Opening a database

All My Books reopens the last collection you used, so most of the time you do not have to open anything by hand.

1. Choose Database › Open… (Ctrl+O).
2. Select an .amb file.
3. Click Open.

Database › Reopen lists the collections you used recently — usually quicker than browsing. Double-clicking an .amb file in Windows Explorer opens it too.

If the collection is protected

A collection with a password asks for it before opening. A collection protected only against changes opens in read-only mode: you can search, sort, print and export, and Database › Get write access… unlocks editing. See Password protection.

If the file will not open

• The file is damaged. All My Books repairs it silently: it compacts the database, keeps the pre-repair state next to it as a .compactbak file, and opens the repaired copy. Nothing is lost unless the damage is severe. If the file gets damaged while you work, the program says so, stops saving into it and offers the same repair.
• The database is full. The file has reached the 2 GB limit of its format. It is not damaged, but nothing more can be written into it. Let the program compress it; if that is not enough, move the covers out of the database (Store all the images inside the database in Preferences).
• The file was changed by another program. A cloud sync client or a backup tool replaced the file while it was open. The program reconnects by itself; repeat the last change if it was not saved, and move the collection out of the synchronized folder.
• The folder is read-only. The collection opens in read-only mode and a message says so. Move the file somewhere you can write to, or fix the folder permissions.
• The database components do not start. All My Books works with the collection through Microsoft ADO, a part of Windows. If those components are broken, the program says so on startup (All My Books cannot start) rather than failing silently. This is a fault of Windows itself: open Command Prompt as administrator, run sfc /scannow and restart the computer. If that does not help, on Windows 8, 10 or 11 run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow once more, and restart again. Still no luck? Send us the error code shown in the message.

See also Compressing the database and Making a backup.