[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-07-25]

Delete or Rename
1.jpg to 47.jpg
2.jpg to 48.jpg
3.jpg to 49.jpg
Then Move
From: Pictures\F\Fantagraphics\Birthright
To: Pictures\F\Fantagraphics\Critters

Delete or Move ALL (1.jpg - 1-C.jpg)
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\L\Lords of Empyre- Emperor Hulking
To: Pictures\M\Marvel\L\Lords of Empyre- Emperor Hulkling

Delete or R
1-B.jpg to 1-D.jpg
1-C.jpg to 1-E.jpg
Then Move ALL
From: Pictures\A\AfterShock\Maniac of New York- Don't Call It a Comeback
To: Pictures\A\AfterShock\Maniac of New York (Vol. 3)

Delete or Move 1.jpg
From: Pictures\C\Critical\Quarel, The
To: Pictures\C\Critical\Quarrel, The

Delete or Move 1/A.jpg
From: Pictures\I\IDW\Teenage Mutant Ninja Turltes-Usagi Yojimbo- Saturday Morning Adventures
To: Pictures\I\IDW\Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Usagi Yojimbo- Saturday Morning Adventures

Delete or Rename 19.jpg to 19-A.jpg then Move
From: Pictures\T\Titan\Official Xena, The- Warrior Princess Magazine
To: Pictures\T\Titan\Xena- The Official Magazine featuring Hercules

Delete 4.jpg
From: Pictures\I\Innovation\Group Larue, The (Mike Baron's-)

[Alphabetizing Method]

I don't believe there is a way to easily get a list in the same order outside of CB.
Or at least not directly.
This may or may not help you depending on what you are doing or trying to accomplish (need CB Professional or higher).

CB has a 'hidden' title column called AlphabetizedTitle. This is used by CB to get the Titles in the displayed order.
Instead of using Export, you can run an Advanced Find, then Copy/Paste the result column into Excel (note you still can't use Excel to sort as it will change the order since it won't have AlphabetizedTitle available).

To get a list of all the Comic Book Titles/Issues you own:

Run an Advanced Find with:

WHERE
I.[QtyInStock] >= 1

ORDER BY
ComicTitles.AlphabetizedTitle, I.[ItemType], I.[IssueNum], I.[Variation], I.[Printing]

Select All with CTRL+A
Copy with CTRL+C
In Excel, Paste with CTRL+V

NOTE: If you only want Title and Item #, you can just select those columns by
Click in the first Title cell
Scroll to the bottom and with the SHIFT key pressed and held, click the the last Item # Cell.
Then Copy (from CB) and Paste (to Excel)

If you want more columns, you can either copy all the columns then delete what you don't want from Excel or use menu item Setup->Columns to View to only display the columns you want before selecting all (either with CTRL+A or Selecting the first row/first cell and the last row/last cell with SHIFT pressed and held).

Finally this is just for Comic Books. If you need Books and/or Magazines you would use:

BookTitles.AlphabetizedTitle
MagazineTitles.AlphabetizedTitle

PS You will want to format the Title and Item # columns in Excel as 'TEXT' so they justify correctly.

[New hard drive]

I am not sure I have a clear picture of what exactly you need.
Did you bad hard drive contain the program, you database or both?
Normally, the icon on your desktop is the Program and not the actual database.

Having said all that...

If not already done you (may) need to reinstall CB.
Database are located by default at C : \Users\<logon-id>\Documents\Human Computing\ComicBase Databases.
NOTE: You can locate the database any where you like (even on a different drive).
Copy the database backup to the default location (or the location you may have been using) AND Rename it to the normal database name you were using. Do NOT open a database with (Backup <timestamp>) as part of the name (or you will get backup of backup in the name and it gets messy).

Installing the Program should put the icon back on your desktop.
To open up the database (where ever you put it), you can double-click on the actual database name.
This will open it up in CB and remember where it is when you close and reopen CB.

If this doesn't help, I will more specific information.

