Separate field for ISBN

[randwyck]

Hello.
I recently upgraded to the latest version of Calibre and was a bit surprised about how the Edit Metadata windows has been overhauled.
The ISBN field disappeared, and while I can still search by ISBN (typing in the Ids field 'isbn: number'), it's quite annoying to have to type it manually. When I can copypaste the ISBN everything is ok, but not always this is possible.
So, is it possible to get ISBN field back, or do I have to downgrade?
Another question - how do I change the behaviour of double-click? I'd like it to open the Edit Metadata dialog.
Anyway, thank you for this wonderful programme, Kovid!)

[chaley]

Sorry, a dedicated ISBN box is not going to come back. If you want to downgrade, 0.7.59 was the last release having a dedicated isbn box.

Regarding double-click behavior, see the tweak "doubleclick_on_library_view" (preferences -> tweaks). It is categorized under "Control behavior of double clicks on the book list". You will want to set it as

doubleclick_on_library_view = 'edit_metadata'

[randwyck]

Originally Posted by chaley

Sorry, a dedicated ISBN box is not going to come back. If you want to downgrade, 0.7.59 was the last release having a dedicated isbn box.

Thank you, chaley.
But why the Ids field doesn't at least recognize ISBN automatically? I fail to see any improvement in removing the separate ISBN field. I'm sure there was some rationale behind it, maybe I just use this new feature the wrong way?

[chaley]

It was removed because calibre now supports an arbitrary number of different IDs. One sees DOI, ASIN, ISBN, GoodReads, and many others.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Well, that certainly screws those of us who really needed that field! I'm certainly sorry to hear that.

[nynaevelan]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Well, that certainly screws those of us who really needed that field! I'm certainly sorry to hear that.

You can do like I did and create a custom column for isbn.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Well, that certainly screws those of us who really needed that field! I'm certainly sorry to hear that.

Uhhh, how? Because you must put isbn: in front of the number when you enter it?

[odin]

As chaley say's,

Originally Posted by ;

"It was removed because calibre now supports an arbitrary number of different IDs. One sees DOI, ASIN, ISBN, GoodReads, and many others. "

In my experience when you download metadata calibre lists the isbn first in the IDs field, then any other ids, such as amazon, google, etc. after. If you need to add an isbn manually use the paste button to the left of the IDs field and calibre will add the isbn: part automatically.

--
Odin

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

You can do like I did and create a custom column for isbn.

The last thing I need is another column to eat up screen real estate, especially when it shouldn't be necessary. Besides, all I've been having to do to get the title, author, comments, etc. fields populated is put in the ISBN. Not having a place to do that anymore is going to be a royal hurt in the donkey. The vast majority of my ebooks are scanned to image only PDFs from paperbooks so there is no way calibre can extract any info from the book itself. Before, all I had to do was ID the newly scanned book by ISBN, then, when entering it into calibre, just copy and paste it into the ISBN box and let calibre do its thing. Now, I'll have to manually enter all fields so they will match the individual book (many, if not most, paperbooks have many different printings). For me, losing the ISBN box is a huge step backwards.

[nynaevelan]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Before, all I had to do was ID the newly scanned book by ISBN, then, when entering it into calibre, just copy and paste it into the ISBN box and let calibre do its thing. Now, I'll have to manually enter all fields so they will match the individual book (many, if not most, paperbooks have many different printings). For me, losing the ISBN box is a huge step backwards.

You will still be able to do this, now you will enter it into the id box with isbn: as a prefix. I know it is an extra step but....

I am curious though, how do you scan in your paperback books, are you scanning them without separating them from their binding or separating them from their binding in order to scan them?? I would love to know because I have alot of older books which I would like in ebook format but I do not think the publisher has any plans to re-release them.

Nyn

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

You will still be able to do this, now you will enter it into the id box with isbn: as a prefix. I know it is an extra step but...

I'm behind on everything for various reasons I won't bore you with (essentially, life happened) so it will be a while before I can try to figure that out.

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

...I am curious though, how do you scan in your paperback books, are you scanning them without separating them from their binding or separating them from their binding in order to scan them?? I would love to know because I have alot of older books which I would like in ebook format but I do not think the publisher has any plans to re-release them.

Nyn

The reason I'm scanning my books is I have a bijillion (ok, at least 1500) books I won't be able to take with me otherwise when I move into a travel trailer. I also do not buy e-books because the ones I want are DRM infested, overpriced (often cost more than paperbooks; besides, used paperbooks are cheaper), or unavailable.

I cut off the spines with a guillotine papercutter (can cut up to 1 1/2") then (for most books) feed the pages through a Fujitsu Scansnap S1500 ADF duplex scanner, scanning directly to PDF. I scan the color covers first, then scan the text in black and white (eliminates faded paper and most speckles, making a page that looks ancient look almost new), then combine the covers and text into a single PDF.

Heavily illustrated books, especially color illustrations, require more work if I want archival quality scans. I use a flat bed scanner and replace the original scanned illustrations with the better one. Fortunately, that is fairly rare.

Comic books are a pain. I scan them to color JPGs, run them through Irfranview to jack up the contrast and reduce brightness, then combine them to PDF. It's more work but the comics usually look better than new.

[ldolse]

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

I am curious though, how do you scan in your paperback books, are you scanning them without separating them from their binding or separating them from their binding in order to scan them?? I would love to know because I have alot of older books which I would like in ebook format but I do not think the publisher has any plans to re-release them.

Nyn

If you're feeling handy and don't like the idea of cutting up books you can also build a non-destructive book scanner - check out http://diybookscanner.org/. Lots of plans/projects in the forums there. People have built some of the examples quite cheaply using scrap parts and ebay.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

The last thing I need is another column to eat up screen real estate, especially when it shouldn't be necessary. Besides, all I've been having to do to get the title, author, comments, etc. fields populated is put in the ISBN. Not having a place to do that anymore is going to be a royal hurt in the donkey. The vast majority of my ebooks are scanned to image only PDFs from paperbooks so there is no way calibre can extract any info from the book itself. Before, all I had to do was ID the newly scanned book by ISBN, then, when entering it into calibre, just copy and paste it into the ISBN box and let calibre do its thing. Now, I'll have to manually enter all fields so they will match the individual book (many, if not most, paperbooks have many different printings). For me, losing the ISBN box is a huge step backwards.

Just to be clear...

A new column is not necessary, and you have not lost the ability to do what you wish. Also, for your workflow, there is no extra typing.

Before 0.8, there was a box in edit metadata (single) that could contain an ISBN, in which you could paste an ISBN. In 0.8, there is a box in edit metadata (single) that can contain an ISBN and several other kinds of IDs, in which you can paste an ISBN (with one button click).

If you need to hand-type the ISBN into the box, as is the case with the OP, then there is a bit more to do. You must type the 5 letters isbn: before typing the ISBN itself. I can see how this might be annoying if manually entering ISBNs is a frequent part of a person's workflow.

[nynaevelan]

Thanks for explaining, I might look into a way to scan in books but it would need to be a way where I will not ruin the book, I hate the idea of destroying books, especially ones I have had longer than I have had my son.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

...I hate the idea of destroying books, especially ones I have had longer than I have had my son.

I know what you mean. Idolse's suggestion could be ideal for you. For me, it's a choice to "destroy" the paper version so I can keep the book digitally (which is also safer since the books can be safely backed up) or give up the book period. Technically, I am not destroying the books; I'm merely doing a media shift. Still, it took a lot of will power to chop the first few books. I do have a few books I will NOT "destroy."