Does Save To Disk replace older files with files that have newer metadata?

[unboggling]

Does Save To Disk replace older files with files that have newer metadata? If I Save To Disk the library, then later modify some metadata in the Library, then Save To Disk again to the same folder, does Save To Disk automatically replace the previously saved files that have older modified dates and older metadata (such as OPFs)?

Does the default column Modified have anything to do with this? I haven't been using this column, but maybe it's there for a good reason I haven't been aware of?

When I periodically Save To Disk for library backup purposes, is it better to just Save To Disk into the same folder time after time? Or to a new folder each time to insure all the new metadata is captured in the saved library's book files?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by unboggling

Does Save To Disk replace older files with files that have newer metadata? If I Save To Disk the library, then later modify some metadata in the Library, then Save To Disk again to the same folder, does Save To Disk automatically replace the previously saved files that have older modified dates and older metadata (such as OPFs)?

Does the default column Modified have anything to do with this? I haven't been using this column, but maybe it's there for a good reason I haven't been aware of?

When I periodically Save To Disk for library backup purposes, is it better to just Save To Disk into the same folder time after time? Or to a new folder each time to insure all the new metadata is captured in the saved library's book files?

STD
will overwrite
will not delete old files that no longer exist because the (folder) name changed or were deleted from the Library.

A FULL backup should just copy the entire Library Folder with Calibre NOT RUNNING (to avoid any file locking issues).

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by theducks

STD
will overwrite

That's good.

Originally Posted by theducks

will not delete old files that no longer exist because the (folder) name changed or were deleted from the Library.

Not good.

Originally Posted by theducks

A FULL backup should just copy the entire Library Folder with Calibre NOT RUNNING (to avoid any file locking issues).

That's what I'll do and recommend then in next Workflow revision. For some strange reason earlier I forgot about just copying the library folder in the OS instead of using STD, though I've done it before. Good caveat — I never thought to have calibre NOT RUNNING at the time of OS library copy.

Thanks

Edit: What about the Modified column? What do people generally use it for?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by unboggling

Edit: What about the Modified column? What do people generally use it for?

Send a fresh(er) copy to my Reader.
Modified works to inform me that I have changed an 'Empty Book' to a Full Book (the date column has the record creation date)

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by theducks

Send a fresh(er) copy to my Reader.
Modified works to inform me that I have changed an 'Empty Book' to a Full Book (the date column has the record creation date)

Ah. So I guess what it actually does is read the latest modified-dates off the OS modified date on any file in the book folder? Or does calibre just assign today's date when I Edit or change any metadata?

I don't use Empty Books, prefer using placeholder formats for wishlist items then switch formats when a good format for that book comes in. But if I did use Empty Books, I'd use the Modified column.

I can't think of any other reasons to want Modified to take up library booklist space.