[Clean up for 7/17/2024 content update]

Yes, titles designated as 'Light Novel's are either text only or text with illustrations and should be Type Books (at least in all cases I have come across).

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-07-17]

Delete or Move ALL (1-A.jpg - 2-A.jpg)
From: Pictures\I\Image\F\Falling in Love on Path to Hell
To: Pictures\I\Image\F\Falling in Love on the Path to Hell

Delete or Rename TPB.jpg to TPB 1.jpg
From: Pictures\S\Scholastic\Pokemon- World Championship

Delete or Rename x.jpg to TPB x.jpg (where X is 1 through 17)
From Pictures\Y\Yen\Irregular At Magic High School, The (Light Novel)

Delete or Rename 1.jpg to 1-A.jpg and 2.jpg to 2-A.jpg
From: Pictures\I\Image\R\Rat City

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-07-10]

Delete or Rename 4.jpg to 4-A.jpg
From: Pictures\I\Image\S\Sam and Twitch Case Files

Delete 1-F.jpg
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\U\Ultimate X-Men (3rd Series)
(Duplicate of 1-2.jpg)

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-07-03]

Delete 18.jpg
From: Pictures\A\Andrews McMeel\Get Fuzzy
(Duplicate of correct Bk 6.jpg)

[Antarctica (Image) 9-B cover incorrect]

I added it to my database and submitted the cover.

[Thumbnail Size]

In the top left side of the window, click on the VIEW drop-down icon.

Then select Grid Cover Icon Size and then The size desired. (see attached)

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-06-26]

Delete or Rename 1.jpg to 2005.jpg then Move Move
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\F\Free Comic Book Day 4
To: Pictures\M\Marvel\F\Free Comic Book Day (Marvel)

Delete or Move ALL (1-A.jpg - 1-C.jpg)
From: Pictures\B\Brilliant\GunHAND, The
To: Pictures\A\American Mythology\GunHAND, The

Delete or Move 0.jpg - 124.jpg
From: Pictures\E\Editorial Bruguera\Can Can (Editorial Bruguera)
To: Pictures\E\Editorial Bruguera\Can Can (Editorial Bruguera, 1st Series)

Delete or Move 201.jpg - 230.jpg
From: Pictures\E\Editorial Bruguera\Can Can (Editorial Bruguera)
To: Pictures\E\Editorial Bruguera\Can Can (Editorial Bruguera, 2nd Series)

Delete or Move ALL (1.jpg - 199.jpg)
From: Pictures\E\Editorial Bruguera\Can Can
To: Pictures\E\Editorial Bruguera\Can Can (Editorial Bruguera, 2nd Series)

Delete 1-E.jpg
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\U\Ultimate Spider-Man

Delete 10-A.jpg then Rename 10.jpg to 10-A.jpg
From: Pictures\B\Boom!\Wynd
(10-A.jpg is a duplicate of 10-B.jpg)

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-06-19]

Delete or Move ALL (1.jpg - 7.jpg)
From: Pictures\I\I.W\Little Eva (I. W.)
To: Pictures\I\I.W\Little Eva (I.W.)

Delete or Rename
Bk 1.jpg to 1.jpg
Bk 2.jpg to 2.jpg
Bk 3.jpg to 3.jpg
Bk 4.jpg to 4.jpg then Move
From: Pictures\G\Gold Key\Star Trek (1st Series)
To: Pictures\G\Golden Press\Star Trek- The Enterprise Logs

Delete or Rename Bk 5.jpg to 5.jpg then Move
From: Pictures\G\Gold Key\Star Trek (1st Series)
To: Pictures\C\Checker\Star Trek- The Key Collection

[severe issue with updating.]

Are the missing/non-importing issues in the file that was Exported?

If the are, can you see anything strange about the data for those issues?

If they are not in the file, then they didn't get Exported for some unknown reason.

And if they are not in the file? can you try to Export one or more of those issues by themselves? You can do this by checking the 'Marked' box on the issue( s ). Then, when Exporting, select 'Export only marked items'.

