How to copy a Calibre libray

Philipstelvio · 06-02-2015, 08:13 AM

Hello,

I am new here.
Since some time now I am using Calibre in combination with my Kobo Aura.
Calibre is installed on my home PC. Now I have installed Calibre portable on an external Hard disk because I want to take it with me when I"m away from home.So that I can use Calibre in combination with my small notebook.
Therefore I would like to copy my existing Calibre library to the external Harddisk. The original library should of course remain on the home PC.
How do I do that?
I have tried all sorts of things but it doest work.

Philip

HarryT · 06-02-2015, 10:49 AM

There's no secret to it - just copy your Calibre library folder to your external disk, and tell Calibre Portable to open that library. Should work fine. Make sure you copy the folder when Calibre is not running, so that no files are open.

theducks · 06-02-2015, 12:42 PM

If you go your route (Laptop + Desktop):
IMHO your biggest problem will be synching

Why not just Copy your Entire Library to your Portable (remember to copy your Preferences also) and use That Portable on both (connect to a mainboard USB2 port, not a Hub for best performance) .

Consider the Original PC Library location a place to keep a backup as portable drives do suffer from transit disasters.

Philipstelvio · 06-02-2015, 02:47 PM

Thank you for the replys.

I already did what you suggested and it seems to work.
Thank you!
Only one small problem left:

When I open Calibre form the harddisk on my notebook, calibre automatically
shows the original Calibre library with only the original users manual in it.
I can switch to my other library (which is called "calibre bibliotheek" in dutch)
but I would like to change things so that Calibre automatically shows my
"bibliotheek" when I start it.
Is this possible?

Philip

BetterRed · 06-02-2015, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philipstelvio

Thank you for the replys.

I already did what you suggested and it seems to work.
Thank you!
Only one small problem left:

When I open Calibre form the harddisk on my notebook, calibre automatically
shows the original Calibre library with only the original users manual in it.
I can switch to my other library (which is called "calibre bibliotheek" in dutch)
but I would like to change things so that Calibre automatically shows my
"bibliotheek" when I start it.
Is this possible?

Philip

@Philipstelvio - start calibre with the path to required library as the '--with-library' option. Make sure you enclose the path in quotes (") if it has any spaces. See ==>> calibre command

BR

Philipstelvio · 06-06-2015, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@Philipstelvio - start calibre with the path to required library as the '--with-library' option. Make sure you enclose the path in quotes (") if it has any spaces. See ==>> calibre command

BR

What do you mean: "start Calibre with the path to required library"?
I can only start Calibre by clicking on the ikon on my startpage.

HarryT · 06-06-2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philipstelvio

What do you mean: "start Calibre with the path to required library"?
I can only start Calibre by clicking on the ikon on my startpage.

No, that's simply one way of running Calibre. Another method is to start it from a command prompt, or a batch file.

You can of course edit the command that is executed when you click on an icon.

BetterRed · 06-06-2015, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philipstelvio

What do you mean: "start Calibre with the path to required library"?
I can only start Calibre by clicking on the ikon on my startpage.

@Philipstelvio

click Start button
in search box type notepad
you should see Notepad.exe at top of results list - double click it
Easiest way to get the path to a library folder is to use Windows Explorer (that's the file manager not the internet browser). Windows-key+e will start Windows Explorer.
Browse to the location of the required library folder
Shift+right click the required library folder
Select Copy as Path. That will put its path into the clipboard
Go back to the Notepad window
Type calibre --with-library (nb: there's a space on the end)
Paste the clipboard (ctrl+v)

you should see something like this

Code:

calibre --with-library "C:\Users\<your windows user id>\Documents\Main Library"

Save the file from notepad to your desktop with a file name something like CalibreMain.bat
Close Notepad
Double click the CalibreMain.bat icon (it will be a gear wheel icon)

Calibre should start with the required library

BR

HarryT · 06-06-2015, 06:00 PM

... Or you could put the same command line in the "Properties" dialog of the Calibre icon.

BetterRed · 06-06-2015, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

... Or you could put the same command line in the "Properties" dialog of the Calibre icon.

but would be better and a bit easier to create a new shortcut (right click desktop->New->Shortcut), then it wont get 'lost' if one should ever need to do an uninstall/install.

BR

HarryT · 06-07-2015, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

but would be better and a bit easier to create a new shortcut (right click desktop->New->Shortcut), then it wont get 'lost' if one should ever need to do an uninstall/install.

BR

An excellent point. I prostrate myself before your superior intellect, BR

.

eschwartz · 06-17-2015, 10:22 PM

If you manually set the drive letter of the external HDD to something towards the end of the alphabet, then it will be much more unlikely that the drive letter is reserved by something else (causing a change).

calibre should remember and open to the last-used-library, but if the drive letter changes then that doesn't work.

There should not be any need to use batch files or modify the shortcuts...

06-02-2015, 08:13 AM	#1
Philipstelvio Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: Kobo Aura	How to copy a Calibre libray Hello, I am new here. Since some time now I am using Calibre in combination with my Kobo Aura. Calibre is installed on my home PC. Now I have installed Calibre portable on an external Hard disk because I want to take it with me when I"m away from home.So that I can use Calibre in combination with my small notebook. Therefore I would like to copy my existing Calibre library to the external Harddisk. The original library should of course remain on the home PC. How do I do that? I have tried all sorts of things but it doest work. Philip

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06-02-2015, 10:49 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There's no secret to it - just copy your Calibre library folder to your external disk, and tell Calibre Portable to open that library. Should work fine. Make sure you copy the folder when Calibre is not running, so that no files are open.

06-02-2015, 12:42 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,944 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	If you go your route (Laptop + Desktop): IMHO your biggest problem will be synching Why not just Copy your Entire Library to your Portable (remember to copy your Preferences also) and use That Portable on both (connect to a mainboard USB2 port, not a Hub for best performance) . Consider the Original PC Library location a place to keep a backup as portable drives do suffer from transit disasters.

06-02-2015, 02:47 PM	#4
Philipstelvio Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: Kobo Aura	Thank you for the replys. I already did what you suggested and it seems to work. Thank you! Only one small problem left: When I open Calibre form the harddisk on my notebook, calibre automatically shows the original Calibre library with only the original users manual in it. I can switch to my other library (which is called "calibre bibliotheek" in dutch) but I would like to change things so that Calibre automatically shows my "bibliotheek" when I start it. Is this possible? Philip

06-06-2015, 06:00 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	... Or you could put the same command line in the "Properties" dialog of the Calibre icon.

06-17-2015, 10:22 PM	#12
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)	If you manually set the drive letter of the external HDD to something towards the end of the alphabet, then it will be much more unlikely that the drive letter is reserved by something else (causing a change). calibre should remember and open to the last-used-library, but if the drive letter changes then that doesn't work. There should not be any need to use batch files or modify the shortcuts...

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