Moving a few books from Calibre on desktop to Calibre on laptop

tas03 · 10-10-2018, 10:31 AM

I exported my Calibre library from a desktop to a laptop. If I now add a few books to the desktop library, is there a way to move the books to the laptop also without re-exporting the entire library.

I could swear there is a way to do this and that I have done it but I am having a senior moment and cannot remember for sure. I tried searching the forums and could not find anything that applies. I think it might have involved the content server but again, cannot remember. I found the description of syncing through the content server but it seemed like there were steps involved that I could not follow or were taken as a given.

Thanks.

gbm · 10-10-2018, 12:03 PM

Use the content server.
Use save to disk to a network shared drive or folder then add to calibre.
Use save to disk to a usb drive, then add to calibre.
bernie

Quote:

Originally Posted by tas03

I exported my Calibre library from a desktop to a laptop. If I now add a few books to the desktop library, is there a way to move the books to the laptop also without re-exporting the entire library.

I could swear there is a way to do this and that I have done it but I am having a senior moment and cannot remember for sure. I tried searching the forums and could not find anything that applies. I think it might have involved the content server but again, cannot remember. I found the description of syncing through the content server but it seemed like there were steps involved that I could not follow or were taken as a given.

Thanks.

theducks · 10-10-2018, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tas03

I exported my Calibre library from a desktop to a laptop. If I now add a few books to the desktop library, is there a way to move the books to the laptop also without re-exporting the entire library.

I could swear there is a way to do this and that I have done it but I am having a senior moment and cannot remember for sure. I tried searching the forums and could not find anything that applies. I think it might have involved the content server but again, cannot remember. I found the description of syncing through the content server but it seemed like there were steps involved that I could not follow or were taken as a given.

Thanks.

If your Laptop has a Network Share to the desktop (and your desktop Library is the 'master, cleanest" : This way, everything about all books will be current.
Note, this does not change any per-user settings, only per-library settings
(assumes the required plugins exist on the laptop)

With BOTH Calibre's shut down (important to avoid any locked files)
Empty the Laptops Library folder (the folder is the Library name. This way leaves the linked library intact)
COPY the CONTENTS of the PC Library folder and paste into the Laptops Library folder

DO NOT just paste over the existing Library as it will leave trash (items that were renamed or deleted) from the previous Library
IMHO

BetterRed · 10-10-2018, 05:23 PM

If you can share the laptop drive on the desktop, then at the desktop:

use the Switch/create library->Use the previously existing library at the new location option to 'register' the Laptop Library
switch to the Desktop library
mark the books you want copy to Laptop Library (you may need to add the Mark Books tool to a toolbar/menu)
show marked books
select the marked books (Ctrl+A)
use the Copy to library->Laptop Library tool (by default it will be in the book list contest menu)
wait until copying is finished
use the library tool Remove option to 'deregister' the Laptop Library from desktop calibre, that won't change the library in any way.

Use of the Mark took is a suggestion, you may have another way to filter the books - e.g. via an #onlaptop/On Laptop custom Yes/No column.

BR

ilovejedd · 10-10-2018, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

If your Laptop has a Network Share to the desktop (and your desktop Library is the 'master, cleanest" : This way, everything about all books will be current.
Note, this does not change any per-user settings, only per-library settings
(assumes the required plugins exist on the laptop)

With BOTH Calibre's shut down (important to avoid any locked files)
Empty the Laptops Library folder (the folder is the Library name. This way leaves the linked library intact)
COPY the CONTENTS of the PC Library folder and paste into the Laptops Library folder

DO NOT just paste over the existing Library as it will leave trash (items that were renamed or deleted) from the previous Library
IMHO

Instead of doing a complete copy every single time, I would suggest using something like FreeFileSync in one-way mirror mode (with the desktop as master). More efficient particularly if one has a few thousand books. I do this for my Calibre Portable folder.

HarryT · 10-11-2018, 02:59 AM

Agreed. I use Microsoft "SyncToy", but exactly the same principle.

