I've done a little experimentation with this '(xxx)' suffix feature
The parenthesised suffixes - (ed), (illus), (trans) etc - are ignored in formulating the author_sort column. But...
- you get multiple items in the Tag browser for the same author - with no hint as to why.
- its not ignored if you use Alt+A to list all books by author of current book
If I Alt+A on a book with Author "Fred Bloggs (ed)" then I only get books by Fred Bloggs on which I have the '(ed)' suffix, I don't get books with '(illus)' or no suffix - I use Alt+A a lot
- Quickview has similar problems to Alt/A - I also use it a fair bit
I get the impression that the feature in there courtesy of serendip, rather than calibre's usual thorough going design
BR