Non-numeric series indices (for Kobo)

[GeoffR]

Calibre's Kobo driver supports sending the series information to Kobo (Mini/Touch/Glo) devices, which shows on the device as "{series} - {series_index}", and allows {series} to work with the predictive search function.

In Calibre {series_index} is limited to numeric values, this seems to be set in Calibre itself rather than the Kobo driver. The Kobo devices can handle non-numeric indices.

I would really like to be able to use non-numeric indices for some series, such as omnibus volumes (e.g. {series}="The Chronicles of the Black Company", {series index}="1-3") or split books (e.g. {series}="A Song of Ice and Fire", {series_index}="5, Part 2"}.

First of all is there any way to do this in Calibre now, using plugboards or something?

If not, would it be better to put a feature request in for Calibre to allow {series_index} to be non-numeric, or for the Kobo driver to support the use of a special or custom column for the series index?

Edit: Another option would be for Calibre to retain {series_index} as a numeric field within Calibre, but allow a plugboard to alter it to a non numeric value before being sent to the device. At the moment it doesn't seem possible to define a plugboard with {series_index} as a target.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

Calibre's Kobo driver supports sending the series information to Kobo (Mini/Touch/Glo) devices, which shows on the device as "{series} - {series_index}", and allows {series} to work with the predictive search function.

In Calibre {series_index} is limited to numeric values, this seems to be set in Calibre itself rather than the Kobo driver. The Kobo devices can handle non-numeric indices.

I would really like to be able to use non-numeric indices for some series, such as omnibus volumes (e.g. {series}="The Chronicles of the Black Company", {series index}="1-3") or split books (e.g. {series}="A Song of Ice and Fire", {series_index}="5, Part 2"}.

First of all is there any way to do this in Calibre now, using plugboards or something?

If not, would it be better to put a feature request in for Calibre to allow {series_index} to be non-numeric, or for the Kobo driver to support the use of a special or custom column for the series index?

Edit: Another option would be for Calibre to retain {series_index} as a numeric field within Calibre, but allow a plugboard to alter it to a non numeric value before being sent to the device. At the moment it doesn't seem possible to define a plugboard with {series_index} as a target.

5.2 (5dot2) wont work? It would also sort well, since Index is numeric.

[PeterT]

Well it's a moot point in 2.4.0 versions of firmware since while the Kobo MIGHT display the series info, unlike earlier 2.x versions, it won't sort using it.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Well it's a moot point in 2.4.0 versions of firmware since while the Kobo MIGHT display the series info, unlike earlier 2.x versions, it won't sort using it.

But Calibre will
So the series, including parts can show in order

Alpha schemes require careful user planning to pad leading with (0) digits to keep sorts intact

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by theducks

5.2 (5dot2) wont work? It would also sort well, since Index is numeric.

5.2 would work fine for the split books, for some reason it didn't sort correctly on the device, but as PeterT said nothing sorts in the current firmware anyway so 5.2 would be fine.

It would still be good to have something for the omnibus volumes though, I thought of changing it to {series}="The Chronicles of the Black Company 1" and series_index=3, which would display correctly on the device as "The Chronicles of the Black Company 1 - 3". But it messes up the predictive search because each book is then effectively in a different series.

I understand if the developers don't want to change this yet though, as it seems Kobo are still making changes to the series feature, it might be better to wait until the firmware has settled.