Custom Column Values - Bulk Add or Import?

[userbooknerd]

I created a couple custom columns. I want to bulk add or import csv tags... but I cannot figure out how to do what should be a pretty straight forward thing.

In the "Category Editor" https://share.getcloudapp.com/o0uEz1vA, there are great options for delete, rename, and under... but I don't see a way to add to this list.

I see that I can do add values if I go to Book > Edit Meta Deta > Custom Data > List Icon (https://share.getcloudapp.com/p9u8m4A8). However, this is laborious and only works for values with which I want to add that specific book.

I would much rather create a list of values then, within the main library manager, use tags and other selections to bulk select and drag into the the related custom column tag in the left panel. Hopefully that makes sense.

It would be even better if I could import a CSV with all the values.

It would be even cooler if there was something that allows your library to mirror the Amazon Book category genre hierarchy

I am going crazy trying to figure out what I'm missing here. I have spent hours researching, trying plugins, etc... and don't know what ridiculously obvious thing I'm missing.

I promise I have tried before asking for help!

[davidfor]

Calibre does not maintain a separate list of tags. The list is basically the sum of what is on all books. If only one book has a particular tag and you removed that tag from the book, or deleted the book, calibre will completely forget the tag.

The only workaround I have seen for this is to create a dummy book and add all the tags you ever want to it. That way they won't disappear when you edit a book and will appear in the lists to select from.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by userbooknerd

In the "Category Editor" https://share.getcloudapp.com/o0uEz1vA, there are great options for delete, rename, and under... but I don't see a way to add to this list.

Although this isn't what you want, you can sort-of add items in "Manage X" if X is a tags-like column. For example, with tags you can edit a value and add more tags to that line, as in "123" -> "123, newTag, blah". The new tags will be added to all the books that already have 123.

The same thing works with the "Rename" context menu command in the tag browser.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

Although this isn't what you want, you can sort-of add items in "Manage X" if X is a tags-like column. For example, with tags you can edit a value and add more tags to that line, as in "123" -> "123, newTag, blah". The new tags will be added to all the books that already have 123.

The same thing works with the "Rename" context menu command in the tag browser.

I think the OP wants what I've craved for since 2012, an additional Column type of Controlled vocabulary, if it were added and it had a Link field like Authors that would be perfect

BR