Not enough space to export/backup library. How to do partial backup?

[droopy]

My laptop has a 220GB SSD. My Calibre library takes up 88 GB of space. Right now there’s only about 66 GB remaining space on my laptop.

I can’t completely back up my Calibre Library (using the "export your data" function).

Is there a way I can do part-by-part backups of my Calibre library? Maybe I can back up 35 GB of the books that are low-priority reading.
Just to be clear, I don't want to save just the epub/pdf/azw files, but also the metadata associated with them (e.g. comments, date added, date modified, rating, etc).

My end goal is that, one or two years from now, when I get a larger storage space (like a 2TB HDD in the disc-drive bay), I can reunite the 35GB-portion of my books that I upload to my Google Drive cloud storage space with the rest of the my calibre library (88-35=53GB) that will stay on my laptop.

[ownedbycats]

If you have an optical disk drive (which is becoming incredibly rare these days) and a bunch of DVD-Rs to spare, there are tools (e.g. CDBurnerXP) which can handle disk spanning.

[droopy]

ownedbycats,
i've already removed the disk drive and I don't have easy access to disks and I'd rather not use disks.

[ownedbycats]

Are you currently unable to get any other external storage? Sometimes internal drives + external enclosure can be a better value (and internal drives also tend to have better warranties, damned Seagates).

[BetterRed]

To what media do you want to export your library? If its for backup purposes it should be external - like a USB stick, or cloud storage.

BR

[droopy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

To what media do you want to export your library? If its for backup purposes it should be external - like a USB stick, or cloud storage.

BR

cloud.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by droopy

cloud.

Then I suggest you use a tool that will do an incremental backup, such as Free File Sync's mirror feature. After the the first backup it only copies changes (adds, edits and deletes), which means its significantly faster than exporting the whole library every time. And you can restore individual books or file - e.g. a cover.

BR

[Sirtel]

Why not get an external drive and do a full backup on that? Partial backup would only be feasible if you split your library.

[droopy]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Then I suggest you use a tool that will do an incremental backup, such as Free File Sync's mirror feature. After the the first backup it only copies changes (adds, edits and deletes), which means its significantly faster than exporting the whole library every time. And you can restore individual books or file - e.g. a cover.

BR

I use google drive. Will incremental backup work with Google drive

[droopy]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Why not get an external drive and do a full backup on that? Partial backup would only be feasible if you split your library.

I actually own a desktop computer (with a larger storage, if I recall). But I won't/can't reunite with it for at least half a year. All this to say that I'd rather not get an external drive.

What are the downsides to splitting a library?

I'm open to splitting a library.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by droopy

I actually own a desktop computer (with a larger storage, if I recall). But I won't/can't reunite with it for at least half a year. All this to say that if rather not get an extremely drive.

What are the downsides to splitting a library?

I'm open to splitting a library.

No downsides other than having two libraries instead of one, AFAIK. You can copy your split books back to your main library afterwards.

There is a plugin for splitting a library. I haven't tried it myself.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by droopy

cloud.

Cloud storage is not a good idea in this case There is not enough space for another copy. Cloud storage programs are two way. They can mess up your library. Never ever let cloud storage touch your active library. It's a good way to mess it up. It may work for a while, but that one time it doesn't then your library can be a problem.

You do have to shut off the cloud sync program when using your library. But that is an easy thing to forget. So please, don't use cloud storage.

[droopy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

No. There is not enough space for another copy. Cloud storage programs are two way. They can mess up your library. Never ever let cloud storage touch your active library. It's a good way to mess it up.

Before my calibre library became bigger than my remaining space, I have done one-way syncing to the cloud. In other words I upload the data files that Calibre creates when I export my library into my Google drive. But I don't use/have active sync or two-way sync as you say.

I'm on Linux. Google has not created a two-way sync program for Linux. So I'm safe from any risks that you are warning me about.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by droopy

I use google drive. Will incremental backup work with Google drive

Google drive is known to be one of the worst if not the worst to use with a Calibre library.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by droopy

I actually own a desktop computer (with a larger storage, if I recall). But I won't/can't reunite with it for at least half a year. All this to say that if rather not get an extremely drive.

What are the downsides to splitting a library?

I'm open to splitting a library.

Your best solution is to get a 512GB USB Flash drive and then do a full backup of the computer. You will have enough storage to do multiple backups of your complete library. You might have enough space left for three library backups but two for sure.