Creating a new database
There is no limit on the number of collections. Each one is a separate
.amb file that you can copy, back up or hand to somebody else.
- Choose (Ctrl+N) or click the New database button on the toolbar.
- Browse to the folder where the collection should live.
- Type a file name and click Save.
The empty collection opens straight away and its file name appears in the window title.
Choosing a place for the file
| Local folder | The simplest and fastest option. Documents is a sensible default. Set up automatic backups and you are safe. |
|---|---|
| Cloud folder | Not for the working collection. All My Books recognises OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Yandex.Disk, iCloud Drive and other sync clients, and warns you whenever you open a collection from a synced folder: while the database is open, the sync client may upload a half-written file or lock it for a moment, which leads to random errors and damaged copies in the cloud. Click Cancel in that message if you do not want to see it again for this collection. Keep the collection local and let the backup copies go to the cloud — when a cloud folder is found, that is where they are saved by default. |
| Network folder | The right way to share one collection between computers at home. See Working over a network. |
Do not put the collection on a sleeping NAS or a disconnected network drive. Windows can block for tens of seconds trying to reach it. All My Books avoids dead paths when it can, but a file that is not there cannot be opened.
Where covers are stored
By default, cover images are kept in a folder next to the collection file, so
the .amb itself stays small. You can move them inside the database
with —
convenient when you carry the collection around on a flash drive, at the cost of
a much larger file. See Setting up preferences.
Free to try. Catalog up to 100 books at no cost, forever.