Database got messed up

jhempel24 · 10-06-2014, 01:05 PM

Somehow, and I'm sure this happened because it was my fault somehow, my libraries won't sync.

I've got the same library accessing on two PC's via Dropbox.

I know that you aren't supposed to have two instances open at the same time, and I'm sure I had one opened, went to work, and opened another and thus it stopped syncing on PC.

I went to restore the database, and clean up errors, and of course, things got REALLY screwed up after that. A LOT of the books no longer associate with a file (the metadata is still there, just no book file). Thankfully the books are still on the dropbox folder and I just have to manually go through and re-add them.

My question: If I do this on one PC, let the drop box sync up with the library, and then open the library on the other PC will the changes take place there?

I do notice in some (not all) of the instances there is a file that has (PC NAME -- Conflicted Copy -- Date)

jhempel24 · 10-06-2014, 02:05 PM

Finding another anomaly in which when I re-add the books, they are being copied into the root folder of my dropbox library instead of just using the files that are already there....any thoughts??

This is driving me bananas.

cybmole · 10-06-2014, 02:16 PM

the good news is that you should not have lost any books because dropbox keeps all "deletions" for 30 days & allows restores.

personally I'd do this:
1. create a new calibre library - on a local drive, not in drop box.
2. then add books to it from dropbox until you have recovered all books and rebuilt your metadata ( using calibre add books function)

3 once you are sure that you have a 100% good local library, then delete all th dropbox stuff via one pc.
4 once that is done, allow the other pc to also access dropbox - it shoudl delete all of it's records also when it syncs. If not then assist it manually
5 going forward use dropbox only to hold a backup copy of your local library

others have written a lot about steps 5, using a sync utility like free file sync , set to one way mirror, & use a script to run it every time you close calibre & you are into automated processes. I have my backup in dropbox & I have 2 PCs able to access that dropbox account - it has never screwed up. the 2nd PC syncs as it should to dropbox whenever I turn it on- I see "recent changes downloading" so I know that sync is happening OK

eschwartz · 10-07-2014, 02:21 AM

You can use the following instructions to restore all files to a specified date. It would be easier if Dropbox offered a native way to do so....

https://github.com/eli-schwartz/dropbox-restore

(Github repo forked so I could add in my own app secret.)

Python for windows, everything else is the same.

jhempel24 · 10-16-2014, 05:36 AM

Turns out the files weren't ever "deleted" the pathway that the database used to find the files got disconnected somehow.

I use Calibre extensively on more than just one PC so having it mirrored and working within the cloud so to speak is a must.

Thanks for the suggestions and the python script!

Everything is working as normal now, and I'm only finding a book here or there that isn't in the library that I need to re-add.

eschwartz · 10-19-2014, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

Turns out the files weren't ever "deleted" the pathway that the database used to find the files got disconnected somehow.

Oh, OK.

Quote:

Thanks for the suggestions and the python script!

Sure.

10-06-2014, 01:05 PM	#1
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Database got messed up Somehow, and I'm sure this happened because it was my fault somehow, my libraries won't sync. I've got the same library accessing on two PC's via Dropbox. I know that you aren't supposed to have two instances open at the same time, and I'm sure I had one opened, went to work, and opened another and thus it stopped syncing on PC. I went to restore the database, and clean up errors, and of course, things got REALLY screwed up after that. A LOT of the books no longer associate with a file (the metadata is still there, just no book file). Thankfully the books are still on the dropbox folder and I just have to manually go through and re-add them. My question: If I do this on one PC, let the drop box sync up with the library, and then open the library on the other PC will the changes take place there? I do notice in some (not all) of the instances there is a file that has (PC NAME -- Conflicted Copy -- Date) Last edited by jhempel24; 10-06-2014 at 01:08 PM.

10-07-2014, 02:21 AM	#4
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)	You can use the following instructions to restore all files to a specified date. It would be easier if Dropbox offered a native way to do so.... https://github.com/eli-schwartz/dropbox-restore (Github repo forked so I could add in my own app secret.) Python for windows, everything else is the same. Last edited by eschwartz; 10-19-2014 at 12:22 AM. Reason: now on main branch

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10-06-2014, 02:05 PM	#2
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Finding another anomaly in which when I re-add the books, they are being copied into the root folder of my dropbox library instead of just using the files that are already there....any thoughts?? This is driving me bananas.

10-06-2014, 02:16 PM	#3
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	the good news is that you should not have lost any books because dropbox keeps all "deletions" for 30 days & allows restores. personally I'd do this: 1. create a new calibre library - on a local drive, not in drop box. 2. then add books to it from dropbox until you have recovered all books and rebuilt your metadata ( using calibre add books function) 3 once you are sure that you have a 100% good local library, then delete all th dropbox stuff via one pc. 4 once that is done, allow the other pc to also access dropbox - it shoudl delete all of it's records also when it syncs. If not then assist it manually 5 going forward use dropbox only to hold a backup copy of your local library others have written a lot about steps 5, using a sync utility like free file sync , set to one way mirror, & use a script to run it every time you close calibre & you are into automated processes. I have my backup in dropbox & I have 2 PCs able to access that dropbox account - it has never screwed up. the 2nd PC syncs as it should to dropbox whenever I turn it on- I see "recent changes downloading" so I know that sync is happening OK

10-16-2014, 05:36 AM	#5
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Turns out the files weren't ever "deleted" the pathway that the database used to find the files got disconnected somehow. I use Calibre extensively on more than just one PC so having it mirrored and working within the cloud so to speak is a must. Thanks for the suggestions and the python script! Everything is working as normal now, and I'm only finding a book here or there that isn't in the library that I need to re-add.

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