"Tag" vs "adding new column" dilemma

peter0conor · 05-04-2020, 01:26 PM

Hello Everybody,

I started to build my Calibre library a few months ago, and I keep enjoying adding books to it. However, before my library gets bigger I came to a dilemma about whether it would be better to use "Tags" or "adding new columns". I actually don't see the differences where one could be preferably used instead of the other one. Therefore, I would like to kindly ask the Calibre SMEs about their recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your time,
Peter

Sirtel · 05-04-2020, 01:43 PM

The more there are custom columns, the slower Calibre is to open. So I would use tags when possible.

hobnail · 05-04-2020, 01:46 PM

There's less clutter with a column versus a tag that might be mixed in with other tags. For example, when you sort on that column you can immediately see what's what. I had been using tags but have switched to using custom columns.

hobnail · 05-04-2020, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The more there are custom columns, the slower Calibre is to open. So I would use tags when possible.

True. That's probably why I changed how I manage my books. I used to have all of the books on my ereader and one calibre library.

Now I only have the books I plan to read on the ereader and a calibre library for that and another calibre library for books that I've finished or downloaded from some free site but don't plan on reading any time soon. I've had to correct the habit of downloading many free ebooks from an author I haven't read yet and then were cluttering up that unread/in progress library, and my ereader, and have moved them to the finished library. I have a finished column that I change from null to yes when I've finished or abandoned the book, then I use the copy to library with delete after copy to move it to the finished library. I tried using virtual libraries for this but calibre doesn't remember the virtual library I was in when you quit it and I'd get confused when I next started it. And it's trivial to switch between libraries although I seldom switch to the finished one.

theducks · 05-04-2020, 03:43 PM

What they said. Lean and mean pays off for larger libraries.

Still, I have a few Custom columns:

I have a #usertags to keep track of things that are not normal metadata Tags (those that get downloaded): Where I bought, What Reader it is on, Quality (check) notes

I also have #pages, #alt_series, #mstr_fmt, and #pseudo4 (for anything authors as I keep the real one simple <4 or I put the name (ed)

Sirtel · 05-04-2020, 04:08 PM

I also have several custom columns, because tags aren't always the most convenient way to display something. Still, wherever possible, I try to use tags and/or saved searches instead of custom columns.

I do have a separate library for the books I load on my ereaders and intend to read in my remaining lifetime. Nevertheless I mostly work with my main library which has all the ebooks I have. It takes several seconds to open on my latest PC with 16 GB RAM and an I7 8th gen. processor. I have about 10 custom columns there.

BetterRed · 05-04-2020, 06:01 PM

I only put content descriptors in the Tags/tags column, I have a couple of columns with a fixed set of values for administrative usage.

BTW - Kovid and chaley made changes to calibre's in-memory database that made startup times significantly faster, but that was years ago - maybe as many as 4 or 5, or more.

I have a library of 180K books with 5 custom columns, another with 10K books and 12 column columns, and a Test library with ~2K books and 20+ custom columns. Calibre start up times are about 5 seconds no matter which library I start with. And that includes whatever Job Spy and Calibre Spy do at start up. Custom columns that access the file system via templates can make start up times slow, but i don't have any of those.

Added: the libraries are on a spinning SATA 3 HDD, calibre and settings are on an M.2 NVMe SSD. FWIW I have calibre portable installed on the HDD, startup times against the same libraries are not significantly slower, maybe 7 or 8 seconds rather than 4 or 5.

BR

JimmXinu · 05-04-2020, 07:42 PM

hobnail mentions it in passing, but to me the biggest advantage of a custom column is being able to sort by it. I don't think you can do that with a tag value.

Also, some plugins, like Count Pages, write to custom columns.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobnail

There's less clutter with a column versus a tag that might be mixed in with other tags. For example, when you sort on that column you can immediately see what's what. I had been using tags but have switched to using custom columns.

Ma'am-I-Am · 05-05-2020, 06:45 PM

Having read all the above, I have a related question.

If I choose to use a tag instead of a custom column, is there a way to highlight a particular tag?

