Calibre library in dropbox folder not synchronising

Pindarodge · 03-10-2024, 08:34 AM

Hi,

After doing a clean reinstall of my iMac due to malware, I was hoping that when I would reconnect Calibre to my dropbox library, all books would reappear in the Calibre app. Like Calibre’s welcome wizard states: “if a calibre library already exists at the newly selected location, calibre will use it automatically” but unfortunately that didn’t happen for me. When I open Calibre, no books are shown, despite plenty being in the folder I’ve designated as the Calibre library.

So my questions: Was it really necessary to export my Calibre data before the reinstall? Or is there still something I overlooked? Like a way to sync the folder I selected as the Calibre library?

Sirtel · 03-10-2024, 08:54 AM

The library icon -> Switch/create library -> Use the previously existing library at the new location.

Navigate to your library folder and click OK.

chaley · 03-10-2024, 09:04 AM

Also see the FAQ item I am getting errors with my calibre library on a networked drive/NAS? It could be that your dropbox copy is already corrupted, for example having the "metadata.db" file marked as "conflicted".

Pindarodge · 03-10-2024, 11:08 AM

Thanks Sirtel, but the library folder I selected was correct. When following your steps I got the ERROR: Same as current library.

And Chaley, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It seems I have 3 metadata.db files in my library, from which 2 are conflicted copies. But that's because I'm also running calibre on a different computer I rarely use.

It seems to me, that when I selected my library after opening Calibre for the first time after the reinstall, a new and empty metadata.db was created somehow. Maybe overwriting the file that was on my dropbox.

My fix was to select "restore database" in "library maintenance", which sort of works like a sync feature that I hadn't found yet. So thanks for pointing me in right direction.

Best,
Rogier

JSWolf · 03-10-2024, 12:17 PM

Another fix is to stop using Dropbox with your calibre library.

03-10-2024, 08:34 AM	#1
Pindarodge Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2024 Device: Kobo Aura H20	Calibre library in dropbox folder not synchronising Hi, After doing a clean reinstall of my iMac due to malware, I was hoping that when I would reconnect Calibre to my dropbox library, all books would reappear in the Calibre app. Like Calibre’s welcome wizard states: “if a calibre library already exists at the newly selected location, calibre will use it automatically” but unfortunately that didn’t happen for me. When I open Calibre, no books are shown, despite plenty being in the folder I’ve designated as the Calibre library. So my questions: Was it really necessary to export my Calibre data before the reinstall? Or is there still something I overlooked? Like a way to sync the folder I selected as the Calibre library?

03-10-2024, 09:04 AM	#3
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,765 Karma: 7029857 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	Also see the FAQ item I am getting errors with my calibre library on a networked drive/NAS? It could be that your dropbox copy is already corrupted, for example having the "metadata.db" file marked as "conflicted". Last edited by chaley; 03-10-2024 at 11:47 AM.

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03-10-2024, 08:54 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,324 Karma: 225099840 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	The library icon -> Switch/create library -> Use the previously existing library at the new location. Navigate to your library folder and click OK.

03-10-2024, 11:08 AM	#4
Pindarodge Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2024 Device: Kobo Aura H20	Thanks Sirtel, but the library folder I selected was correct. When following your steps I got the ERROR: Same as current library. And Chaley, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. It seems I have 3 metadata.db files in my library, from which 2 are conflicted copies. But that's because I'm also running calibre on a different computer I rarely use. It seems to me, that when I selected my library after opening Calibre for the first time after the reinstall, a new and empty metadata.db was created somehow. Maybe overwriting the file that was on my dropbox. My fix was to select "restore database" in "library maintenance", which sort of works like a sync feature that I hadn't found yet. So thanks for pointing me in right direction. Best, Rogier

03-10-2024, 12:17 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,405 Karma: 129358310 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Another fix is to stop using Dropbox with your calibre library.