MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Searching for custom column #rating with calibredb gives unkown sort field

Far_Pen_6884 · 09-14-2025, 04:06 PM

Hi all,

I use a custom boolean/float column named **#rating** (so I can store half-star values) instead of Calibre’s built-in rating column. When I try to search and sort by that custom column from the command line with calibredb I get errors like:

"Unknown sort field: #rating"
"Unknown fields: #rating"

Examples:

This fails:

Code:

calibredb list --search '#rating:True' --fields=rating,title,authors --sort-by='#rating'
Unknown sort field: #rating

This also fails:

Code:

calibredb list --search '#rating:True' --fields=#rating,title,authors --sort-by=rating
Unknown fields: #rating

This works but is useless to me because it shows the built-in column (all None for my books):

Code:

calibredb list --search '#rating:True' --fields=rating,title,authors --sort-by=rating

What I want

Search for books that have a value in my custom **#rating** column.
List title/authors and the custom **#rating** value.
Sort the results by my custom **#rating** values (in descending order).

Notes / what I’ve tried

I’ve tried quoting the column name, with and without the leading hash, and with/without spaces.
I’ve tried using the GUI to confirm the custom column name and type — it exists and contains values (including halves like 3.5).
I suspect calibredb either doesn’t accept custom column names with a leading “#” for --sort-by, or it expects a different syntax for custom columns.

Is there a supported way to reference custom columns (including those starting with “#”) in calibredb --fields, --search and --sort-by? If so, what is the exact syntax?

09-14-2025, 04:06 PM	#1
Far_Pen_6884 Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2025 Device: paperwhite	Searching for custom column #rating with calibredb gives unkown sort field Hi all, I use a custom boolean/float column named #rating (so I can store half-star values) instead of Calibre’s built-in rating column. When I try to search and sort by that custom column from the command line with calibredb I get errors like: "Unknown sort field: #rating" "Unknown fields: #rating" Examples: This fails: Code: calibredb list --search '#rating:True' --fields=rating,title,authors --sort-by='#rating' Unknown sort field: #rating This also fails: Code: calibredb list --search '#rating:True' --fields=#rating,title,authors --sort-by=rating Unknown fields: #rating This works but is useless to me because it shows the built-in column (all None for my books): Code: calibredb list --search '#rating:True' --fields=rating,title,authors --sort-by=rating What I want Search for books that have a value in my custom #rating column. List title/authors and the custom #rating value. Sort the results by my custom #rating values (in descending order). Notes / what I’ve tried I’ve tried quoting the column name, with and without the leading hash, and with/without spaces. I’ve tried using the GUI to confirm the custom column name and type — it exists and contains values (including halves like 3.5). I suspect calibredb either doesn’t accept custom column names with a leading “#” for --sort-by, or it expects a different syntax for custom columns. Is there a supported way to reference custom columns (including those starting with “#”) in calibredb --fields, --search and --sort-by? If so, what is the exact syntax?