Unable to restore databasecalibre

[Sirtel]

Remove them and add them back using the Add Books button. Don't add them directly to the library folder.

[theducks]

the metadata.opf in each folder has the same info that was in the DB at the time the OPF was created. It is a snapshot that Restore uses. If it was wrong before, it is probably still wrong.
Adding books to a fresh Library is probably more likely to be correct.

[asw22]

The problem is:

-I have no idea how many books are missing...unles there is a way to get the list of books registered in the database for comparison

- adding books means there are two folders of the same book...removable via utilities easily, but I understand it is not good

I do not understand the retoration of the database...when there are no database,Calibre mooks for books and associated metadat...so why take some and ignore others?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by asw22

The problem is:

-I have no idea how many books are missing...unles there is a way to get the list of books registered in the database for comparison

Yes, there is. Create a new empty library and copy all the books in the old library to it via the GUI (NOT via the File Explorer or directly from the folder!): select all -> right-click -> copy to library (delete after copy). The book list in the old library should now be empty. Everything that remains in the library folder was not in the database and must be re-added via the Add Books button.

I do not understand the retoration of the database...when there are no database,Calibre mooks for books and associated metadat...so why take some and ignore others?

Because obviously there is something wrong with those books and metadata.

[asw22]

I have compared the opf of two books, one shown, the other not, the only apparent difference is the Calibre identifier (same as the number in folder title) and the uuid.

This is bizarre . But your suggestion is excellent, ongoing now...

[asw22]

Hello everyone!

I did transfer the 41 000 books or so from the library to a new one, and I did look what was left....still 11000 books to go!

I still do not understand what could have happened?

Not very enthusisastic at the idea of integrating directly the .epub in the new library, losing all metadata, I tried something:
- I restored the database of the library with the leftover books...and I got myself a library with 11000 books, and their correct metadata...11000 books calibre refused obstinately to show me before!!!

I transferred the books via the "copy to library + delete", and now I have all my books correctly shown in the new library...I had two books not transferred I did manually, and that was it!

I am happy and still baffled...

But thanks everyone, and if you have ideas about this mess let me know!

asw22

[Sirtel]

Glad you got your library restored.

But yes, it would be good to know how this mess happened in the first place. Otherwise you might find yourself in the same pickle one day. The common culprits for messing up the database are syncing programs running in the background, moving files directly to/from the library folder without going through the calibre GUI, and faulty drives.

[asw22]

"moving files directly to/from the library folder without going through the calibre GUI"

I did that a lot in the last ten years...I will be more prudent now: the library is near 80 GB, so all manipulations are harassing!

Thanks again,

asw22