Is there a 'quick' way to switch to a list by author...

[Nobble]

...by which I mean if viewing the main book list, to either right-click on a book and list just all books by that author, or for example to change the behaviour of clicking the author name in the details pane from taking you to wikipedia, to instead update the list view.

Finding the author in the browser list or even typing a search in the search bar is no big slog, admittedly, it just seems like something that could/should just take a couple of clicks - any tweak or plugin (or just something I've missed) that makes this do-able?

edit:bugger Just found the 'similar books >by author' right click, sorry.

[jackie_w]

Select a book by the author of choice then press Alt A works for me on Windows.

Or the slightly longer version:
Highlight book, right-click, select Similar books, then 'Books by same author'.

[Nobble]

Alt A is even better, thank you, I knew there had to be a a way!

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Select a book by the author of choice then press Alt A works for me on Windows.

Or the slightly longer version:
Highlight book, right-click, select Similar books, then 'Books by same author'.

Love the Alt-A. Didn't know about this. Thanks.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Nobble

...by which I mean if viewing the main book list, to either right-click on a book and list just all books by that author, or for example to change the behaviour of clicking the author name in the details pane from taking you to wikipedia, to instead update the list view.

Another way to get such a list that might work for you depending on what you are doing is quickview. Click in the author cell you are interested in and press Q. A window will open with all the authors for that book on the left, and all the books by the selected author on the right. This is a non-modal window that stays on top of the calibre window, so you can use it and the calibre main window at the same time. For example, if you double-click on a book in the quickview window the selection will change in the calibre window. If you click on a book in the calibre window the contents of the quickview window will change to reflect the book you clicked on.

Quickview works for several columns such as authors, series, tags, publisher, and text-based custom columns. Click in the column you want to "quickview".

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

Another way to get such a list that might work for you depending on what you are doing is quickview. Click in the author cell you are interested in and press Q. A window will open with all the authors for that book on the left, and all the books by the selected author on the right. This is a non-modal window that stays on top of the calibre window, so you can use it and the calibre main window at the same time. For example, if you double-click on a book in the quickview window the selection will change in the calibre window. If you click on a book in the calibre window the contents of the quickview window will change to reflect the book you clicked on.

Quickview works for several columns such as authors, series, tags, publisher, and text-based custom columns. Click in the column you want to "quickview".

Chaley that is brilliant, I really like the way the main list follows the quick view - is it in the manual

Maybe Quickview-able column names could be indicated (Italics maybe) and maybe the column name context menu could have a Quickview Current option if appropriate.

I have difficulty seeing which cell in the 'spreadsheet' is current (something to think about) and I don't like clicking on a cell and being thrown into edit mode when that's not what I want - I could tweak that feature off and limit myself to F2 - if I could find the tweak.

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

maybe the column name context menu could have a Quickview Current option if appropriate.

Quickview in the column context menu is a good idea. I submitted the changes to Kovid and they are now in trunk. The menu item is shown if the column is "quickview"able. It is disabled if more than one book is selected to avoid any selection ambiguity.

FWIW: clicking in a non-quickviewable field will change the book but not change the selected column. As title isn't quickviewable, that is a good column to use to change the contents of the quickview window without changing the column being examined.

I have difficulty seeing which cell in the 'spreadsheet' is current (something to think about) and I don't like clicking on a cell and being thrown into edit mode when that's not what I want - I could tweak that feature off and limit myself to F2 - if I could find the tweak.

I think you are looking for the tweak "Control behavior of the book list (ID: doubleclick_on_library_view)". If you set the tweak to "edit_metadata" then single clicks on cells change the selection but do nothing else.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

Quickview in the column context menu is a good idea. I submitted the changes to Kovid and they are now in trunk. The menu item is shown if the column is "quickview"able. It is disabled if more than one book is selected to avoid any selection ambiguity.

FWIW: clicking in a non-quickviewable field will change the book but not change the selected column. As title isn't quickviewable, that is a good column to use to change the contents of the quickview window without changing the column being examined.
I think you are looking for the tweak "Control behavior of the book list (ID: doubleclick_on_library_view)". If you set the tweak to "edit_metadata" then single clicks on cells change the selection but do nothing else.

@chaley thanks for progressing my idea for including Quickview in the column name context menu. When I use the mouse to select a book, I click on the row number - spreadsheet habit

And thanks for pointing me at the tweak, I'd prefer to have independent control over what single & double click do. But, I'll have a play around - its not a big deal for me, I use the keyboard a lot more than the mouse.

But how about a tweak for current cell highlighting - what I see is a subtle barely there skinny tapered underline of the cell text, what I'd prefer is an in your face black cell border - like the Excel default

Its an issue that goes beyond the book list spread sheet, its very easy to lose sight of what control has the focus. If you move the mouse wheel over Book details that takes focus away from the list, which 'disables' the menu key. Fortunately Kovid has fixed that in the latest release with the Focus the Book List keyboard shortcut.

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

But how about a tweak for current cell highlighting - what I see is a subtle barely there skinny tapered underline of the cell text, what I'd prefer is an in your face black cell border - like the Excel default

This is something that has bothered me for a while. My older eyes had trouble seeing that line.

After a fair amount playing with options and back-and-forth discussion with Kovid, he added marking the current column header, row header, and cell. Note that the "current" row is different from the "selected" row, because more than one row can be selected but only one row can be current. To make this distinction, the current row and column headers are rendered in bold and italic. The attached screen capture shows what it looks like.

The change required both python changes and some hacking in the C++ Qt code so using it requires a binary update, which should happen on Friday.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

This is something that has bothered me for a while. My older eyes had trouble seeing that line.

Argh, 'tis good to know I an not alone

Originally Posted by chaley

The attached screen capture shows what it looks like.

Really - I can't see it Don't worry it happened to me the other day

Originally Posted by chaley

The change required both python changes and some hacking in the C++ Qt code so using it requires a binary update, which should happen on Friday.

IMO you got it the wrong way around - one hacks in python but in C++ you have to carefully craft your code because of its propensity to hide bugs.

Thanks once again for progressing the issue

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by chaley

The attached screen capture shows what it looks like.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Really - I can't see it Don't worry it happened to me the other day

Bah. The attachment was there when I previewed the message.

[BetterRed]

The dog ate my attachment,

Looks good.

What's them green drop down arrows in the author Column, multiple author list methinks.

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

What's them green drop down arrows in the author Column, multiple author list methinks.

Just testing column icon rules. The green arrow icon was convenient and very visible.

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by chaley

Another way to get such a list that might work for you depending on what you are doing is quickview. Click in the author cell you are interested in and press Q. A window will open with all the authors for that book on the left, and all the books by the selected author on the right. This is a non-modal window that stays on top of the calibre window, so you can use it and the calibre main window at the same time. For example, if you double-click on a book in the quickview window the selection will change in the calibre window. If you click on a book in the calibre window the contents of the quickview window will change to reflect the book you clicked on.

Quickview works for several columns such as authors, series, tags, publisher, and text-based custom columns. Click in the column you want to "quickview".

Somehow I missed this addition... a very helpful feature, especially given the fact you can go to the underlying Calibre library window!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by copyrite

Somehow I missed this addition... a very helpful feature, especially given the fact you can go to the underlying Calibre library window!

@copyrite thanks I hadn't tried that

I did detect the underlying followed the Quicklist - but being able to go to the book makes it even better - and the Quicklist is kept on top

BR