

henrypartridge · 08-11-2011, 12:04 PM

So is it not posible to back up my Calibre library in the form, order etc, that I have it on my PC?

user_none · 08-11-2011, 12:11 PM

Just copy the entire library folder. At the top you will see the DB file with the metadata database. Each folder with the books also has an opf file which stores a backup of the metadata in case the DB becomes damaged. If you ignore the DB file (I don't know why you would) you can tell calibre to rebuild it from the opf files.

henrypartridge · 08-11-2011, 12:20 PM

I've looked at the back up on my external hard drive: each book folder when opened has the mobi file and the OPF file. I think if I can restore from there i will be all right but Calibre restores from the Calibre Library folder on my hard drive which has become messed up. How can I tell Calibre to restore from the external hard drive.

Thanks very much for helping.

kovidgoyal · 08-11-2011, 12:44 PM

Simply point calibre to your backup folder. Click the calibre icon on the toolbar to this.

henrypartridge · 08-11-2011, 12:52 PM

Look, I'm really sorry but I just don't understand. I've clicked on icon on quick launch and on Calibre name at very top of toolbar, but no option there orther than minimise/maximise etc.

kovidgoyal · 08-11-2011, 12:59 PM

the icon on the calibre toolbar the one that has the number of books in your libary under it.

henrypartridge · 08-11-2011, 01:01 PM

Got it: thanks ever so much

08-11-2011, 11:30 AM	#1
henrypartridge Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Help: back up has wrecked my library I organised my Calibre library, correcting mistakes on downloaded books (eg author and title reversed.) Then backed up to an external hard drive. Now my library has totally reverted to the uncorrected version and when looking in the Calibre Library folder all the books are as downloaded from the internet. What have I done wrong, can I correct it without starting from scratch. If I have to start from scratch can I back up in the format that i want to keep the library in? Any help gratefully appreciated.

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08-11-2011, 11:46 AM	#2
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	Calibre only writes metadata to the files themselves in specific circumstances. Metadata changes such as author and cover are stored in calibre's database and will be written to the ebook file if possible and only when necessary.

08-11-2011, 12:04 PM	#3
henrypartridge Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	So is it not posible to back up my Calibre library in the form, order etc, that I have it on my PC?

08-11-2011, 12:11 PM	#4
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	Just copy the entire library folder. At the top you will see the DB file with the metadata database. Each folder with the books also has an opf file which stores a backup of the metadata in case the DB becomes damaged. If you ignore the DB file (I don't know why you would) you can tell calibre to rebuild it from the opf files.

08-11-2011, 12:20 PM	#5
henrypartridge Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	I've looked at the back up on my external hard drive: each book folder when opened has the mobi file and the OPF file. I think if I can restore from there i will be all right but Calibre restores from the Calibre Library folder on my hard drive which has become messed up. How can I tell Calibre to restore from the external hard drive. Thanks very much for helping.

08-11-2011, 12:44 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,264 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Simply point calibre to your backup folder. Click the calibre icon on the toolbar to this.

08-11-2011, 12:52 PM	#7
henrypartridge Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Look, I'm really sorry but I just don't understand. I've clicked on icon on quick launch and on Calibre name at very top of toolbar, but no option there orther than minimise/maximise etc.

08-11-2011, 12:59 PM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,264 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	the icon on the calibre toolbar the one that has the number of books in your libary under it.

08-11-2011, 01:01 PM	#9
henrypartridge Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Got it: thanks ever so much

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