[meme]

Originally Posted by TheD0ct0r

A little help needed please:

I build most of my collections from Author_sort, but there are a few instances where I do not want to use this, for example short stories are in their own collection.

If I set the plugin to create from both the tag and from Author_sort, I get books in multiple collections. I tried simply plugging in the author name for the tag, but since I use last name, first name for my author each one is read as two tags.

Is there a way to either:

1) Have the plugin create a collection based on the tag if it exists, and Author_sort if there is no tag, or

2) Have the plugin read the whole tag field as a single tag, even if it contains a comma, or

3) Create a custom column in Calibre that will insert the tag if it exists, or the Author_sort if no tag exists?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I figured out a way to do this if anyone is interested. I used the "Tag" field for the collection name, putting the authors name (lastname, firstname), or a different collection name like "SS" for short stories. I created a "Custom Column" in Calibre using the "Tag" field. So now my custom column contains the same information as the "Tag" field. This shows as a single entry, so when the plugin creates the collection the comma in the authors name doesn't cause multiple collections to be created.

Edit: That doesn't work either. Calibre alphabatizes the tag! So, it works for Adams, Doug but Ball, Alan gets changed to Alan, Ball.

Anyone out there have any ideas/thought/comments/suggestions?

1. The plugin can't create Author sort only if tag doesn't exist - it just creates what it sees in Calibre, so you need to do your setup in Calibre.

2. The plugin only sees the data Calibre sends it. Calibre is sending the tags as separate entries - so the plugin sees two tags "First", and "Last" and has no way to know which First goes with which Last or that the tag is an author's name

3. Yes. See the Examples section on the first post under Custom Columns. What you are looking for is to create a custom column based on other columns. To fill the column with "Short Stories" if there is a tag called "SS" or with Author Sort if there is no tag "SS", use the template: {tags:'contains($,"SS","Short Stories", field("author_sort"))'} I think I might add that as a new example as it shows how powerful Calibre's templates are.