Import Settings

[JennReads]

I did a search on this before posting and read the sections that came up when I searched in the user manual and couldn't find what I needed to know but there exists the possibility that I'm just not very bright and missed someone explaining it before or didn't understand that they were explaining it my point being if this question has already been asked and answered I apologize for asking it again.

I wanted to know if there was a way to customize the calibre import settings beyond what is available to check or not check in the preferences box. And if there is can you break it down for me as in I'm not a programmer but I'd really like to set up my copy to do certain things if at all possible so an explanation meant for the clueless would be awesome.

The specific things I want it to do are:
1. Remove preexisting tags and ratings when importing books into Calibre via add books. I've already got it set to add the tag NEW so I can find what I'm working on but it would be awesome if it would clear out the other tags and ratings as in imports rather than having to select my new additions and bulk edit the meta data.

2. Auto-import MP3 files. I should explain this, no, I don't want it to add every mp3 on my computer, I'm not using Calibre to organize my music collection or anything like that. But like say I've got a folder with multiple audiobooks in separate sub-folders, I'd like to configure the program to add those all at once when I select Add Books>One Book Per Folder instead of going to each folder individually and then doing Add Books, changing the little drop down menu in the file window when it ask for a directory so I can see the mp3 file and then selecting it. I understand doing this will be slow to add and make my library slower to load but I'm okay with that because I'd rather have the files all organized and pretty than quick.

3. When I add the file I'd like it to automatically remove preexisting languages and change them to English because I only speak one language so despite any screwed up meta data the file might have the book is English.

4. After the books are in Calibre automatically search for ISBN. As in rather than having to select them all and hit the button to find ISBN start the plugin right when they're added.

5. Have Author names show up in a certain way. Like when you add a Kindle Purchase it always imports last name first. I like my library to show up first name first. I mean I have them sorted by last name but when I'm looking at the entry the first name shows up first, not sure if that makes sense. Like all of the people with the last name of R are together but the author name might read John Rogers if that was the authors name. When I import my kindle purchase they always show up Rogers, John instead of John Rogers and have to be fixed manually. I'd like for it to auto-fix this on import.

Is it possible to make Calibre do these things by adjusting different settings? If so how?

Thanks so much for your time and any help you might be willing to provide with these requests.

[eschwartz]

No, I think you will have to do all those things by hand.

Although, the Kindle LN, FN naming format was fixed so import recognizes it as the author_sort value and calculates the author value from it. No intervention is necessary, just update calibre to the latest version.

Changelog: http://calibre-ebook.com/whats-new

Originally Posted by New-in: calibre 1.34

When adding MOBI files if the author name is in LN, FN format, auto change it to FN LN format, as the MOBI format has no author sort field. This behavior can be disabled by setting Preferences->Tweaks->Author sort name algorithm to copy.

[BookJunkieLI]

1. The only way I know for Calibre to not import tags and ratings would be to unclick the 'Read metadata from file contents rather than name' option in Preferences=>Add Books. Except then it wouldn't import any metadata at all and you'd need to make sure the filenames all matched the Add Books template. While being able to not import tags or even selectively import tags would be nice I doubt it will ever be offered. Something like that would slow down the import process horribly as Calibre evaluated each book for the tags.
-An alternative to the Bulk Edit would be to use the Manage Tags dialog box. You can delete tags from all your books at once using that. Just be aware that it will delete all instances of the tag from the library. So if there's a tag you want to keep with certain books then you'd need to manually select them and bulk edit.

2. Have you considered the Automatic Adding option with 'Auto Add Files of All Types (not just ebooks)' option selected? You'd be doing a bit of copy & paste or drag & drop, depending on if you want to leave copies in the original folder, but that's the only way I can think to have Calibre auto-import mp3 files.

3. That's something that will have to be done by hand afaik. But sorting by Language column or filtering based on Language should give any non-English listed books pretty easily for bulk edit.

4. I'm probably missing something but wouldn't a composite custom column give you what you're looking for?
http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/temp...custom-columns

5. If @eschwartz's solution doesn't work the only other option I can think of is the 'Swap author firstname and lastname' check box under Preferences=>Adding Books. You'd have to work in batches though because this will switch all author firstname/lastnames, not just the ones that are wrong.

[BookJunkieLI]

Re: Importing MP3/Audio Books you might to take a look at this sticky thread: MP3/Audio Book file-management feature? in the Calibre=>Related Tools forum.