How to clean up the folder structure - duplicate author folders

johnjbbrown · 11-21-2022, 08:54 AM

Hi,
I have many cases in my books folder structure where there are two or even three folders for the same author. Typical variants are FirstName LastName vs. LastName, FirstName or LastName_FirstName.

It probably comes from transferring the library to a new computer a few times and forgetting to set it up exactly the same way (or believing the settings get transferred as part of the DB). It's not a big issue because in the GUI the books show correctly but I like my file system clean - and occasionally I need to copy a file and surprise, the book is not where you would expect it.

Is there a way how to change the variants to the current setup without deleting the books and reimporting them? (Just in case I have not been clear: I have 3 books stored in folder "Hemingway, Ernest" and 2 books in "Ernest Hemingway". I want all books in the former one.)

Thanks

uli · 11-21-2022, 10:00 AM

The Find Duplicates plugin has an option to find Metadata variations and merge/rename them.

johnjbbrown · 11-26-2022, 10:53 AM

Thanks, Uli, but this does not work. I guess it's because the problem is with the physical location of the files, not with metadata, which are correct and do not differ for either location.

uli · 11-26-2022, 11:27 AM

Unless you changed the folder outside of Calibre, updating the Author metadata will also also change the file location.

Hemingway, Ernest ==> Ernest Hemingway
C:\Calibre Library\Hemingway, Ernest\
to
C:\Calibre Library\Ernest Hemingway\

Sirtel · 11-26-2022, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjbbrown

Thanks, Uli, but this does not work. I guess it's because the problem is with the physical location of the files, not with metadata, which are correct and do not differ for either location.

Check the author sort. This may be different for them, if so, correct it.

theducks · 11-26-2022, 11:59 AM

Quality Check Plugin Can find things like this.
Take a few, and review all the Menu (and sub menu) items
The Fix section can flip the selected (eg. find results), with just a few clicks.

And, really avoid poking beneath the Library skirts as that is an easy temptation to try and fix that there (and damage DB internal links)

11-21-2022, 08:54 AM	#1
johnjbbrown Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	How to clean up the folder structure - duplicate author folders Hi, I have many cases in my books folder structure where there are two or even three folders for the same author. Typical variants are FirstName LastName vs. LastName, FirstName or LastName_FirstName. It probably comes from transferring the library to a new computer a few times and forgetting to set it up exactly the same way (or believing the settings get transferred as part of the DB). It's not a big issue because in the GUI the books show correctly but I like my file system clean - and occasionally I need to copy a file and surprise, the book is not where you would expect it. Is there a way how to change the variants to the current setup without deleting the books and reimporting them? (Just in case I have not been clear: I have 3 books stored in folder "Hemingway, Ernest" and 2 books in "Ernest Hemingway". I want all books in the former one.) Thanks

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11-21-2022, 10:00 AM	#2
uli Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	The Find Duplicates plugin has an option to find Metadata variations and merge/rename them.

11-26-2022, 10:53 AM	#3
johnjbbrown Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Thanks, Uli, but this does not work. I guess it's because the problem is with the physical location of the files, not with metadata, which are correct and do not differ for either location.

11-26-2022, 11:27 AM	#4
uli Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	Unless you changed the folder outside of Calibre, updating the Author metadata will also also change the file location. Hemingway, Ernest ==> Ernest Hemingway C:\Calibre Library\Hemingway, Ernest\ to C:\Calibre Library\Ernest Hemingway\

11-26-2022, 11:59 AM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,062 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Quality Check Plugin Can find things like this. Take a few, and review all the Menu (and sub menu) items The Fix section can flip the selected (eg. find results), with just a few clicks. And, really avoid poking beneath the Library skirts as that is an easy temptation to try and fix that there (and damage DB internal links)

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