How to import an old database-backup to new computer?

Software darktable
1

Hi there!

My current database and library.db (150.000 sorted and edited pictures in there) got damaged, thus it cannot be opened anymore tragically.
That said, I got 10 weekly saved backups (db.snp-type) of the database in my AppData-path.
How do I import one of these backups? I tried to open it and then choose darktable as the program to be opened with, this opened darktable, but sent the error-message, that the program isn’t able to open the file.
Is there any other/right way to do so?

I am highly grateful for any help in advance!!

Greetings,
Thaddäus

2

Rename the file to library.db and copy it to your darktable config folder.

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3

You’re simply a legend! It worked!!^^
Now, is there any way to “add”/integrate the data from another database as I started a new database with new (four) folders 3 days ago, and the new pictures of the new database aren’t inside the backup from 9 days ago, as this is some new stuff from last weekend?

Thanks a lot!!

Thaddäus

4

If you have xmp files for the images, you can simply import the images as if they were new. They will be added to the DB with all your changes.

2 Likes
5

Thanks a lot!
Now I sadly got a new problem though:
When importing new folders into the just-integrated, old database-backup, the program crashes without any warning. Did a little research, but wasn’t able to find out the reason.
Do you guys have any idea on what to do?

In general I’m not able to make any changes to the database (i.e. editing pictures) at all, it won’t save them and causes the program to crash…

Again, very grateful for any help!!

Thaddäus

6

You’ll need to start darktable from the terminal and provide us the output of the command.

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8

*That’s the black ‘command control’, right? What should I type in there to open it?
Thanks!!

9

Now managed, to open it, there was no output though, that’s all that stood there:

[C:\Users\Thaddäus>start darktable]

10

You’ll need to issue the command darktable -d all

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11

Thanks!!
It says, it’s not able to solve the command, is there any misspelling on my side in the command maybe?

C:\Users\Thaddäus>darktable -d all
Der Befehl “darktable” ist entweder falsch geschrieben oder konnte nicht gefunden werden.

(translation:
C:\Users\Thaddäus>darktable -d all
The command “darktable” is either spelled incorrectly or could not be found.)

12

on windows you need to use the whole path to the executable

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13

Thanks!!
Like this?
C:\Users\Thaddäus>AppData/Local/darktable/library.db

My darktable isn’t installed on C:\ but on another partition, how do I direct to this one as I can’t write the C:\Users… manually?
Or what exact executable (darktable.exe?–>This one’s not installed on C:) do yo0u mean?

Very grateful again!! Obviously have no indeep IT-knowledge, I’m very sorry…^^

14

*The command in the upper section obviuously doesn’t works, I just put it in there for clarificiation for me on what to type in… :+1:

15

Just noticed that I got these newly created .LOCK-files in my AppData, does this correlate with my problem in any way?

grafik

16

When it is locked, it is likely because darktable is using them. Maybe you had a crash, try restarting your PC.

17

Just tried re-starting, also installed darktable new, still the same problem…The data.db and library.db (the databse) seems to be stuck on 31st of January (that’s when the backup was made), I’m confident that this can be solved with the command-output, but how do I achieve to provide the text, you need @paperdigits ?

Worked with darktable for more than 3 years without any problems, now I hope this can be soled too… :sneezing_face:

Huge appretiation!

18

I’m not sure what you did. Hopefully you are creating copies of your .db files (aka backup). If you have a backup and a restart of the PC is not unlocking the db, you can move the .lock files to another directory (eg temp) and see if you can restart dt.

19

On Windows, this is what you need to enter to start dt with debugging output:
First navigate to the folder containng the exe file, by entering cd C:\Program Files\darktable4.3-287\bin (this is the default location) Hit enter. EDIT! SOrry, that’s NOT the default path… this is correct cd C:\Program Files\darktable\bin

Then enter:


darktable.exe -d all

Hit enter. dt will start, and debugging info (lots) will be added to the log file you will hopefully find here C:\Users\"username"\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\darktable This is a hidden folder, so you may need to enable the display of hidden or system files or folders first. I think just entering the path directly might work anyway. Don’t forget to replace the " username" with the name of your folder.

So after starting dt as above, try to do something that makes it crash, then post that log file here, or if you prefer just the last bit, identifiable by the extra info that the -d all will provide.

20

Solved it!!
Asked a good friend of mine who’s like you guys better in IT than me, the cause for the latest, second problem was acutally, that the databse was set to read-only…^^

I hope, I don’t have to be in this forum for another 3 years, keep up the grat work, you guys helped me in an incredible measure!! :pray:

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