MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Adding books regular expressions a real PITA

Cool Javelin · 09-11-2019, 07:03 PM

The expressions method for adding books is a real great idea. It allows for flexibility in setting stuff up like author name, title, series, etc...

But entering the expressions in the "nuts and bolts" format is a real PITA.

Each time I want to add books, the filename downloaded may have the author name first, or not. The title first, or not, it may include a series name, or not.

Perhaps I want to get the metadata from within the file and that metadata is incorrect where it has the author name where the title belongs or other mistakes.

Using a complex character structure like...

^((?P<author>([^\-_0-9]+)(?=\s*-\s*)(?!\s*-\s*[0-9.]+)|\b))(\s*-\s*)?(\[?(?P<series>[^0-9\-]+) (- )?(?P<series_index>[0-9.]+)\]?\s*-\s*)?(?P<title>.+)

while detaild in the extreme, it is very difficult for us mere humans to remember and having to refer to the tutorial each time I want to change the expression turns a ten minute job into a few hour task.

Is there a plan in the works to streamline the task, or a plugin to set this expression for me?

I'd like to use a much higher level method to specify the expression.

Like having a series of options to choose from (say on the left) and build a list (say on the right) with add or remove buttons, then "move up" and "move down" arrows to rearrange the list.

Once the list is created have further options to refine the list items. For example: options for selecting hyphens or commas or other...

Also, having constants like the author name be allowed as that info may not be in the filename at all.

Once the list is built, have a "go" button to create the expression for me then I can hit the "add books" button.

Thanks, Mark.

09-11-2019, 07:03 PM	#1
Cool Javelin Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 18222 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: Kindle (early)	Adding books regular expressions a real PITA The expressions method for adding books is a real great idea. It allows for flexibility in setting stuff up like author name, title, series, etc... But entering the expressions in the "nuts and bolts" format is a real PITA. Each time I want to add books, the filename downloaded may have the author name first, or not. The title first, or not, it may include a series name, or not. Perhaps I want to get the metadata from within the file and that metadata is incorrect where it has the author name where the title belongs or other mistakes. Using a complex character structure like... ^((?P<author>([^\-_0-9]+)(?=\s-\s)(?!\s-\s[0-9.]+)\|\b))(\s-\s)?(\[?(?P<series>[^0-9\-]+) (- )?(?P<series_index>[0-9.]+)\]?\s-\s)?(?P<title>.+) while detaild in the extreme, it is very difficult for us mere humans to remember and having to refer to the tutorial each time I want to change the expression turns a ten minute job into a few hour task. Is there a plan in the works to streamline the task, or a plugin to set this expression for me? I'd like to use a much higher level method to specify the expression. Like having a series of options to choose from (say on the left) and build a list (say on the right) with add or remove buttons, then "move up" and "move down" arrows to rearrange the list. Once the list is created have further options to refine the list items. For example: options for selecting hyphens or commas or other... Also, having constants like the author name be allowed as that info may not be in the filename at all. Once the list is built, have a "go" button to create the expression for me then I can hit the "add books" button. Thanks, Mark.