PS, If you seem to be missing entire titles, you might do a Find for Publisher name 'Unknown Publisher'. Any title CB can't match to an existing Title in CB will have the Publisher set to 'Unknown Publisher'.

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-06-12]

Delete or Move ALL (1.j.pg - 1-E.jpg)
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\S\Star Wars- The Mandalorian 2
To: Pictures\M\Marvel\S\Star Wars- The Mandalorian Season 2

Delete or Move 4.jpg through 17.jpg
From: Pictures\G\Go! Comi\07-Ghost
To: Pictures\V\Viz\07-Ghost (Viz)

Delete or Rename 1-GIVE.jpg to 1.jpg then Move
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\C\Custom M&M 2021-22 Print Comic
To: Pictures\M\Marvel\C\Custom M&M 2023 Custom Comic

Delete or Move FCBD 2021.jpg
From: Pictures\I\IDW\Star Wars- The High Republic Adventures
To: Pictures\T\Tokyopop\Free Comic Book Day (Tokyopop)

Delete 1-G.jpg
From: Pictures\M\Marvel\U\Ultimate X-Men
(duplicate of CS 2.jpg)

[Correcting Storylines]

If I am editing a long string, I tend to copy it out into Notepad (or text editor of your choice) and making the correction there just because of the scenario you described.

However, if you want to edit in the cell, here are a couple of tricks.

1) select/high-light just the character (singular) you want to manipulate. Then either delete or type in the replacement character.

2) Copy a single or multiple characters from another source. Then either place the cursor where you want to insert it and Paste or high-light one or more consecutive chatterers and paste it in.

You may have to experiment a little to get used to doing these in cell changes.

[severe issue with updating.]

One more thing you can try. Load the export file to a spreadsheet.

Sort by Title and see what the first or last row looks like.

The Problem row should (hopefully) be the first or last row.

[severe issue with updating.]

If you want to do a little work, you can try to find the 'problem' row by:

Take a copy of the export file and split it into smaller parts (2 to 5 or so).

Then try to Import each part. hopefully just one contains the problem.

Mass Change Qty in Stock to 0

Take the one (hopefully) part and split it up and attempt to Import them.

Then repeat Mass Change, split file into smaller chunks and import.

Eventually (and sooner than you might think) the file will be small enough that you can scan through it to see something 'strange' that is causing the problem.

Once you find it, you can go back to the original Export file, find and Delete/Fix the row,m then try Importing the whole thing.

Technically, the process is to split the file in half, then half again, etc. It is called a Binary search for that reason. But you can speed the process up by splitting into more sections.

[severe issue with updating.]

Issue Number and Variation are not normally columns you need to display or deal with (unless you are doing some specialized finds).
This is because Item # is a composed of 4 columns: Type, Issue Number, Variation, and Printing.

As for Columns to Export, the only ones I would use are:
(bare minimum)
Title
Item #
Condition
Qty In Stock

(additionally, if you use them for your data)
Notes (if not locked so the update doesn't change)
any Custom columns (Date, Field, Check)

Any other column should be populated with the next update.
There should be few problems using these columns when you Import (Note: Few does not mean none...)

NOTE: If you have Duplicate Item #'s due to owning the same issue in different Conditions, these may need to be cleaned up after a successful Import.

[severe issue with updating.]

Can you be a little more specific with the steps you have taken and the various results.
What databases were involved, were the 4 you refer to the exports and/or imports from 1 database with 4 types (Books, Comic Books, Magazines, Newspapers) or 4 different databases?
What problem are you having with the import?
Details are needed to see what is going on.

[severe issue with updating.]

Your previous posts on the results of the testing I asked about were a little mixed.

A) Did the new Database finish in 25 minutes (or so) with out any other problems?

NOTE: A New database will take longer than normal as it is making all the accumulated updates from when it was included in the install download.  You can test it for a more accurate speed by re-running the update which can be done by pressing and holding the SHIFT key when selecting Check for Updates.

If the new database is processing the Updates in a normal amount of time, as Mark mentioned you can export / import your data to this new database. (afterwards, you can rename the file back to whatever name you want.)

