Template for sending to device

[Thomas_AR]

Well i am loving more and more C-Companion as it is much easier to manage a huge ebook collection in conjunction with a tablet.

I like to get a folder structure when sending books from calibre to my tablet for better file browsing:

For now i have following template:
{series:'ifempty($, field('authors'))'}/{series_index:0>4s| | - }{title} - {authors}
This results in:
When book has a "series, series index, author and title:
"series/series index(for digits) - title - author
if no series simply
"author/title - author"

Now for easier browsing I would love to have, in case i have a series, for example the letteres "SR - "at the beginning of a Serie folder.
"SR - {series}/series index - etc

Any idea how to do that?

[eschwartz]

Begin with the template fragment:

{series:'test($, strcat("SR - ", field("series")), field("authors")))'}

[Thomas_AR]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Begin with the template fragment:

{series:'test($, strcat("SR - ", field("series")), field("authors")))'}

Thanks, i will check that out. I have to have a closer look
at the plugboard. I am no quiet sure for what to use it
For now i do this templates in the Device configuration.

[eschwartz]

Device configuration controls filenames, plugboards allow dynamically updating metadata fields.
One common use is to insert series into the title, so devices, which generally don't support series, show the title as e.g. "title (series, Book #)"

[Thomas_AR]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Device configuration controls filenames, plugboards allow dynamically updating metadata fields.
One common use is to insert series into the title, so devices, which generally don't support series, show the title as e.g. "title (series, Book #)"

Thanks for the explanation. As i have an Android, so far no use for the plugboard.

Ah just one question:
I see that i can insert the(my) template in "Configure this device" and in "Preferences - Send book to devices". What is the difference?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Thomas_AR

Thanks for the explanation. As i have an Android, so far no use for the plugboard.

Ah just one question:
I see that i can insert the(my) template in "Configure this device" and in "Preferences - Send book to devices". What is the difference?

Preferences becomes the default for NEW devices. Once a device has been used, you need to change at the device level

[Thomas_AR]

Thanks for all your kind help.

So, i think i nearly have it - nice clear folder structure.

{series:'test($, strcat("_", field('series'), " - ",field('authors')), field('authors'))'}/{series_index:0>4s| | - }{title} - {authors}

But there is one problem in case of series:
If there is only one author everything regarding file structure is perfect, but if i have various authors (i have series with about 10 different authors) i get different folders for the series and the different authors.

series - author 1
series - author 2
etc.

Is there a possibility in case there are various authors for one series to make one folder like:

"Series - Various"

or something similar?
But this is not so important, i can live without the authors string in the series folder name.

Thanks again for your patience.

[chaley]

As you are sending files to CC and wanting to use a rather complex folder structure for use with file managers, you should know about the path length restrictions. The wireless driver in calibre enforces a maximum file length of approximately 200 characters for a book file on your device. The limit comes from an attempt to ensure that a Windows machine can use MTP to see the files. If your template generates a name longer than allowed then each component of the name (the parts between / characters) will be truncated by removing characters out of the middle of the component until the path fits. If you have books with multiple authors and long titles, it is virtually guaranteed that the path on the device will not be what you expect.

You can ensure that the path names follow your rules within the limit by using a template that ensures that the components fit within acceptable lengths while being truncated using your rules. See the "shorten" template function.

BTW: eschwartz;s example has an extra parenthesis at the end. It should be

{series:'test($, strcat("SR - ", field("series")), field("authors"))'}

[Thomas_AR]

Hello chaley,
thanks and yes i am aware of the 200 character limitation.
Regarding the "extra parenthesis": I had to eliminate one of the three at the endto get his example to work, i got a syntax error with all 3 of them. Or do i miss something?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Thomas_AR

Thanks for all your kind help.

So, i think i nearly have it - nice clear folder structure.

{series:'test($, strcat("_", field('series'), " - ",field('authors')), field('authors'))'}/{series_index:0>4s| | - }{title} - {authors}

But there is one problem in case of series:
If there is only one author everything regarding file structure is perfect, but if i have various authors (i have series with about 10 different authors) i get different folders for the series and the different authors.

series - author 1
series - author 2
etc.

Is there a possibility in case there are various authors for one series to make one folder like:

"Series - Various"

or something similar?
But this is not so important, i can live without the authors string in the series folder name.

Thanks again for your patience.

This would do it.

{series:'test($, strcat("_", field('series'), " - ", cmp(count(field("authors"), '&'), 2, field('authors'), 'various', 'various')), field('authors'))'}/{series_index:0>4s| | - }{title} - {authors}

However, you have reached the complexity point where I would use general program mode. The template in GPM is something like

program: 
	s = field('series');
	si=field('series_index');
	a = field('authors');
	t = field('title');
	short_author=cmp(count(a, '&'), 1, a, a, 'various');
	strcat(
		test(s, strcat("_", s, " - ", short_author), a),
	 	'/',
		finish_formatting(si, '0>4s', '', ' - '),
		t,
		' - ',
		a)

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Thomas_AR

Hello chaley,
thanks and yes i am aware of the 200 character limitation.
Regarding the "extra parenthesis": I had to eliminate one of the three at the end and had to change the " to ' in field("series")), field("authors") to get his example to work. Or do i miss something?

The parenthesis change you made is what I was saying. I don't know why you had to change the quotes. I didn't.

[Thomas_AR]

Thanks, i think with this i am happy.
Uh, something new again "template in GPM".
Will see how to do this and where

P.S.
Tried:

{series:'test($, strcat("_", field('series'), " - ", cmp(count(field("authors"), '&'), 2, field('authors'), 'various', 'various')), field('authors'))'}/{series_index:0>4s| | - }{title} - {authors}

Still got for each author a folder.
I think i leave it without the author in the serious folder

[Thomas_AR]

Originally Posted by chaley

The parenthesis change you made is what I was saying. I don't know why you had to change the quotes. I didn't.

I went back to the " quotes and eliminated one ), working. Do not know what and why it happened.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Thomas_AR

Thanks, i think with this i am happy.
Uh, something new again "template in GPM".
Will see how to do this and where

GPM templates are documented here.

You can use a GPM template anywhere you can use a normal template. For example, you could paste the template I provided into the box where you put the Template Program Mode template you are using now.

There is a template test & development editor available via the "Template Tester" on the calibre books spreadsheet. I put the template tester onto the context menu (the right-click menu) so it is easily accessible for a given book.

[eschwartz]

I would (and do) use a sublist to restrict "authors" to the first author, e.g. {authors:sublist(0,1,&)} -- or in GPM,

short_author = sublist(
    field('authors'),
    '0',
    '1',
    '&'
);