Calibre: a few questions for experienced users

[westofpecos]

I have not been able to figure these out, although I have searched both the online manual and the forums (probably missed it):

- Edit metadata screen keyboard shortcuts: when you are on the edit metadata screen, what keyboard shortcuts do you use to the different fields? There are underlined letters for most of these fields. Clearly they must represent shortcuts, but trying these with /without Shift, Ctrl or Alt did not work for me. The answer is likely obvious yet I can't see it. I am running Windows 7.

- GUI-based AND tag queries: is there a simple way using the GUI to build tag-based queries that are linked with ANDs rather than ORs? For speed purposes, right now I build a tag query with mouse/ left hand column, then modify/ add the search string by typing.

- Add books without tags: I looked through the preferences options but could not find how to strip tags so that added books come with no tags. Yet, many posters refer to the fact that they are doing it. Not sure where the feature is? My calibre version is up to date (1.35). Right now, I add a batch of books, then I select the books I added, edit global metadata, and remove all tags.

- Lessons learned on virtual libraries: any tips on the best ways to use virtual libraries? I don't mean "how to", that's simple enough - I mean lessons from experience. (btw I learned a lot from unboggling in his thread "how I manage ebooks with calibre")

- Read/ unread: based on experience, what are the pros and cons of the two methods mentioned in the forum, e.g. READ tag and custom yes/no column?

Many thanks in advance. I really appreciate everyone's help. I will be sure to contribute answers when I know more:-)

[theducks]

Interspersed in green

Originally Posted by westofpecos

I have not been able to figure these out, although I have searched both the online manual and the forums (probably missed it):

- Edit metadata screen keyboard shortcuts: when you are on the edit metadata screen, what keyboard shortcuts do you use to the different fields? There are underlined letters for most of these fields. Clearly they must represent shortcuts, but trying these with /without Shift, Ctrl or Alt did not work for me. The answer is likely obvious yet I can't see it. I am running Windows 7.Alt+letter works for me on W7. do not there is more than 1 'd' and on W7 you must repeat to get to Date (I tend to use Tab, myself)

- GUI-based AND tag queries: is there a simple way using the GUI to build tag-based queries that are linked with ANDs rather than ORs? For speed purposes, right now I build a tag query with mouse/ left hand column, then modify/ add the search string by typing.
At the bottom:Alter Tag Browser: Search type: Match All

- Add books without tags: I looked through the preferences options but could not find how to strip tags so that added books come with no tags. Yet, many posters refer to the fact that they are doing it. Not sure where the feature is? My calibre version is up to date (1.35). Right now, I add a batch of books, then I select the books I added, edit global metadata, and remove all tags.
On the Edit metadata or Download Metadata or Preferences: Configure metadata download . Remove the Tick next to Tag for ALL sources or select a source and click the 'Configure Selected source' button and set by source

- Lessons learned on virtual libraries: any tips on the best ways to use virtual libraries? I don't mean "how to", that's simple enough - I mean lessons from experience. (btw I learned a lot from unboggling in his thread "how I manage ebooks with calibre")

- Read/ unread: based on experience, what are the pros and cons of the two methods mentioned in the forum, e.g. READ tag and custom yes/no column?
IMHO Using the Custom column does not get lost in the Tag clutter, it is a separate field

Many thanks in advance. I really appreciate everyone's help. I will be sure to contribute answers when I know more:-)

[BetterRed]

Edit metadata - Alt/<accellerator keys works for me> there are some ambiguities eg Alt/g for Generate Cover and Tags

GUI based And and Or see - Alter Tag Browser (bottom of left panel)->Search type when... Select All is an AND Select any is an OR

Add books with out tags - not sure that you can, suggest check Mark books as they're added, then Show marked books, select all (ctrl/a), check Remove all tags in Bulk Metadata edit.

I use a third way - a custom column with a defined set of values - that combines my notion of read status - unread, reading, read all, read a bit, reference with a my notion of rating - read all +++++ for a really good (couldn't put it down) book, thru to read a bit ----- for a diabolical book

BR

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by theducks

Interspersed in green

I assume it was good advice, but Horrible color choice.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

I assume it was good advice, but Horrible color choice.

I shoulda' probably just used a simple Bold

I was trying to avoid Error colors and Cautionary colors

[goldilocks]

Originally Posted by westofpecos

- GUI-based AND tag queries: is there a simple way using the GUI to build tag-based queries that are linked with ANDs rather than ORs? For speed purposes, right now I build a tag query with mouse/ left hand column, then modify/ add the search string by typing.

When I use the tag browser and select a group of tags it might say "OR" in the search box but it really "ADDS" all the tags I have selected. So I just figured it was one of those computer search quirks where you say "I want this AND this AND this" and the search comes up with "I want anything which has this OR has this OR has this" and adds them all together.

Not sure if I have explained this very well...

[theducks]

Originally Posted by goldilocks

When I use the tag browser and select a group of tags it might say "OR" in the search box but it really "ADDS" all the tags I have selected. So I just figured it was one of those computer search quirks where you say "I want this AND this AND this" and the search comes up with "I want anything which has this OR has this OR has this" and adds them all together.

Not sure if I have explained this very well...

See my post above

Any = OR
A or B or C

All = And
A and B and C

[westofpecos]

Thanks everyone. It all works for me (now that I realize that there is ambiguity btw several fields for a given letter on the Edit Metadata page).

But, as a follow up:

- if, on the Edit Metadata page, you select a "button" page like Generate Cover, with Alt G, you are able to select the button, but how do you activate it with keyboard only? The OK button remains active, and, if you type Enter, instead of activating Generate Cover it activates the OK button.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by westofpecos

- if, on the Edit Metadata page, you select a "button" page like Generate Cover, with Alt G, you are able to select the button, but how do you activate it with keyboard only? The OK button remains active, and, if you type Enter, instead of activating Generate Cover it activates the OK button.

Press the space key.

[westofpecos]

Gosh, I feel like an idiot, thanks!

One more question, still on keyboard shortcuts:
- when you are on the main screen, displaying a book list, are there keyboard shortcuts to (a) list by title, (b) list by date, (c) list by authors? (I know that Alt A will give you all the books by the same authors, if they are spelled the same). It would be equivalent to clicking on (a) Title, (b) Author, (c) Date.

The reason for the request: I often add 15-25 books at once, in several formats, and I need to merge records by hand after adding them. So, to find the other formats (often with a slightly different title or author name, as these are all often 100-150 years old books with many different editions), after I select a book, I need to sort by titles, then possibly by authors, and back to dates.

I am asking this question after having double checked the manual.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by westofpecos

One more question, still on keyboard shortcuts:
- when you are on the main screen, displaying a book list, are there keyboard shortcuts to (a) list by title, (b) list by date, (c) list by authors? (I know that Alt A will give you all the books by the same authors, if they are spelled the same). It would be equivalent to clicking on (a) Title, (b) Author, (c) Date.

You can accomplish this via the View Manager plugin. Set view sorts for each item and create keyboard shortcuts for each view.

[westofpecos]

Thanks a lot for the tip, DoctorOoh, this will allow me to go full keyboard when processing added books, this is precious info.