My Calibre Library is Blank and won't accept the old location

Josieb1 · 05-08-2020, 01:45 PM

Hi

My Calibre library folder is on Dropbox. Hubby accidentally moved the folder into another folder. I've put it back in its correct location now but my Calibre is empty. I've tried repointing Calibre to the existing library using Switch/Create Library but i'm getting an error message. Can anyone tell me what i'm doing wrong please?

This is the error message

calibre, version 4.14.0
ERROR: Same as current: The location /Users/joanneperry/Dropbox/Joanne Documents/Calibre Library contains the current calibre library

theducks · 05-08-2020, 02:40 PM

The Library can not be on a active Cloud drive (dropbox in this case)

The only SAFE method is to Mirror TO the cloud.

Josieb1 · 05-08-2020, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The Library can not be on a active Cloud drive (dropbox in this case)

The only SAFE method is to Mirror TO the cloud.

Thanks for your reply but my Calibre Library is also on my Mac. It’s been stored on Dropbox for years but is also downloaded to every pc we have.

JSWolf · 05-08-2020, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The Library can not be on a active Cloud drive (dropbox in this case)

The only SAFE method is to Mirror TO the cloud.

But you could mess up the library mirroring to the cloud. The best solution is to copy the library to the cloud directory and let the mirroring happen there. If something gets messed up then nothing is lost.

DNSB · 05-08-2020, 03:05 PM

You can have a backup copy of your library in Dropbox. You should not have the copy you are opening with calibre in cloud storage. It's not a matter of if you will have problems, it's when you will have problems.

The safest procedure going by many posts in these forums:

Keep your library in local storage syncing to the cloud
Stop syncing your calibre library
Open calibre, make your changes and close calibre
Restart syncing your library.

JSWolf · 05-08-2020, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

You can have a backup copy of your library in Dropbox. You should not have the copy you are opening with calibre in cloud storage. It's not a matter of if you will have problems, it's when you will have problems.

The safest procedure going by many posts in these forums:

Keep your library in local storage syncing to the cloud
Stop syncing your calibre library
Open calibre, make your changes and close calibre
Restart syncing your library.

I would not do it that way. There is no way I would let some cloud software touch my working library. The safest way to do syncing to the cloud is to use FreeFileSync and sync your working library to the cloud directory so you don't have always copy the entire library.

Josieb1 · 05-08-2020, 05:12 PM

I’m now attempting to restore the database on my Mac. I also have a blank Calibre library on both our windows PCs. The metadata.db file is in the Calibre folder, I’m just hoping the restore resembles something I recognise. I have nearly 8000 books in this library.

Sirtel · 05-08-2020, 08:43 PM

I do have all my active libraries in Dropbox and have had for many years. But yes, accidents and conflicts happen very easily. I have several backups on local and external drives, and I check my main library almost daily for errors and conflicts. So, unless one is very-very careful and takes precautions, I would not recommend keeping an active library in a cloud. At least keep your backups outside Dropbox and up to date, so you can restore easily if something serious happens.

mbovenka · 05-09-2020, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would not do it that way. There is no way I would let some cloud software touch my working library. The safest way to do syncing to the cloud is to use FreeFileSync and sync your working library to the cloud directory so you don't have always copy the entire library.

This. I mirror my local library to my NAS with FFS, and the NAS copy gets synced to the cloud with Synology CloudSync.

Josieb1 · 05-09-2020, 09:39 AM

The restore worked but I was left with errors and loss of customization so i decided to utilize a dropbox feature and restore a previous version of the metadata.db file. I restored one for the end of April and gained everything back. All is okay now.

I will be making a new backup on an external drive asap

05-08-2020, 01:45 PM	#1
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	My Calibre Library is Blank and won't accept the old location Hi My Calibre library folder is on Dropbox. Hubby accidentally moved the folder into another folder. I've put it back in its correct location now but my Calibre is empty. I've tried repointing Calibre to the existing library using Switch/Create Library but i'm getting an error message. Can anyone tell me what i'm doing wrong please? This is the error message calibre, version 4.14.0 ERROR: Same as current: The location /Users/joanneperry/Dropbox/Joanne Documents/Calibre Library contains the current calibre library Attached Thumbnails

05-08-2020, 03:05 PM	#5
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,050 Karma: 168808721 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	You can have a backup copy of your library in Dropbox. You should not have the copy you are opening with calibre in cloud storage. It's not a matter of if you will have problems, it's when you will have problems. The safest procedure going by many posts in these forums: Keep your library in local storage syncing to the cloud Stop syncing your calibre library Open calibre, make your changes and close calibre Restart syncing your library.

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05-08-2020, 02:40 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,914 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The Library can not be on a active Cloud drive (dropbox in this case) The only SAFE method is to Mirror TO the cloud.

05-08-2020, 05:12 PM	#7
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I’m now attempting to restore the database on my Mac. I also have a blank Calibre library on both our windows PCs. The metadata.db file is in the Calibre folder, I’m just hoping the restore resembles something I recognise. I have nearly 8000 books in this library.

05-08-2020, 08:43 PM	#8
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,228 Karma: 237677417 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I do have all my active libraries in Dropbox and have had for many years. But yes, accidents and conflicts happen very easily. I have several backups on local and external drives, and I check my main library almost daily for errors and conflicts. So, unless one is very-very careful and takes precautions, I would not recommend keeping an active library in a cloud. At least keep your backups outside Dropbox and up to date, so you can restore easily if something serious happens.

05-09-2020, 09:39 AM	#10
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	The restore worked but I was left with errors and loss of customization so i decided to utilize a dropbox feature and restore a previous version of the metadata.db file. I restored one for the end of April and gained everything back. All is okay now. I will be making a new backup on an external drive asap

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