Move and Export Your Library in Calibre
How to Backup library, Move, or Export Your Library in Calibre
Did you lose your files any time? Crashing hard drives and accidental deletions of data teach us to make a habit of securing data by taking backup on time. Either you have backup their files, or you should start to backup your files. But calibre comes with tools to backup quickly and easily. That way, you won’t lose your collection the next time your computer or laptop crashes.
How to Export Your eBook calibre Library.
If you want to prepare for a disaster or move your collection to your new device, make a backup. To export your caliber library:
First, click on the “[your library name]” button on the main screen and then select “Export/Import all calibre data”.
Then, choose “Export all your calibre data”.
In the dialog box, select the calibre library you want to export and click “OK.”
Finally, select the folder location where you want to save your backup in.
This process will create a series of 1 GB-large file with your whole library. You can then save it on a backup drive, burn it to DVDs or stash them away somewhere safe.
How to Import Your eBook Library
You exported your library. Now, to restore your library after a loss or move it to your new computer, you need to import it:
First, go to “Calibre library > Export/Import all calibre data” once again.
This time select “Import previously exported data”.
Then, find the source folder of your backup.
And finally, specify where to save it.
Then, click “OK”.
Voilà!
How to Move Your eBook Library
Say you have two hard drives and the one that has your collection on it is getting full. You decided to move it to another drive. To move your library to another location:
First, click on your library’s name and select “Switch/create library…”
On the next screen select the new path for your library and click the option to “Move current library to new location”.
Finally, confirm by clicking “OK”.
Now your library is in the new location!
Cloud Services Are an alternative choice.
If you would like to access your library from any location and keep a further backup, except for some reason don’t want to use calibre’s server option, you’ll add your library to the cloud service you employ (e.g. Dropbox or OneDrive).To do this, you want to either move your library to your cloud service location on your device (e.g. your Dropbox folder) or add the library’s folder to be synced within the cloud’s settings. Just remember that the cloud service provider will have access to your library if you are doing that. Note that there also are some 3rd party tools to assist calibre and cloud services to cooperate. Important note: using cloud services with calibre is risky and should cause data loss. It’s known that Google Drive isn’t compatible with calibre. Use those services at your own risk and always make a backup.To minimize this risk, synchronize your library with just one cloud service, and only calibre is turned off. Read more within the manual.So, there you’ve got it – the fundamentals of staying safe with calibre.
This blog post was contributed by Bartosz Makuch, a contract Software Copywriter. He studied Physics and Management and liked to write stories that move people. In his spare time, he listens to classic rock and reads sci-fi novels.

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