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JoopvB · 08-07-2012, 03:38 AM

Hi Kovid,

Thanks for your reply and believe me, I (beeing a long time developer) concurr with your opinion. Nevertheless... I was not suggesting cross record links. What I am suggesting is database support for:
1) a system colum to denote the type of book (like in tracks on a music album) to make a distinction between a (real) book (album) and a storie (track). User interface: something like a switch or a menu.
2) user access to the books already in the database by whatever link you like. User interface: a) a field like the tag or author field that allows one to type the name(s) of the "compilation" book(s); usually one, might be more; b) a lookup facility (can be added as a plugin I assume) that shows the compilation books on the left an by clicking one the books/stories (tracks) that are in that compilation book in the normal book list (as with authors, tags, publishers etc.).

So, IMO no real support for cross links (it's all up to the user), but only system support to distinguish between the type of books and making books already in the database available to the user on field level. No worries about maintaining integrity etc. since it will just give the name (or internal refrence if you will) on the moment of linking. A plugin can at display time do the lookup; if it can't find the compilation or books/stories within it, no problem, display only the one(s) it can find.

I hope I explained a bit better now and again I completely agree on keeping thing simple. But that also goes for the user and calbre is to great a program to be hindered by the lack of generic support for someting so generic as this (again compare music organization).

08-07-2012, 03:38 AM	#9
JoopvB Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: iPad	Hi Kovid, Thanks for your reply and believe me, I (beeing a long time developer) concurr with your opinion. Nevertheless... I was not suggesting cross record links. What I am suggesting is database support for: 1) a system colum to denote the type of book (like in tracks on a music album) to make a distinction between a (real) book (album) and a storie (track). User interface: something like a switch or a menu. 2) user access to the books already in the database by whatever link you like. User interface: a) a field like the tag or author field that allows one to type the name(s) of the "compilation" book(s); usually one, might be more; b) a lookup facility (can be added as a plugin I assume) that shows the compilation books on the left an by clicking one the books/stories (tracks) that are in that compilation book in the normal book list (as with authors, tags, publishers etc.). So, IMO no real support for cross links (it's all up to the user), but only system support to distinguish between the type of books and making books already in the database available to the user on field level. No worries about maintaining integrity etc. since it will just give the name (or internal refrence if you will) on the moment of linking. A plugin can at display time do the lookup; if it can't find the compilation or books/stories within it, no problem, display only the one(s) it can find. I hope I explained a bit better now and again I completely agree on keeping thing simple. But that also goes for the user and calbre is to great a program to be hindered by the lack of generic support for someting so generic as this (again compare music organization).