Library Problem (Mac M1 Pro)

[judsal]

Hi,

I've been a Calibre user for awhile now and I have been having problems with my library. I moved the library to a new local folder on my Mac. After creating a new library from this location, I had to restore database almost everytime I opened Calibre.

I just opened it and there's only one book in my library. When I click Switch/Create Library... and then choose my folder it says "There is no existing calibre library at /CalibreLibrary."

I can still see all my book folders with files inside in my folder. There are also 3 metadata files:

1) metadata [conflicted].db
2) metadata_db_prefs_backup.json
3) metadata_pre_restore.db

What should I do?

[theducks]

Is that your Library name, Because Calibre Library is the default name (note space)?

BTW The full command is
Switch/create Library: USE EXISTING:<selection>

[judsal]

Originally Posted by theducks

Is that your Library name, Because Calibre Library is the default name (note space)?

BTW The full command is
Switch/create Library: USE EXISTING:<selection>

Yes, that's my library name.

path/to/library/CalibreLibrary

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by judsal

There are also 3 metadata files:

1) metadata [conflicted].db
2) metadata_db_prefs_backup.json
3) metadata_pre_restore.db

That first file is supposed to be 'metadata.db'. The fact that it isn't called that is the reason Calibre thinks there is no library in that directory.

The '[conficted]' bit makes me think there is some backup/sync/cloud drive program messing with your library. You being on a Mac, Time Machine maybe? Anyway, kill that, whatever it is.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

That first file is supposed to be 'metadata.db'. The fact that it isn't called that is the reason Calibre thinks there is no library in that directory.

The '[conficted]' bit makes me think there is some backup/sync/cloud drive program messing with your library. You being on a Mac, Time Machine maybe? Anyway, kill that, whatever it is.

Time Machine would never produce such a file. But I agree, it looks like some synchronisation mechanism is messing up.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

That first file is supposed to be 'metadata.db'. The fact that it isn't called that is the reason Calibre thinks there is no library in that directory.

The '[conficted]' bit makes me think there is some backup/sync/cloud drive program messing with your library. You being on a Mac, Time Machine maybe? Anyway, kill that, whatever it is.

Dropbox uses file names like that.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by chaley

Dropbox uses file names like that.

Yes. All one needs to do is to decide which database file is the one that's actually in sync with the library files and rename it to "metadata.db".

AND pause the sync while Calibre is open!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes. All one needs to do is to decide which database file is the one that's actually in sync with the library files and rename it to "metadata.db".

AND pause the sync while Calibre is open!

It's not a good idea to put any working library in the directory tree of any cloud sync software. It's best to keep a copy in the cloud sync directory tree and use FreeFileSync to one-way sync to the cloud directory tree.