My View is as a list, with a panel on the right showing all the detail I want including tags. I would like to see "Retail" in bold and in green, but I have nearly zero understanding of the code required for metadata plug-boards and such.

Or is this a question better suited to some other forum or thread?

05-04-2020, 01:26 PM	#1
peter0conor Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2018 Device: inkBOOK	"Tag" vs "adding new column" dilemma Hello Everybody, I started to build my Calibre library a few months ago, and I keep enjoying adding books to it. However, before my library gets bigger I came to a dilemma about whether it would be better to use "Tags" or "adding new columns". I actually don't see the differences where one could be preferably used instead of the other one. Therefore, I would like to kindly ask the Calibre SMEs about their recommendations. Thanks in advance for your time, Peter

05-04-2020, 01:46 PM	#3
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,552 Karma: 14325282 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	There's less clutter with a column versus a tag that might be mixed in with other tags. For example, when you sort on that column you can immediately see what's what. I had been using tags but have switched to using custom columns. Last edited by hobnail; 05-04-2020 at 02:09 PM.

05-04-2020, 06:01 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,620 Karma: 26960534 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	I only put content descriptors in the Tags/tags column, I have a couple of columns with a fixed set of values for administrative usage. BTW - Kovid and chaley made changes to calibre's in-memory database that made startup times significantly faster, but that was years ago - maybe as many as 4 or 5, or more. I have a library of 180K books with 5 custom columns, another with 10K books and 12 column columns, and a Test library with ~2K books and 20+ custom columns. Calibre start up times are about 5 seconds no matter which library I start with. And that includes whatever Job Spy and Calibre Spy do at start up. Custom columns that access the file system via templates can make start up times slow, but i don't have any of those. Added: the libraries are on a spinning SATA 3 HDD, calibre and settings are on an M.2 NVMe SSD. FWIW I have calibre portable installed on the HDD, startup times against the same libraries are not significantly slower, maybe 7 or 8 seconds rather than 4 or 5. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 05-04-2020 at 06:13 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Reading time by creating a column with "word count"/"your wpm"	Anyssia	Calibre	2	01-04-2019 01:02 PM
The element type "p" must be terminated by the matching end-tag "</p>".	uieluck	ePub	10	02-12-2013 07:04 PM
Custom column: "Updated date", when adding new "versions" of the same file?	enriquep	Library Management	16	11-03-2011 10:46 AM

05-04-2020, 01:43 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,273 Karma: 225099840 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	The more there are custom columns, the slower Calibre is to open. So I would use tags when possible.

05-04-2020, 03:43 PM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,881 Karma: 55267620 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	What they said. Lean and mean pays off for larger libraries. Still, I have a few Custom columns: I have a #usertags to keep track of things that are not normal metadata Tags (those that get downloaded): Where I bought, What Reader it is on, Quality (check) notes I also have #pages, #alt_series, #mstr_fmt, and #pseudo4 (for anything authors as I keep the real one simple <4 or I put the name (ed)

05-04-2020, 04:08 PM	#6
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,273 Karma: 225099840 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I also have several custom columns, because tags aren't always the most convenient way to display something. Still, wherever possible, I try to use tags and/or saved searches instead of custom columns. I do have a separate library for the books I load on my ereaders and intend to read in my remaining lifetime. Nevertheless I mostly work with my main library which has all the ebooks I have. It takes several seconds to open on my latest PC with 16 GB RAM and an I7 8th gen. processor. I have about 10 custom columns there.

05-05-2020, 06:45 PM	#9
Ma'am-I-Am Preferred pronouns: We/Us Posts: 142 Karma: 282160 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: <--- Over There, USA Device: Kindle PW 2	Having read all the above, I have a related question. If I choose to use a tag instead of a custom column, is there a way to highlight a particular tag? My View is as a list, with a panel on the right showing all the detail I want including tags. I would like to see "Retail" in bold and in green, but I have nearly zero understanding of the code required for metadata plug-boards and such. Or is this a question better suited to some other forum or thread?

Advert

Advert