After several releases installed over the past few years, this is what my Appdata\local\darktable. . file window looks like.
Is there a not to difficult way to combine all of my darktable photo edits over the past few years into one database file?
Those are backups are they not
All the database named “-pre” (recorded before a new dt version is installed) or “-snp-” (regular backup, see preferences) are backups and can be deleted if needed. The only used databases are library.db and data.db.
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@Pascal_Obry, so if I understand correctly, the data.db contains all of the edits since I first installed darktable?
I don’t keep a library of photos in the Lighttable as I use a DAM for that. Is that what the library.db is for?
Just want to be sure!
No. The edits are in library.db. The data.db (mandatory too) contains tags, metadata, presets, styles.
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They are all backups and they saved my arse this week when I had a glitch caused by myself and stuffed up my databases. They may look messy but they have a good purpose when needed. A bit like that pesky spare tyre in the boot of the car. Maybe one day you will need it but you hope you never do.
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“Spare tyre”, what’s that? Haven’t had a car with such thing for the last 18 years …
(Have I needed it? Yes, twice in 700 000 km driven - which is not more than I’ve needed something else. During the same period e.g. windshield shifted 7 times …)
you don’t need backups until something breaks your libraries 
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My motorbike never had a spare and luckily I never needed it.