Which files to copy?

[Rellwood]

Which app data files do I copy into another library to recreate the look and feel but not copy the attached libraries?

I know about the plugins, tweaks, author and tag mapping, but what is the file that I can copy that won't give me a total clone of the original one.

I just want the same look and feel without it being an exact clone.

Also, if I do create a new library from an exported library database folder, is that the "same" library? I wonder if having multiple Calibre setups from the same export folder causes problems with library id's or some other behind the scenes identifyer that is getting mistaken when it reads that there are multiple instances of the same library.

[ownedbycats]

Although the number IDs won't be reset, you can close Calibre, copy the library to a new folder, open Calibre, go to the newly-copied library, and delete all the books. That should preserve the columns. You should run Check Library afterwards to clean out the database crud.

I think stuff like column icons are stored in the application data folder.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

Which app data files do I copy into another library to recreate the look and feel but not copy the attached libraries?

I know about the plugins, tweaks, author and tag mapping, but what is the file that I can copy that won't give me a total clone of the original one.

I just want the same look and feel without it being an exact clone.

Also, if I do create a new library from an exported library database folder, is that the "same" library? I wonder if having multiple Calibre setups from the same export folder causes problems with library id's or some other behind the scenes identifyer that is getting mistaken when it reads that there are multiple instances of the same library.

Create a New Library: USE EXISTING
that also brings the CUSTOM columns and their settings <----

Just copy the config folder for the other stuff

[Rellwood]

I'm not sure if that is what I was thinking. I was more hoping to find out which if the gui.json, gui.py, or global.json type files to copy over. I am trying to update Calibre Portable so that it mimics my current library setup. I have tried copying over all the files but it ends up having every possible feature of my main library. I don't want it to be the same library attached to all the other libraries with every previous action copied. I want a new, clean library with all the plugins, settings, tweaks, and gui looks of my main library, but without all the extra internal data.

Does that make sense?

[BetterRed]

Copy everything and then remove the features you don't want with calibre Preferences etc, OR start with a Fresh configuration and add the features you want with calibre Preferences etc.

The configuration folder should be regarded as a 'very very black box'. It's the functional equivalent of the Windows registry as used by many Windows applications.

BR