Importing tags with ; as separator

Daigomi · 05-13-2015, 07:46 AM

Hi guys

I've been given a list of 1000 pdfs and a CSV file with the metadata of all 1000 files (including the information for 15 custom columns). What I need to do is create a Calibre library by combining the files with the metadata.

The merge is fairly straightforward, I use kiwidude's CSV import plugin to grab all the data and place it in the appropriate columns. The issue I'm having is that most of the custom columns contain multiple values (for example "Hardback; Comics, graphic novels and artbooks; Audiobook") that is separated using semicolons. I tried doing a replace in the CSV file, but that resulted in many orphaned tags (for example, it would split "Comics" from "graphic novels and artbooks").

Is there anyway to change the separator (either for all of Calibre or just for the custom columns) from a comma to a semicolon? If not, is there perhaps a better or different workaround that I can use?

Thanks!

chaley · 05-13-2015, 08:56 AM

You cannot change calibre's separator.

I suggest that you invert comma and semicolon so that you would have "Hardback, Comics; graphic novels and artbooks". You can do this by first replacing the commas with something strange such as $%^%$, then replacing the semicolons with commas, then replacing the "something strange" with semicolons.

Daigomi · 05-13-2015, 09:33 AM

Thanks Chaley!

I actually did exactly that while I was waiting for a reply. I should have thought of it much earlier. A proper solution would still be nice, but this is a decent work around.

05-13-2015, 07:46 AM	#1
Daigomi Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: Kindle	Importing tags with ; as separator Hi guys I've been given a list of 1000 pdfs and a CSV file with the metadata of all 1000 files (including the information for 15 custom columns). What I need to do is create a Calibre library by combining the files with the metadata. The merge is fairly straightforward, I use kiwidude's CSV import plugin to grab all the data and place it in the appropriate columns. The issue I'm having is that most of the custom columns contain multiple values (for example "Hardback; Comics, graphic novels and artbooks; Audiobook") that is separated using semicolons. I tried doing a replace in the CSV file, but that resulted in many orphaned tags (for example, it would split "Comics" from "graphic novels and artbooks"). Is there anyway to change the separator (either for all of Calibre or just for the custom columns) from a comma to a semicolon? If not, is there perhaps a better or different workaround that I can use? Thanks!

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05-13-2015, 08:56 AM	#2
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,440 Karma: 8012886 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	You cannot change calibre's separator. I suggest that you invert comma and semicolon so that you would have "Hardback, Comics; graphic novels and artbooks". You can do this by first replacing the commas with something strange such as $%^%$, then replacing the semicolons with commas, then replacing the "something strange" with semicolons.

05-13-2015, 09:33 AM	#3
Daigomi Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: Kindle	Thanks Chaley! I actually did exactly that while I was waiting for a reply. I should have thought of it much earlier. A proper solution would still be nice, but this is a decent work around.

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