export/import all calibre data didyn't work

[beldin2]

I have tried to move my calibre library using export/import tool in the library menu. I had made two copies of the library using this method some time ago. Unfortunately, I am not able to recover my old library and calibre data out of none of them. Calibre data restoration is very fast (a few books per second) during first 30 percents of it. Then it slows down and restoration of one book takes a few minutes. I have let the computer work for a couple of hours and it restored 60 percent of my library but then all calibre data import window has vanished. None of the restored 60% of books is visible in calibre but they all are in calibre library folder.
Help me restore my calibre library, please.
PS:
I use Polish version of Calibre and my English isn't very good. However, I hope my translation of the Polish nomenclature into English is clear for You.

[kovidgoyal]

Run calibre in debug mode (right lcick the preferences button and choose restart in debug mode) and post the debug log after importing fails.

You can also run the importer from the command line, which might work better, like this:

In a command prompt:

calibre-debug -c "from calibre.utils.exim import test_import; test_import('c:/path/to/folder/with/exported/data', 'c:/path/to/empty/folder')"

all your libraries will be created inside c:/path/to/empty/folder

Note that C:/path/to/empty/folder will be deleted if it exists, so make sure it is empty/not important.

[lauralmarie]

Hi, I hope someone has run into this problem I am having, it is a bit different than the problem beldin2 had.

I got a new computer and need to move my Calibre library to it. I exported my library into an empty folder (on a memory stick) as instructed. The file is named - part-0001.calibre-data - and the size is 826MB. When I go to the new computer and use the import function in the new Calibre and direct it to the exported file, it does not see it, as if it is not in a recognizable format. When I check the file in file explorer it is there. I have the latest Calibre version on both computers, and both have Windows 10. Any ideas as to what the problem is?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by lauralmarie

When I go to the new computer and use the import function in the new Calibre and direct it to the exported file, it does not see it, as if it is not in a recognizable format.

Exported folder, not file.

You are not supposed to be able to select the individual *.calibre-data file(s) -- just select the containing folder.

[lauralmarie]

@ eschwartz. Yes, obviously you choose the folder.

This is how it goes:
1) I exported the library data to an empty folder as instructed which created the data file I mentioned.
2) On new computer (with new Calibre-same version) I chose -Import previously exported data-. Then it instructs you to choose folder.
3) When I choose the folder I had exported the data to it brings me into Calibre with a prompt to -Specify locations for the libraries you want to import. A location must be an empty folder on your computer-

It's looking for the library folder, not an exported data file. I ended up just manually copying my library into the new library folder and it worked for the most part, had to do a lot of cleanup, but at least I have my library on my new computer.

[eschwartz]

Well, that is not what you said at first.

So, when you reached the next stage and it asked you to select a folder in which to recreate the library, did it work or was there an additional problem you haven't mentioned?

[theducks]

What is not spelled out is: You must OS Create the folder before you do the import

[shayaknyc]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

calibre-debug -c "from calibre.utils.exim import test_import; test_import('c:/path/to/folder/with/exported/data', 'c:/path/to/empty/folder')"

So, I too had a strange issue with restoring my export onto a new machine (old one crashed). I tried importing via GUI and that resulted in a strange "Access Denied" error, so I followed the instructions quoted above, replacing the source and destination appropriately and I got the same error:

Completed 1709 1709
Settings and plugins 1 2
Python function terminated unexpectedly
  [Error 5] Access is denied (Error Code: 1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "site.py", line 132, in main
  File "site.py", line 109, in run_entry_point
  File "site-packages\calibre\debug.py", line 241, in main
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
  File "site-packages\calibre\utils\exim.py", line 374, in test_import
  File "site-packages\calibre\utils\exim.py", line 360, in import_data
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied

I'm running Windows 10 64-bit with the latest version of Calibre 64-bit v3.2.1. I checked the file permissions of the folder and all *.calibre-data files and they're set to Full Permissions for "Everyone" as well as the permissions on the destination folder. Should I be running this import in an admin command prompt? Kind of at a loss here and not sure why the import is failing the full restore.....

[kovidgoyal]

That's an error when trying to move the imported config directory to your current configuration directory location. Which means the permissions on the folder in which your calibre config directory is located are incorrect. You can check the location of the config directory via Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open config directory

[kovidgoyal]

Actually, since this is windows, it could also be that your anti-virus is scanning the importerd config directory and therefore preventing it from being moved. So try turning it off while doing the import.

[shayaknyc]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That's an error when trying to move the imported config directory to your current configuration directory location. Which means the permissions on the folder in which your calibre config directory is located are incorrect. You can check the location of the config directory via Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open config directory

Thanks so much for such a quick reply! So, since the last import broke, I uninstalled calibre and all calibre library files, reinstalled and before even running the GUI for the first time, I ran the command again in an admin shell and that worked with no errors.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by shayaknyc

Thanks so much for such a quick reply! So, since the last import broke, I uninstalled calibre and all calibre library files, reinstalled and before even running the GUI for the first time, I ran the command again in an admin shell and that worked with no errors.

Running from Admin, ignores folder Rights (ownership).
Calibe is designed to be installed with Admin PRIVILEGES, not as ADMIN

[shayaknyc]

Quick question, I noticed that in the directory where I specified the restore: c:/users/[username]/calibre library/

that the import function created 2 directories inside:
1) c:/users/[username]/calibre library/calibre library/
2) c:/users/[username]/calibre library/calibre-config/

I noticed that all the plugins from the original install that was exported appear to be in the calibre-config directory. Where do I restore these? Do I put them in C:/Users/[username]/AppData/Roaming/calibre

[kovidgoyal]

Move the entire contents of the config directory over, or set the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environment variable to point to c:/users/[username]/calibre library/calibre-config/

[shayaknyc]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Move the entire contents of the config directory over, or set the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environment variable to point to c:/users/[username]/calibre library/calibre-config/

A-MAZING! Thanks so much! I sincerely appreciate the work you do on calibre! It's really an amazing product and is one of my most prized possessions - I'd be devastated if I no longer had my digital library!