Location of new books

ufasoli · 01-10-2026, 06:01 AM

Hi,
Sorry if this specific question has been asked before but I cannot find the use case.

I have my ebook files in a NAS server:

Code:

/nas/data/ebooks

and I have configured my calibre instance to point to the library

Code:

metadata.db

in my local computer (~/Library/Preferences/calibre/macos-env.txt):

Code:

CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/Calibre/metadata.db

This works pretty well as the database library is in the local disk whereas the ebooks are in the NAS server.

However when I add a new book I would expect Calibre to copy the file to the NAS server (/nas/data/ebooks) with Calibre's own file structure and update the metadata.db locally but instead of that the book is copied locally to where the metadata.db is present, is this the expected behavior or am I doing something wrong?.

PS: I'm using latest version of Calibre

JSWolf · 01-10-2026, 06:43 AM

It is the correct behavior for calibre to keep the library with the database. You cannot have the database in one directory and the eBooks in another.

What you can do is keep your eBooks on your local drive and use the NAS as a backup. Use FreeFileSync to sync your library to your backup on your NAS. That way you only have to copy everything once and from then on, just what's new or changed.

BetterRed · 01-10-2026, 07:03 AM

Which NAS?

And what's in here:

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BR

ufasoli · 01-10-2026, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It is the correct behavior for calibre to keep the library with the database. You cannot have the database in one directory and the eBooks in another.

What you can do is keep your eBooks on your local drive and use the NAS as a backup. Use FreeFileSync to sync your library to your backup on your NAS. That way you only have to copy everything once and from then on, just what's new or changed.

Hey thanks for the answer but if that is the case I don't understand the reason of that environment variable nor the text in Calibre's wiki :

Code:

CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH - allows you to specify the full path to metadata.db. Using this variable you can have metadata.db be in a location other than the library folder. Useful if your library folder is on a networked drive that does not support file locking.

especially this phrase:

Code:

you can have metadata.db be in a location other than the library folder. Useful if your library folder is on a networked drive that does not support file locking

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 12:21 AM

Does not replicate for me. I ran calibre as:

CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY=/t/v CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/tmp/metadata.db calibre

After setup of the welcome wizard and choosing a library folder, I tried adding a book using the add books button and it was added in the library folder, as expected.

ufasoli · Yesterday, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Does not replicate for me. I ran calibre as:

CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY=/t/v CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/tmp/metadata.db calibre

After setup of the welcome wizard and choosing a library folder, I tried adding a book using the add books button and it was added in the library folder, as expected.

Hey Kovid thanks! Do I have to do anything special to run a fresh install of calibre without any cache ? I tried to but it seems to “remember” the old location?

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 04:30 AM

CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY sets where calibre stores all its config data including library locations.

01-10-2026, 06:01 AM	#1
ufasoli Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Thonon-les-Bains, France Device: Kobo Libra Colour	Location of new books Hi, Sorry if this specific question has been asked before but I cannot find the use case. I have my ebook files in a NAS server: Code: /nas/data/ebooks and I have configured my calibre instance to point to the library Code: metadata.db in my local computer (~/Library/Preferences/calibre/macos-env.txt): Code: CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/Calibre/metadata.db This works pretty well as the database library is in the local disk whereas the ebooks are in the NAS server. However when I add a new book I would expect Calibre to copy the file to the NAS server (/nas/data/ebooks) with Calibre's own file structure and update the *metadata.db* locally but instead of that the book is copied locally to where the metadata.db is present, is this the expected behavior or am I doing something wrong?. PS: I'm using latest version of Calibre

01-10-2026, 07:03 AM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,134 Karma: 30317706 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Which NAS? And what's in here: BR

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01-10-2026, 06:43 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 81,527 Karma: 150265873 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It is the correct behavior for calibre to keep the library with the database. You cannot have the database in one directory and the eBooks in another. What you can do is keep your eBooks on your local drive and use the NAS as a backup. Use FreeFileSync to sync your library to your backup on your NAS. That way you only have to copy everything once and from then on, just what's new or changed.

Yesterday, 12:21 AM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,837 Karma: 28586150 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Does not replicate for me. I ran calibre as: CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY=/t/v CALIBRE_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_PATH=/tmp/metadata.db calibre After setup of the welcome wizard and choosing a library folder, I tried adding a book using the add books button and it was added in the library folder, as expected.

Yesterday, 04:30 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,837 Karma: 28586150 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY sets where calibre stores all its config data including library locations.

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