Library Missing - Help Needed

[robynmau]

Hi There

I'm fairly new to Calibre, but not bad on the computer. So I was able to work out how to add my books to the library, change formats [I have a Kindle] and even merge folders, and things seemed to be going very well.

Then, a few days back I opened Calibre and my library was missing. The book folders are all still there. Calibre still has the correct folder listed for the library, but I can't get the information to show.

On a technical level, I checked the library under the Library Maintenance area, all seems well, but still no go on seeing the books listed. I then ran 'debug' and got the following report:

calibre Debug log
calibre 0.8.11
Windows-XP-5.1.2600-SP3
Windows
('Windows', 'XP', '5.1.2600')
Python 2.7.1
Windows: ('XP', '5.1.2600', 'SP3', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Starting up...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\update.py", line 44, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\update.py", line 28, in get_newest_version
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_mechanize.py", line 203, in open
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_mechanize.py", line 230, in _mech_open
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_opener.py", line 193, in open
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_urllib2_fork.py", line 344, in _open
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_urllib2_fork.py", line 332, in _call_chain
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_urllib2_fork.py", line 1142, in http_open
File "site-packages\mechanize-0.2.4-py2.7.egg\mechanize\_urllib2_fork.py", line 1118, in do_open
URLError: <urlopen error [Errno 11001] getaddrinfo failed>
Started up in 6.26600003242

I tried checking for help through the forum, but wasn't able to see anything that applied.

Can someone help me please.

Cheers

Robyn

[Manichean]

Are the book files and the metadata.db file in the library root still there?

[robynmau]

In addition to the books I put into the library, Calibre has created the following two files

metadata.db
metadata_pre_restore.db

[theducks]

Originally Posted by robynmau

In addition to the books I put into the library, Calibre has created the following two files

metadata.db
metadata_pre_restore.db

The second line is not in a normal working system.
Something may have been interrupted during a DB update.

Wait for Kovid for specific instructions.

[Manichean]

And while you wait for Kovid, take comfort in the fact that your book files, at least, are still there

[kovidgoyal]

See http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq....n-app-is-blank

[robynmau]

Thank you all for your replies.

Kovid, I had already tried the 'restore' option, but still nothing on the screen, hence I resorted to asking for help from the forum :-)

Any suggestions on where to from here will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Robyn

[kovidgoyal]

Are you sure you have calibre pointed to the correct folder? The only way restore would result in an empty list is if it isn't pointed to the correct folder.

Also make sure you dont have a search restriction in place. Is the area to the left of the search box in yellow saying (0 of 0)? If there is no restriction it will say (all books)

[robynmau]

Kovid, once again, thank you for getting back to me. I'll try to explain exactly what I've been doing.

I've decided to do it in 2 parts, easiest [search] first:

I don’t have anything in yellow – (all books) shows between faded out ‘Restrict to & Search (for advanced search click the button to the left)'


Now I'll try the folder part:

I chose the books icon [shows 0 books], then selected the switch/create library option - it shows my directory below the 'choose your Calibre Library' - I've even triple checked it, just to make sure that I'm not wasting your time

I have also tried using the browse on the 'new directory location' to go to the directory, but I couldn't trick it. When I chose use previous library at new location - I got an error message, saying same as current

I created another folder - my ebooks library - when I chose move the current library to a new location, Calibre seemed to operate, but the books did not move, and I finished up with a blank screen again - with the books icon showing [0] books

I used the library maintenance option to 'check library' - after Calibre checked the library integrity [did seem to take a little bit of time] - I got the message about no errors being found and would I like to check if the files in the database match the information in the database - when I said yes, I got the message of 'no problems found' - files & info match.

What am I doing wrong? I enjoyed getting the program to show my books, but not so much that I want to do it all again :-)

Anything further you can suggest, will be appreciated.

Cheers

Robyn

PS: I am operating under Calibre 0.8.11

[kovidgoyal]

That doesn't make sense. There's something in there that you think you're doing but you're not actually doing.

Try this to workaround everything:

Use the Switch/create menu action to create a new empty library, in a completely new location,

now in the new library, click the arrow next to add books and select add books recursively, one per directory.

Choose the folder containing your old library.

calibre should re-add all your books, preserving their metadata.

[robynmau]

Yeah, I know, it doesn't make sense, when I take into account all I've read, and the help I've been given. Logically, it should work, BUT - I actually did each piece of the puzzle, and wrote out my description as I went along for that last post.

STILL, I will try your suggested work around and see how it goes and then let you know how I went :-) And a very big thank you for your perseverence!!!


Regards

Robyn

[robynmau]

Good Morning :-)

Kovid, you are fabulous. The last instructions worked and all my books are now located in the new directory, and show up in Calibre!!! Only difference is that the Tag Browser hasn't appeared, so I'll read up on how to get that to come through in your on line manual.

Once again, thank you for you help.

Cheers

Robyn

PS: I really like Calibre [even after this] and find it pretty intuitive to use

[kovidgoyal]

Glad it worked

The Tag Browser can be shown and hidden by clicking the little tag icon in the bottom right of the calibre window

[robynmau]

Terrific, so simple, all done now :-)

Cheers

Robyn