[JJanssen]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Use general program mode, with the finish_formatting() function.

So, for this it looks like I'd simply make a custom column with a template written as a GPM such that the column would simply contain the desired end product, right? In order to do this, it seems I need to input a multi-line program in the Template field of a custom column? Because my Calibre only seems to give me a single line edit field, and if I paste a multiline snippet in it still becomes a single line.

Edit: Ah, I think I've got it. Add more tabs, then paste.
Edit2: nope, that still chokes on anything more than 1 line.

Edit3: The most obvious way to go seemed to be:

program:
	f_s = field('#format_str')
	f_s.format(str(field('series_index'))
	return f_s

But that gives me a template error, quite possibly simply because it's multiple lines. I've also tried a bunch of variants including a one-liner:

program:
	str(field('#format_str').format(field('series_index')))

(the wrapping str() was a desperation move)

Which also doesn't work. The only moderately complex one I;ve gotten to give me anything was one from the docs:

program:
    strcat(
        re(field('series'), '([^\s])[^\s]+(\s|$)', '\1'),
        finish_formatting(field('series_index'), '0>2s', ' - ', ' - '),
        field('title')
    )

But that, being a single function call, is of course a plausible one-liner.