Can I store metadata.db separately from the books themselves?

[MyNameIsMrBurns]

I have a big library full of big files. This makes Calibre slow to start up and search.

I'd like to put the Calibre database on my SSD, to improve this. However I don't want to move the entire library, because it'll eat up a big chunk of my small SSD.

Would it be possible for me to stick metadata.db somewhere on my SSD and create some kind of junction or link connecting it to the library folder? Would there be any risks or downsides?

[BetterRed]

@MyNameIsMrBurns - On Windows or Linux you could move metadata.db to your ssd and put a symlink to it in the library folder, but I'm not sure it will improve startup times by as much as you're hoping.

As a test, you could copy the metadata.db to an empty folder on your ssd, and then point calibre at the folder via Switch/Create library and tell it the folder is an existing library - the author/book folders are not mandatory. Then see what startup times are when it is the current library

Here's as 'how to' for Windows & Linux symlinks ==>> Complete Guide to Symbolic Links (symlinks) on Windows or Linux

Apple fans have told me that Symlinks dont work on OS/X, not having a MAC I've no idea if that's true or just an urban myth.

If you do decide to keep the metadata on the ssd, then you'll need to ensure it gets backed up with the rest of the library.

BR

[PeterT]

Why use symbolic links? Look at http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cust...ment-variables

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Why use symbolic links? Look at http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cust...ment-variables

@PeterT : Firstly because I clean forgot about the CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH

And that's probably because I have several libraries for which I split the database from the books, in that scenario I found the Env Variable method cumbersome. I keep the database files in a single folder with names that reflect the library folder names thus.

c:\_CalibreData
    Databases
        _Empty.db <<== d:\_CalibreLibraries\_Empty\metadata.db
        _Journals.db <<== d:\_CalibreLibraries\_Journals\metadata.db
        _Main.db <<== d:\_CalibreLibraries\_Main\metadata.db
        _Media.db <<== d:\_CalibreLibraries\_Media\metadata.db
        _Stage.db <<== d:\_CalibreLibraries\_Stage\metadata.db
        _Test.db <<== d:\_CalibreLibraries\_Test\metadata.db

On Windows/NTFS at least, the source file and the symlink do not have to have the same name. And, IMO, keeping them all in one place is good housekeeping. The end result means I can switch libraries normally.

BR