Trying to merge 2 libraries

madmusic36 · 01-29-2014, 07:22 PM

Hi, I am new so I am sorry if I am posting something that has already been answered by I have searched the forum and could not find my answer. I am an extreme novice to Calibre so just learning all of the technical lingo. I want to merge my friends library with mine. I had read where you need to create a new library so Calibre can "find" it but when I create library it tells me "the folder is not empty please choose an empty folder." I created an empty folder, copied the files to the folder but when I pull it up in Calibre no books appear. Can someone tell me, or show me, the step by step instructions on how to do this. Thank you in advance.

eschwartz · 01-29-2014, 07:34 PM

To add books to a library it is not enough to have it in the folder, you must let calibre know the books are there. Do NOT add it via the File Explorer!

To add books to calibre libraries, there is a button called Add books. Click the arrow next to it and choose the second option in order to add books that were exported from calibre. (This is a special setting to read the metadata files that were saved originally.)

See screenshot.

theducks · 01-29-2014, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmusic36

Hi, I am new so I am sorry if I am posting something that has already been answered by I have searched the forum and could not find my answer. I am an extreme novice to Calibre so just learning all of the technical lingo. I want to merge my friends library with mine. I had read where you need to create a new library so Calibre can "find" it but when I create library it tells me "the folder is not empty please choose an empty folder." I created an empty folder, copied the files to the folder but when I pull it up in Calibre no books appear. Can someone tell me, or show me, the step by step instructions on how to do this. Thank you in advance.

If the other library is a 'Calibre Library'
Use Existing is the choice you want. The warning is to prevent creating a NEW Library in occupied space

Once the second Library is accessed: select Books: Right click: COPY TO LIBRARY: <the target library>

madmusic36 · 01-30-2014, 02:57 PM

Ok here are the steps I am taking. Other library is in a folder named Library.
1. Click on the Calibre Library, box opens and has a new location box and 3 selections.
Use the existing library at the new location
Create an empty library
Move current Library.
2. I choose use existing library and pointed to the path for the folder named Library.
I now get and error message stating there is no existing library at this path.

So I don't know what I am doing wrong. The folder named Library has all the author folders in it which contain the individual metadata.

eschwartz · 01-30-2014, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmusic36

Ok here are the steps I am taking. Other library is in a folder named Library.
1. Click on the Calibre Library, box opens and has a new location box and 3 selections.
Use the existing library at the new location
Create an empty library
Move current Library.
2. I choose use existing library and pointed to the path for the folder named Library.
I now get and error message stating there is no existing library at this path.

So I don't know what I am doing wrong. The folder named Library has all the author folders in it which contain the individual metadata.

Does it contain the actual library, untouched from the old computer? That contains a metadata.db file, and folders organized according to "author/title (id)/" with files "title - author.ebook-type" "metadata.opf" "cover.jpg"?

Or does it have a saved library which contains no database and the folder structure looks different? If so, then you will have to do as I said, and create a new library, then import like I said earlier:

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

To add books to calibre libraries, there is a button called Add books. Click the arrow next to it and choose the second option in order to add books that were exported from calibre. (This is a special setting to read the metadata files that were saved originally.)

See screenshot.

madmusic36 · 01-30-2014, 04:54 PM

Thank you so much! I did not realize there was a *.db file at the end of the library. Thanks again for your patience!

LadyKate · 02-05-2014, 12:07 AM

It might be a good idea to run Find Duplicates and check for binary duplicates in the two libraries before merging them.

madmusic36 · 02-09-2014, 09:07 AM

Thank you for the tip LadyKate. How do I do that?

LadyKate · 02-09-2014, 09:34 AM

Install the plugin "Find Duplicates".

It has a pull down menu. The second choice is find library duplicates. If you are running it from the library you want to merge to the main library you will then choose your main library as the library to compare to.

I usually run it a few times using first binary duplicates for the exact duplicate. These will be easy to select and exclude from the merge as they are EXACTLY the same.

What will not be found are those epubs that have had bookmarks put in them or changes made with Edit Book or Modify ePub.

The second set of find duplicates I do is to find exact title, author. These you can decide for yourself if you want to merge them or if you want to put a tag or add an update column to indicate which came from the merge.

I use a custom "Update" column and indicate the duplicates.

I usually run Find Duplicates after doing the merge too.

01-29-2014, 07:22 PM	#1
madmusic36 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: none	Trying to merge 2 libraries Hi, I am new so I am sorry if I am posting something that has already been answered by I have searched the forum and could not find my answer. I am an extreme novice to Calibre so just learning all of the technical lingo. I want to merge my friends library with mine. I had read where you need to create a new library so Calibre can "find" it but when I create library it tells me "the folder is not empty please choose an empty folder." I created an empty folder, copied the files to the folder but when I pull it up in Calibre no books appear. Can someone tell me, or show me, the step by step instructions on how to do this. Thank you in advance.

01-29-2014, 07:34 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	To add books to a library it is not enough to have it in the folder, you must let calibre know the books are there. Do NOT add it via the File Explorer! To add books to calibre libraries, there is a button called Add books. Click the arrow next to it and choose the second option in order to add books that were exported from calibre. (This is a special setting to read the metadata files that were saved originally.) See screenshot. Attached Thumbnails

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01-30-2014, 02:57 PM	#4
madmusic36 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: none	Ok here are the steps I am taking. Other library is in a folder named Library. 1. Click on the Calibre Library, box opens and has a new location box and 3 selections. Use the existing library at the new location Create an empty library Move current Library. 2. I choose use existing library and pointed to the path for the folder named Library. I now get and error message stating there is no existing library at this path. So I don't know what I am doing wrong. The folder named Library has all the author folders in it which contain the individual metadata.

01-30-2014, 04:54 PM	#6
madmusic36 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: none	Thank you so much! I did not realize there was a *.db file at the end of the library. Thanks again for your patience!

02-05-2014, 12:07 AM	#7
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	It might be a good idea to run Find Duplicates and check for binary duplicates in the two libraries before merging them.

02-09-2014, 09:07 AM	#8
madmusic36 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: none	Thank you for the tip LadyKate. How do I do that?

02-09-2014, 09:34 AM	#9
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	Install the plugin "Find Duplicates". It has a pull down menu. The second choice is find library duplicates. If you are running it from the library you want to merge to the main library you will then choose your main library as the library to compare to. I usually run it a few times using first binary duplicates for the exact duplicate. These will be easy to select and exclude from the merge as they are EXACTLY the same. What will not be found are those epubs that have had bookmarks put in them or changes made with Edit Book or Modify ePub. The second set of find duplicates I do is to find exact title, author. These you can decide for yourself if you want to merge them or if you want to put a tag or add an update column to indicate which came from the merge. I use a custom "Update" column and indicate the duplicates. I usually run Find Duplicates after doing the merge too.

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