If you need help with the export / import, I can help you here or you can email support for the guide.

NOTE: Since you haven't been able to update, the import will probably have a few 'Unknown' titles for Title changes since your last update. These can be handled without too much problem.

But, this all depends on if the New database Updated without problems.

 

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-05-29]

Delete or Move MMPB.jpg
From: Pictures\A\Ace Fantasy\Angel's Command, The
To: Pictures\A\Ace\Angel's Command, The

Delete or Move HC.jpg
From: Pictures\A\Ace Fantasy\Bloodrights
To: Pictures\A\Ace\Bloodrights

Delete or Move MMPB.jpg
From: Pictures\A\Ace Fantasy\Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
To: Pictures\A\Ace\Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

Delete or Move MMPB.jpg
From: Pictures\A\Ace Fantasy\Voyage of Slaves
To: Pictures\A\Ace\Voyage of Slaves

Delete or Rename GN 1.jpg to 1.jpg then Move
From: Pictures\V\Vertical\Girl On The Shore
To: Pictures\V\Vertical\Girl on the Shore, A

Delete or Move 1.jpg
From: Pictures\H\Hippy\Spain's Zodiac Mindwarp
To: Pictures\H\Hippy\Zodiac Mindwarp (Spain's-)

Delete or Move ALL (1.jpg - 415.jpg)
From: Pictures\N\Novaro\Super Comic (Serie aguila)
To: Pictures\N\Novaro\Supercomic (Serie aguila)

[Why are so many covers tiny?]

Check you Setup->Preferences.  at the bottom middle is an option for 'Automatically download larger pictures when viewing items'. Make sure this is checked.

If it IS checked and you still do not get the larger picture, you may need to contact support.

[Why are so many covers tiny?]

What Edition of CB do you have? (Archive, Pro, etc.)

Not sure when you last installed CB but the current version of the Archive Edition (at least) seems to default to tiny covers (to speed installation) but you had the option to download/install the full size issues from CB (through the registration page and selecting other.

The idea behind this is that the installation for all the covers will be very fast and if you ever looked at a cover, it would download the full size one and display it.

PS Not having tested it, I don't know if this full size download works without a current registration or not. I have never tested this. It may still work.

Also can you give a specific title and some issues?

[Clean up for 05/23/2024 content update]

'Thor Quest' is definitely an illustrated text book.
Title could/should? be 'Thor Quest: Hammers of the Gods'

Since 'Thor Quest: Fires of the Forgekeep' is a pre-order (release date 2 Feb 2025), there is not direct evidence but everything looks the same as 'Thor Quest' so probably an illustrated text book, also.

 

PS The title should be 'Rascal Does Not Dream of a Santa Claus (Light Novel).

No 'Sc and 'Light Novel' in parenthesis.

Also, as a Light Novel, this is a text story and the  Title belongs in Books.

[Red Sonja FCBD 2023]

Looking my database and on AA, I am not seeing this.

'Red Sonja (Dynamite, Vol. 6)' has FCBD 2022.
'Red Sonja (Dynamite, Vol. 7)' has FCBD 2023.

Does it have some different issues number?

[Cover Scan Maintenance 2024-05-23]

Delete or Move 394.jpg and 547.jpg
From: Pictures\E\Editorial Vid\Kendor, El Hombre Del Tibet (Editorial Vid)
To: Pictures\G\Grupo Editorial Vid\Kendor

Delete or Move 1.jpg and 1-2.jpg
From: Pictures\F\Fantagraphics\Mishkin File, The
To: Pictures\F\Fantagraphics\Mishkin File!, The

Delete or Move 1.jpg
From: Pictures\F\Fantagraphics\Search For Smilin' Ed, The
To: Pictures\F\Fantagraphics\Search for Smilin' Ed!, The

Delete or Rename 1.jpg to TPB.jpg and 1-HC.jpg to HC.jpg
From: Pictures\M\Moonstone\Green Ghost, The- Declassified