Intermittent Database Exception

jt421 · 12-21-2009, 01:17 PM

First, let me thank you for an outstanding program. Calibre has made the task of maintaining and organizing my e-book library a pleasure.

Recently, I upgraded my computer from Vista to Windows 7 and brought my library with me. Since then, I have been having intermittent, but frequent issues trying to make metadata changes and add books.

Specifically, when making a change ~50% of the time I get an Unhandled exception and the change fails. If I am editing a book individually, Calibre stays on the edit screen and I can try again. This usually works after trying 2-3 times. If I am doing a bulk change, or importing multiple books, the change/import fails and only some portion of the books gets the change. (See below for an example of the error message)

I have looked through the forum and bug tracker, and I have eliminated some of the easy answers (spaces in path, clean reinstall, Advanced->Check database integrity, anti-virus/backup software, etc.).

Since the problem occurs most frequently when I am doing multiple changes quickly, either via bulk change or typing fast, it looks like a database access problem.

Even with the database integrity check could it be a corrupted database? Can I rebuild the database without loosing all of my information?

Any help would be MUCH appreciated!

------------
The error:

ERROR: ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>DatabaseException</b>:unable to open database file
RemoteTraceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\library\sqlite.py", line 142, in run
OperationalError: unable to open database file

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\metadata_bulk.py", line 106, in sync
File "site-packages\calibre\library\database2.py", line 1216, in set_publisher
File "site-packages\calibre\library\sqlite.py", line 171, in run
DatabaseException: unable to open database file
RemoteTraceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\library\sqlite.py", line 142, in run
OperationalError: unable to open database file

kovidgoyal · 12-21-2009, 02:15 PM

No it's not a corrupted database. That error indicates a failure to even opena database file and is typically caused by an antivirus program interfering or something slowing down your system so much that the open times out.

jt421 · 12-21-2009, 02:43 PM

Good to know that my database is probably okay.

For what it is worth, I am using Microsoft Security Essentials for AV, and Carbonite for online backup. As I said, I have tried disabling them, but I can try again...

kovidgoyal · 12-21-2009, 03:16 PM

Can you open a ticket for this, I'll see if I can add a retry loop for this error. That should mitigate the problem.

jt421 · 12-21-2009, 05:10 PM

Sure, I have created a ticked to track the issue.

On a related note... I have added metadata.db to the anti-virus exception list, are there other files that I should exclude as well?

DoctorOhh · 12-21-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jt421

Good to know that my database is probably okay.

For what it is worth, I am using Microsoft Security Essentials for AV, and Carbonite for online backup. As I said, I have tried disabling them, but I can try again...

I am running WinXP and on occasion I used to get an error during metadata saving. I didn't save the error, but believe it is the same. Trying again always seemed to work. I assumed it was because of using dropbox (online backup). When I update Calibre, to ensure a clean install, I exit Dropbox. Update Calibre, then restart Dropbox. I do this because occasionally it interferes with the update process.

I figure it is the price I pay for another program fussing in the middle of everything. I think Dropbox corrected the problem, it realizes there is a conflict and now gives me feedback saying it can't backup metadata.db. Then when I quit Calibre it backs that file up to the online space.

A retry loop might help this issue. Thanks Kovid

kovidgoyal · 12-21-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jt421

Sure, I have created a ticked to track the issue.

On a related note... I have added metadata.db to the anti-virus exception list, are there other files that I should exclude as well?

There will also be corresponding lock and perhaps journal files name

something like metadata.db-lock or -journal or something like that (the names are platform dependent and the files could be hidden)

Scott Nielsen · 12-22-2009, 04:41 AM

I have this problem as well both on XP and Vista. A re-try (or two) always works for me though so no harm done.

12-21-2009, 01:17 PM	#1
jt421 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Calibre	Intermittent Database Exception First, let me thank you for an outstanding program. Calibre has made the task of maintaining and organizing my e-book library a pleasure. Recently, I upgraded my computer from Vista to Windows 7 and brought my library with me. Since then, I have been having intermittent, but frequent issues trying to make metadata changes and add books. Specifically, when making a change ~50% of the time I get an Unhandled exception and the change fails. If I am editing a book individually, Calibre stays on the edit screen and I can try again. This usually works after trying 2-3 times. If I am doing a bulk change, or importing multiple books, the change/import fails and only some portion of the books gets the change. (See below for an example of the error message) I have looked through the forum and bug tracker, and I have eliminated some of the easy answers (spaces in path, clean reinstall, Advanced->Check database integrity, anti-virus/backup software, etc.). Since the problem occurs most frequently when I am doing multiple changes quickly, either via bulk change or typing fast, it looks like a database access problem. Even with the database integrity check could it be a corrupted database? Can I rebuild the database without loosing all of my information? Any help would be MUCH appreciated! ------------ The error: ERROR: ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>DatabaseException</b>:unable to open database file RemoteTraceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages\calibre\library\sqlite.py", line 142, in run OperationalError: unable to open database file Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\metadata_bulk.py", line 106, in sync File "site-packages\calibre\library\database2.py", line 1216, in set_publisher File "site-packages\calibre\library\sqlite.py", line 171, in run DatabaseException: unable to open database file RemoteTraceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages\calibre\library\sqlite.py", line 142, in run OperationalError: unable to open database file

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12-21-2009, 02:15 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,227 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	No it's not a corrupted database. That error indicates a failure to even opena database file and is typically caused by an antivirus program interfering or something slowing down your system so much that the open times out.

12-21-2009, 02:43 PM	#3
jt421 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Calibre	Good to know that my database is probably okay. For what it is worth, I am using Microsoft Security Essentials for AV, and Carbonite for online backup. As I said, I have tried disabling them, but I can try again...

12-21-2009, 03:16 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,227 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Can you open a ticket for this, I'll see if I can add a retry loop for this error. That should mitigate the problem.

12-21-2009, 05:10 PM	#5
jt421 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Calibre	Sure, I have created a ticked to track the issue. On a related note... I have added metadata.db to the anti-virus exception list, are there other files that I should exclude as well?

12-22-2009, 04:41 AM	#8
Scott Nielsen Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 112134 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kuala Lumpur Device: iPad, K3, K4, T1	I have this problem as well both on XP and Vista. A re-try (or two) always works for me though so no harm done.

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