BetterRed · 10-12-2018, 06:19 PM

Moderator Notice
This thread had drifted so far and for so long I've moved most of it to a separate thread ==>> Backups - Synchronisation and Networks

I note the OP hasn't posted since #1

BR

tas03 · 10-14-2018, 12:24 PM

I am the original poster and I posted a reply after the first two responses. For some reason my reply did not show up.

I had posted in that reply that I knew how to move the entire library and was looking for an easy way to move just a few books. There was a method I had used and cannot remember what it was.

I ended up using the Content Server method. It was different from the way I moved a few books before, which I could swear had been through the Contact Server.

I wish I could find what that original method had been. The Content Server method that I ended up using is sort of cumbersome to use if you let things get out of hand and you have more than a book or two. I have over two thousand books in Calibre and copying the entire library to a thumbdrive on the desktop and then from the thumbdrive onto the laptop and into Calibre on the laptop can take a while if all you need to do is a few books.

I just had a flash as I was typing the above. I think I might have used my iPad and copied the books from Calibre Companion onto the laptop, but I am going to have to research that.

One of the bad things about getting old is that you forget something as simple as which two devices you used to move books around a month or two ago.

10-10-2018, 05:23 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,616 Karma: 29710338 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If you can share the laptop drive on the desktop, then at the desktop: use the Switch/create library->Use the previously existing library at the new location option to 'register' the Laptop Library switch to the Desktop library mark the books you want copy to Laptop Library (you may need to add the Mark Books tool to a toolbar/menu) show marked books select the marked books (Ctrl+A) use the Copy to library->Laptop Library tool (by default it will be in the book list contest menu) wait until copying is finished use the library tool Remove option to 'deregister' the Laptop Library from desktop calibre, that won't change the library in any way. Use of the Mark took is a suggestion, you may have another way to filter the books - e.g. via an #onlaptop/On Laptop custom Yes/No column. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 10-10-2018 at 05:31 PM.

10-12-2018, 06:19 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,616 Karma: 29710338 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Moderator Notice This thread had drifted so far and for so long I've moved most of it to a separate thread ==>> Backups - Synchronisation and Networks I note the OP hasn't posted since #1 BR Last edited by BetterRed; 10-12-2018 at 06:47 PM.

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10-10-2018, 10:31 AM	#1
tas03 Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 129368 Join Date: Feb 2017 Device: Nook Glowlight +, Nook Tab. , Nook Simple Touch, iPad Air, iPhone 6Se	Moving a few books from Calibre on desktop to Calibre on laptop I exported my Calibre library from a desktop to a laptop. If I now add a few books to the desktop library, is there a way to move the books to the laptop also without re-exporting the entire library. I could swear there is a way to do this and that I have done it but I am having a senior moment and cannot remember for sure. I tried searching the forums and could not find anything that applies. I think it might have involved the content server but again, cannot remember. I found the description of syncing through the content server but it seemed like there were steps involved that I could not follow or were taken as a given. Thanks.

10-11-2018, 02:59 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Agreed. I use Microsoft "SyncToy", but exactly the same principle.

10-14-2018, 12:24 PM	#8
tas03 Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 129368 Join Date: Feb 2017 Device: Nook Glowlight +, Nook Tab. , Nook Simple Touch, iPad Air, iPhone 6Se	I am the original poster and I posted a reply after the first two responses. For some reason my reply did not show up. I had posted in that reply that I knew how to move the entire library and was looking for an easy way to move just a few books. There was a method I had used and cannot remember what it was. I ended up using the Content Server method. It was different from the way I moved a few books before, which I could swear had been through the Contact Server. I wish I could find what that original method had been. The Content Server method that I ended up using is sort of cumbersome to use if you let things get out of hand and you have more than a book or two. I have over two thousand books in Calibre and copying the entire library to a thumbdrive on the desktop and then from the thumbdrive onto the laptop and into Calibre on the laptop can take a while if all you need to do is a few books. I just had a flash as I was typing the above. I think I might have used my iPad and copied the books from Calibre Companion onto the laptop, but I am going to have to research that. One of the bad things about getting old is that you forget something as simple as which two devices you used to move books around a month or two ago.

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