---
name: "convert-metadata.db"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gmc"
version: "4.5.55-1.2woody6"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/convert-metadata.db"
---

# convert-metadata.db(1)

convert the GNOME metadata.db file from DB version 1.85 or 2 to DB 3

## NAME

convert-metadata.db - convert the GNOME metadata.db file from DB version 1.85 or 2 to DB 3

## SYNOPSIS

**convert-metadata.db \[--all⎪-a\] \[--verbose⎪-v\] \[--no⎪-n\]**

## DESCRIPTION

GNOME 1.2, used in Debian 2.2, used the DB library version 2. GNOME 1.4, used in Debian 3.0, uses the DB library version 3.

The files used by these versions are not compatible.

GMC uses the DB functions to create the file ~/.gnome/metadata.db to handle desktop links et al.

So this file has to be recreated, otherwise, the links use the  standard icon, they can not be changed, and new icons can not be created.

Calling convert-metadata.db will convert the file if necessary,  a backup copy is preserved with the suffix .dbconvert-backup.

## OPTIONS

- \--all \| -a

  Convert the metadata.db file for all regular users. Only available for root.

- \--verbose \| -v

  Verbose output.

- \--no \| -n

  Do not do the actual conversion.

## DISTRIBUTION

Distribution is subject to the GNU Public Licence 2.

## AUTHOR

Martin Bialasinski \<martinb@debian.org\>

Colin Watson \<cjwatson@debian.org\>

## SEE ALSO

[*db\_load*(1)](/db_load/1.md), [*db\_dump185*(1)](/db_dump185/1.md)