[allanahk]

Hi there, I have a custom column which essentially does what you're asking - it's True if the book is either standalone or first in series (even if the series index doesn't begin at 1) and False otherwise. I find it useful to have this info in a column (called #first_in_series) so I can search very easily (either #first_in_series:=True or False). Here are the steps:

1. Preferences - Advanced - Tweaks - set "allow_template_database_functions_in_composit es = True"

2. Add column - column built from other columns (see attached pic)

3. Copy this code into the column template:

program: 
# Returns True if it is the first book in a series (or a standalone book with no series), including cases where the series index does not begin at 1. 
# Returns False otherwise

first_in_series = 'True';

if field('series') then 
	this_series = field('series');
	this_series_index = field('series_index');
	books_in_series = book_values('title', 'series:="' & this_series & '"', ',', 0);
	
	lowest_series_num = 999;
	for title in books_in_series:
		title_index = book_values('series_index', 'title:="' & title & '"', ',', 0);
		if title_index < lowest_series_num then
				lowest_series_num = title_index
		fi
	rof;	
	
	if lowest_series_num !=# this_series_index then
		first_in_series = 'False'
	fi
fi;

output = first_in_series