Copying books to a "sub" library

[mitch13]

I run several "sub" libraries under my main Calibre library. In recent Calibre updates (unfortunately I cannot say which one) I have struck a problem. When copying a book to a sub library, I select the option to remove from the original library after it is copied. If that book existed already in the library being copied to, then Calibre would let me know that I was trying to send a duplicate book.
This does not happen, and I therefore end if with duplicates in the library I copied to.
Is there now something in 'Preferences' that would fix this?

Secondly, suggest/ask for a plugin that could run through a library and remove books that are not able to be read or loaded. Over the past few months, I have had terrible problems with two laptops. My Calibre libraries are held and run on a 4Tb portable hard drive. Between these laptops, I have managed/mangled my calibre libraries that I have been building for years. Consequently, I have a lot of books in the main and sub libraries that will not open to read. It takes too long to go through every book trying to read it to see if it is readable.
Help.
mitch13

[theducks]

To me, a 'sub' Library is just a VL of the Library. You have multiple Libraries (as I do).

Have you run Library Maintenance to detect and hopefully repair EACH LIBRARY?

But the underlaying question is 'why the corruption'? How is the 'portable' 4T drive connected?

BTW The Find Duplicates Plugin has a Library (compare) mode. The 'master' is the one being viewed when you launch the PI. (you specify the path of the one to look at)

[mitch13]

Thanks for the reply. The 4T drive is via a USB connection. I have used Calibre Portable for years via this connection. I think my problems have come through two temperamental laptops that have been giving me problems other than Calibre but no doubt contributor to it. My main library is currently showing in the 90,000 bracket, which is a lot more than a few months ago. The trouble is that it takes so long to run some of the rescue options and I know I now have a lot of entries that Calibre cannot load to read.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by mitch13

Thanks for the reply. The 4T drive is via a USB connection. I have used Calibre Portable for years via this connection. I think my problems have come through two temperamental laptops that have been giving me problems other than Calibre but no doubt contributor to it. My main library is currently showing in the 90,000 bracket, which is a lot more than a few months ago. The trouble is that it takes so long to run some of the rescue options and I know I now have a lot of entries that Calibre cannot load to read.

RUN Maintenance: Check Library
Both phases. Phase 1 checks the structure of the DB (contents).
Phase 2 looks for things the DB says (or does not)
9K took me a couple of minutes for both. (then you need to do the fixes suggested. That is the unknown time)

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by mitch13

I run several "sub" libraries under my main Calibre library.

What does that sentence actually mean? Given you're using the 'Copy to library' tool it can't be referring to Virtual libraries? Whilst calibre can support multiple 'physical' libraries, it does not provide the means to arrange or present them as a hierarchy, which is how I interpret the phrase 'under my main library'.

What purpose do these 'sub' libraries serve?

If you've created something like the following, I suspect it could be contributing to your problems.

Main Library
│   metadata.db
│   metadata_db_prefs_backup.json
│   
├───Author A
│   └───Book #1 (1)
│       │   cover.jpg
│       │   metadata.opf
│       │   Book #1 - Author A.epub
│       └───data
├───Sub Library #1
│   │   metadata.db
│   │   metadata_db_prefs_backup.json
│   │   
│   └───Author B
│       └───Book #2 (1)
│           │   cover.jpg
│           │   metadata.opf
│           │   Book #2 - Author B.epub
│           └───data
└───Sub Library #2
    │   metadata.db
    │   metadata_db_prefs_backup.json
    │   
    └───Author C
        └───Book #3 (1)
            │   cover.jpg
            │   metadata.opf
            │   Book #3  - Author C.epub
            └───data

BR

Added: I am not even sure that a tree of nested libraries would work, one thing's for sure - it would generate a lot of Check library errors and goodness knows what Restore database would do with it.

[theducks]

Calibre will not allow you to make a Library in an occupied folder.
@BR If what you suspect, it was attempted by using the OS, (a big calibre no-no as the DB has no knowledge of even how books got there.)

[BetterRed]

If, when Creating a new library, you create empty folder within an existing library and then select that folder as the new library you will have a new library folder within an existing library, viz:





I had my doubts toll i tried.

BR

[theducks]

So it can be done
But Should you? I can't imagine what the Library Maint check spews.

And WHY? What is gained since normal usage does not have the user get near the actual file folders.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

interpret the phrase 'under my main library'.

That's what puzzled me when I saw this thread.
I figured it should be possible but why?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

So it can be done
But Should you? I can't imagine what the Library Maint check spews.

And WHY? What is gained since normal usage does not have the user get near the actual file folders.

Windows users do 'get near the actual file folders" when they create a new library.

The button to the left of the New location field in the Create/switch library dialogue opens File Explorer's folder select dialogue which has a folder tree navigation pane and a "New folder" button.

If the user navigates to an existing library and clicks the New folder button, a new folder is created and they're given the opportunity to rename it, viz:



Add an Empty Book then press 'O' — Et Voila!



Note, the above won't work in Portable as it insists new libraries are created at the top level of the portable install folder… the OP is using Portable.

As to WHY?

If the user has separate libraries because of disparate custom metadata needs they might like to have library specific Intake and Books to edit 'sub' libraries… an obvious place to put them would be within the relevant 'master' libraries.

BR

[mitch13]

Betterred,
Thanks for replying. My "Sub" libraries are based on content e.g. Magazines, History, Mathematics etc, and it usually works very well.
Cheers
mitch13

[mitch13]

I can get around most of the problems with the help that has been suggested, for which I thank you all. There is one question that has not been solved. In previous levels of Calibre it was not a problem, it has changed recently but I cannot identify the version that changed it.

All my incoming books/magazines are downloaded to my main Calibre Library. Probably a majority of them stay there but there are a lot that need to be copied/removed from the main Calibre library to a "sub" library e.g. magazines. Until recently, the transfer to another library recognised if there was already an identical copy in the library being copied to and therefore stopped duplicates going into the sub library. Currently it provides no warning that it is going to send a duplicate and that becomes a great pain with duplicates all over my multi sub libraries.
Does anyone know why this changed?
mitch13

[kovidgoyal]

This was not changed, it was and remains controlled by the option Preferneces->Adding books->adding actions->when using copy to library check for duplicates

[mitch13]

Many thanks Koviod, I have never been into that area so not sure how it became unticked!

That is fabulous. It did mention in a query a lot earlier if it was something that that had perhaps changed in my set-up.

Again, Many thanks.

mitch13