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Old 09-25-2025, 04:09 PM   #1
nnss
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Question How to edit custom column in calibre?

3 years ago I created a column with a dropdown list containing the years 23,24,25. Now I'm trying to add more years 26,27 and on. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly how I did it the first time, but it was easy. (I probably edited an existing option) The problem now is that I don't want to create a new column so as not to lose the old records. Please advise how to add more values ​​to the dropdown list
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Old 09-25-2025, 04:36 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nnss View Post
3 years ago I created a column with a dropdown list containing the years 23,24,25. Now I'm trying to add more years 26,27 and on. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly how I did it the first time, but it was easy. (I probably edited an existing option) The problem now is that I don't want to create a new column so as not to lose the old records. Please advise how to add more values ​​to the dropdown list
The Values are in the column definition, and they can be edited.

Preferences→Add your own columns.

BR

Last edited by BetterRed; 09-25-2025 at 05:53 PM.
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Old 09-25-2025, 05:03 PM   #3
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In Preferences→Look and feel there is no such option.
Where available, editing is not possible
http://freeimage.host/i/K0H1Qwb

It would be great if someone could tell me where these values ​​are stored, so I can add them directly to the file.
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Old 09-25-2025, 05:20 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nnss View Post
3 years ago I created a column with a dropdown list containing the years 23,24,25. Now I'm trying to add more years 26,27 and on. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly how I did it the first time, but it was easy. (I probably edited an existing option) The problem now is that I don't want to create a new column so as not to lose the old records. Please advise how to add more values ​​to the dropdown list

Preferences > Add Your Own Column


From there find the column you want to update/make changes to and double click it. Next find the Values column and update/make changes. Click ok. Click Apply. Popup will say to restart calibre. Click restart. When Calibre comes back up, your changes/updates should be in their appropriate column.
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Old 09-25-2025, 05:30 PM   #5
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it wasnt showing as sent. please ignore this

Last edited by CAIArchive; 09-25-2025 at 05:31 PM. Reason: double post
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Old 09-25-2025, 05:30 PM   #6
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That image implies a simple Text column with no limits on what can be entered.
This puzzles me on why you cant type any number you want.

right click on the column Head: Do you see Edit column definition? (only on user columns). You might have options

(note changing a column TYPE is not allowed. You would need to create a new column, then transfer existing date. MDE Bulk mode Search and replace)
If you had selected Text with a fixed set of permitted values, The permitted values can be modified.

If you had made it a Date type, then formatted it for only YYYY
see doneread image
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Old 09-25-2025, 05:55 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nnss View Post
In Preferences→Look and feel there is no such option.
Where available, editing is not possible
http://freeimage.host/i/K0H1Qwb

It would be great if someone could tell me where these values ​​are stored, so I can add them directly to the file.
Oops, Add your own columns is a top level item in Preferences.

Click image for larger version

Name:	Screenshot 2025-09-26 075709.jpg
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Size:	49.5 KB
ID:	218278

BR

Last edited by BetterRed; 09-25-2025 at 05:59 PM.
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Old 09-25-2025, 06:16 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nnss View Post
In Preferences→Look and feel there is no such option.
Where available, editing is not possible
http://freeimage.host/i/K0H1Qwb

It would be great if someone could tell me where these values ​​are stored, so I can add them directly to the file.
In your case, 'finished' is a Tag like column, for Tag-like columns a value is created by applying it to a book, and a value is destroyed by removing it from all books to which it's been applied. Calibre doesn't have Keyword like (controlled vocabulary) columns.

BR
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Old Yesterday, 01:13 AM   #9
nnss
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It would be interesting to find out in which file this data is saved, it could be edited directly.

I solved the problem by making a new column, editing is not possible in GUI
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Old Yesterday, 06:10 AM   #10
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Custom column definitions and values are stored in the metadata database (metadata.db), they cannot be edited directly.

The definitions are stored in a table called custom_columns

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The values are stored in 'custom_column_n' tables, where 'n' is the row-id in the custom_columns tables

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Tag like columns such as your "finished" column would also have a 'books_custom_column_n_links' table to associate specific tag like values to specific books.

You add new values to a tag-like custom column by entering it in a book's metadata, once you've done that for one book, you can apply it to other books.

BR
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