Moving a library in

Before you start

1. Back up the collection. Library Import copies by default, but plan for mistakes.
2. Set up a root folder and a quality profile, and make sure Libex is reachable.
3. Decide copy, move or hardlink. Copy is safest. Hardlink saves space if the library is on the same filesystem as the source. See Media Management.

The steps

1. Library > Library Import, scan the folder.
2. Read the list. Matches show a percentage. Fix Needs attention and Unmatched rows with Find a match, or join rows that are one book split across folders.
3. Check the cover and extra files per folder only if you want to override the defaults.
4. Select the rows and add them. It stays two clicks if you accept the defaults.
5. Watch the task. The summary says how many files were copied instead of hardlinked and what failed.

If your collection is already where you want it

Adding the folder as a root folder doesn’t add any books by itself. ABM’s scans only check books it already knows about, so it won’t pick up what’s in there. The books still have to come in through Library Import: the root’s Unmapped Folders count under Settings > Media Management opens Library Import for that root.

Importing puts each book in ABM’s own Author/Series/Book layout under the default root folder. Pick hardlink to leave the originals untouched without using more space.

Gotchas

• A book already in the library is shown as such. Decline the duplicate with the keep-library answer rather than importing it twice.
• Answering a row with “Delete these files, keep the library copy” or “Delete this folder and its contents” removes only what that row stands for and goes to the recycle bin if enabled. Other books in the same parent folder are left alone.
• An ASIN found in a description is a hint, not a match, unless the title also agrees.
• After importing, refresh to pull in current metadata, and turn on sidecar writing if you want Audiobookshelf to see ABM’s choices. See Sidecar files.