Using OnDevice to set the value of a custom column

WendyR14 · 10-23-2011, 03:47 PM

I wonder if anyone could give me some help. I've just begun to explore customising Calibre and I'm finding it tricky; I spotted a throw away comment in a thread (sorry can't find it now) where the poster said breezily that they used a custom column to record which books are loaded onto their Kindle so that they know what's what even when the device isn't connected.

Just what I want I thought.

I found this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...03&postcount=6 and that of course work well to do it manually. But I feel sure that I should be able to set it automatically using the ondevice() funtion explained in the user manual and mentioned here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=15

I guess I need a composite column but does it need to behave like a tag or not; or does it not matter? I presume I need to put the expression into the template box - but what exactly do I need to type into there?

Ideally I should like my new column to be updated when I connect my device so that if I delete things from the kindle itself the value of the column reflects that, and of course the value needs to persist after I unplug the device.

chaley · 10-23-2011, 04:23 PM

There is no (easy) way to automatically record "ondevice" in a way that persists after you disconnect the device. You can do such things in a plugin, but I don't know of one that does it.

The usual solution is to select all books and set the custom column to false using edit metadata (bulk). Next search for ondevice:true while the device is connected, select all and use edit metadata to set the custom column to true.

theducks · 10-23-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WendyR14

I wonder if anyone could give me some help. I've just begun to explore customising Calibre and I'm finding it tricky; I spotted a throw away comment in a thread (sorry can't find it now) where the poster said breezily that they used a custom column to record which books are loaded onto their Kindle so that they know what's what even when the device isn't connected.

Just what I want I thought.

I found this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...03&postcount=6 and that of course work well to do it manually. But I feel sure that I should be able to set it automatically using the ondevice() funtion explained in the user manual and mentioned here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=15

I guess I need a composite column but does it need to behave like a tag or not; or does it not matter? I presume I need to put the expression into the template box - but what exactly do I need to type into there?

Ideally I should like my new column to be updated when I connect my device so that if I delete things from the kindle itself the value of the column reflects that, and of course the value needs to persist after I unplug the device.

You are making way too much out of it

Make a True/False column (mydevice) in the Library if one does not exist.
Connect your device and wait for the device task to finish.

Stage 1) un-mark previous saved status for missing/removed from device books.
Enter this search:

Code:

ondevice:false and formats:true

(change true to a specific format if that is what you choose) and press Enter

1) Clear previous values if it was previously used by Selecting All (ctrl+A).
Bulk Meta-data edit: Custom metadata tab: set mydevice to No
OK

Stage 2) Mark those found on the device.
Set the search:

Code:

ondevice:true

2) Set values for on device books Selecting All (ctrl+A).
Bulk Meta-data edit: Custom metadata tab: set mydevice to Yes
OK

you have now saved your current status

uli · 10-23-2011, 08:03 PM

Since ondevice does not persist if you restart Calibre, I use the Reading List plugin to keep track of what books are on my device when disconnected.

Instead of 'send to device' shortcut I remap it to send to 'reading list'. Next setup the program to manually/automatically 'Replace device with list, add new items only' (this adds/removes except overwrites because in my case it would remove the 'im_reading' collection the kobo uses).

When disconnected you call up the reading list, add/remove books to sync later. Reading List can also add a tag so you can do fancy stuff like column coloring, etc.

10-23-2011, 03:47 PM	#1
WendyR14 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: kindle; ipad; netbook	Using OnDevice to set the value of a custom column I wonder if anyone could give me some help. I've just begun to explore customising Calibre and I'm finding it tricky; I spotted a throw away comment in a thread (sorry can't find it now) where the poster said breezily that they used a custom column to record which books are loaded onto their Kindle so that they know what's what even when the device isn't connected. Just what I want I thought. I found this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...03&postcount=6 and that of course work well to do it manually. But I feel sure that I should be able to set it automatically using the ondevice() funtion explained in the user manual and mentioned here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=15 I guess I need a composite column but does it need to behave like a tag or not; or does it not matter? I presume I need to put the expression into the template box - but what exactly do I need to type into there? Ideally I should like my new column to be updated when I connect my device so that if I delete things from the kindle itself the value of the column reflects that, and of course the value needs to persist after I unplug the device.

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10-23-2011, 04:23 PM	#2
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,740 Karma: 6997045 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	There is no (easy) way to automatically record "ondevice" in a way that persists after you disconnect the device. You can do such things in a plugin, but I don't know of one that does it. The usual solution is to select all books and set the custom column to false using edit metadata (bulk). Next search for ondevice:true while the device is connected, select all and use edit metadata to set the custom column to true.

10-23-2011, 08:03 PM	#4
uli Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	Since ondevice does not persist if you restart Calibre, I use the Reading List plugin to keep track of what books are on my device when disconnected. Instead of 'send to device' shortcut I remap it to send to 'reading list'. Next setup the program to manually/automatically 'Replace device with list, add new items only' (this adds/removes except overwrites because in my case it would remove the 'im_reading' collection the kobo uses). When disconnected you call up the reading list, add/remove books to sync later. Reading List can also add a tag so you can do fancy stuff like column coloring, etc.