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mattlauck · 10-15-2013, 10:01 PM

Spent my last two days off from work trying to get Calibre to do what I want.
Using Fields/Columns to easily navigate the Cover Grid View with a 'Hierarcy, drill-down, or narrowing' of results using existing fields and created columns.

Seems that Calibre is more than powerful enough to do what I would like it to do but I have been unable to break much ground. I have no knowledge of even basic programming languages.

I would greatly appreciate any help or insight that anyone could offer.

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I am looking for Calibre to return results from WITHIN other results.

The Virtual Libraries seem to be the only method of getting this to work, however I would like more than two levels of searching.

Example 1:

- I would like to select an author and then see a list of series by that author.

What happens:

I select an 'author' from the field list on the right.
The results for the author come up.
Then wanting to see series by this author, I select 'series' from the left pane.
This results in the search results for the author being closed and search results for every series to be returned.

Example 2:

- I want to select Biography from 'tags'. Within those results I would like to select other 'tags' or 'columns' to narrow my results, like presidents, military, or comedians

What happens:

Same thing as above, as trying to narrow results down only closes my results and brings up all results for my new selection.

Optimally I would be able to drive down multiple levels by narrowing my search to exactly what I am looking for.

Example:

From 'tag' I select - Fiction
I select the 'tag' - Horror
I select the 'author' - Stephen King,
I select 'series' - The Dark Tower
I select '(custom column) Status' - Unread

With every step the results are narrowed.

At the end, Calibre returns 'The Wind through the Keyhole'

GREAT!

If you could 'break out' results it would be even better.

With the above example I have drilled down to Stephen King.
(Fiction/ Horror/Stephen King)
But now I would like to see results for Stephen King NOT in Horror.

Selecting Stephen King (Right Click option or new button)would break out a search to include all Stephen King.

PERFECT!

Currently I use Virtual Libraries to sort out my library into Fiction/ Non-Fiction/Suspense/Thriller/Action/Horror/Mystery/Biography/Self-Help/Women's/Young Adult/Children's tabs.

So on selection, the main library is parred down to these 'tags/columns' which allow me to select results by choosing the fields/columns on the left hand side. But, this method only provides two levels of search and doesn't lend itself to quick on-the-cuff searching as you have to set up the virtual library.

The closest I have come is creating a custom column 'Author/Series'.
Selecting 'Column built from other column', and
Using template '{author).{series}'.

This returns imperfect author results as books with more than one author are returned showing lumped together instead of the way they are displayed in 'Authors'.
It also breaks down the authors to two listings IF they have a series.

Example:

Stephen King & David Palladini.
>Stephen King & Peter Straub
Stephen King & Richard Bachman.
Stephen King.
>Stephen King

Expanding the >King/Straub carrot will bring up 'The Talisman'
Expanding the >King carrot will bring up ' The Dark Tower' and 'The Shining'.

---
I am an archivist and LOVE to collect.
I started cataloging my e-book collection this month and I have @1,000 titles organized so far.
Calibre is the best tool I have found so far.

I have a bad memory and struggle with recall.
Primarily I search by browsing and clicking rather than enter text into a search box.
I can't remember the authors name but I find him through drilling down through 'tags'.

I have used excellent library managing programs before.
- J. RIVER ME
DIA CENTER for Music/ TV Series / Movies
- COMIC RACK for Comic Books

I hope the Calibre can provide me a similar level of usability.

Thank-you for reading my post, I would be thankful for any suggestions that you could offer.

10-15-2013, 10:01 PM	#1
mattlauck Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: ipad	Sorting Fields/Tags within Fields/ Tags? Spent my last two days off from work trying to get Calibre to do what I want. Using Fields/Columns to easily navigate the Cover Grid View with a 'Hierarcy, drill-down, or narrowing' of results using existing fields and created columns. Seems that Calibre is more than powerful enough to do what I would like it to do but I have been unable to break much ground. I have no knowledge of even basic programming languages. I would greatly appreciate any help or insight that anyone could offer. ------------------------------------------------------------------ I am looking for Calibre to return results from WITHIN other results. The Virtual Libraries seem to be the only method of getting this to work, however I would like more than two levels of searching. Example 1: - I would like to select an author and then see a list of series by that author. What happens: I select an 'author' from the field list on the right. The results for the author come up. Then wanting to see series by this author, I select 'series' from the left pane. This results in the search results for the author being closed and search results for every series to be returned. Example 2: - I want to select Biography from 'tags'. Within those results I would like to select other 'tags' or 'columns' to narrow my results, like presidents, military, or comedians What happens: Same thing as above, as trying to narrow results down only closes my results and brings up all results for my new selection. Optimally I would be able to drive down multiple levels by narrowing my search to exactly what I am looking for. Example: From 'tag' I select - Fiction I select the 'tag' - Horror I select the 'author' - Stephen King, I select 'series' - The Dark Tower I select '(custom column) Status' - Unread With every step the results are narrowed. At the end, Calibre returns 'The Wind through the Keyhole' GREAT! If you could 'break out' results it would be even better. With the above example I have drilled down to Stephen King. (Fiction/ Horror/Stephen King) But now I would like to see results for Stephen King NOT in Horror. Selecting Stephen King (Right Click option or new button)would break out a search to include all Stephen King. PERFECT! Currently I use Virtual Libraries to sort out my library into Fiction/ Non-Fiction/Suspense/Thriller/Action/Horror/Mystery/Biography/Self-Help/Women's/Young Adult/Children's tabs. So on selection, the main library is parred down to these 'tags/columns' which allow me to select results by choosing the fields/columns on the left hand side. But, this method only provides two levels of search and doesn't lend itself to quick on-the-cuff searching as you have to set up the virtual library. The closest I have come is creating a custom column 'Author/Series'. Selecting 'Column built from other column', and Using template '{author).{series}'. This returns imperfect author results as books with more than one author are returned showing lumped together instead of the way they are displayed in 'Authors'. It also breaks down the authors to two listings IF they have a series. Example: Stephen King & David Palladini. >Stephen King & Peter Straub Stephen King & Richard Bachman. Stephen King. >Stephen King Expanding the >King/Straub carrot will bring up 'The Talisman' Expanding the >King carrot will bring up ' The Dark Tower' and 'The Shining'. --- I am an archivist and LOVE to collect. I started cataloging my e-book collection this month and I have @1,000 titles organized so far. Calibre is the best tool I have found so far. I have a bad memory and struggle with recall. Primarily I search by browsing and clicking rather than enter text into a search box. I can't remember the authors name but I find him through drilling down through 'tags'. I have used excellent library managing programs before. - J. RIVER ME DIA CENTER for Music/ TV Series / Movies - COMIC RACK for Comic Books I hope the Calibre can provide me a similar level of usability. Thank-you for reading my post, I would be thankful for any suggestions that you could offer.