Group ePubs How to Number

[LostOnTheLine]

So I have a few books that have a joined set, like all books 1-5 usually, but I just ran into an issue where I have book 1-5 & then there's also another book 1.5, as well as books 6, 7, & 5.5. I've got them in my library as books 1-5 being listed as just book 1, but I'd much prefer it to be listed as books 1-5. Is there a way to do this? I've looked but everything I've found is to unrelated things

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by LostOnTheLine

So I have a few books that have a joined set, like all books 1-5 usually, but I just ran into an issue where I have book 1-5 & then there's also another book 1.5, as well as books 6, 7, & 5.5. I've got them in my library as books 1-5 being listed as just book 1, but I'd much prefer it to be listed as books 1-5. Is there a way to do this? I've looked but everything I've found is to unrelated things

No. You can create a custom column for this sort of information. I did, because I have many omnibus editions and I don't want to split them.

[theducks]

While not perfect, Just Knowing the convention used is how I dealt with this:
Note also, the numbers are ASCII when used in file names, so the leading 0 padding for single digits.

01.05 is a range, the 0x implies range
01.5 is a middle, between 1 and 2
10.12 is a range, just higher Note the decimal part is always treated as a integer AND it is larger, and yes, this falls apart if the number is a multiple of 10 (fairly rare. the giveaway is the initial integer is 9 or larger )

I use 0 for no sort position in a series/universe.
00.02 would be prequel numbering
And Yes, there are publishers that go out of their way to thwart me
with omnibus editions that SKIP items. 12 and 15, 07 and 09
Use EPUBsplit (the PI) and break them back into 2 books

[LostOnTheLine]

Thanks for the answers. I much appreciate it

Originally Posted by Sirtel

No. You can create a custom column for this sort of information. I did, because I have many omnibus editions and I don't want to split them.

As far as creating a custom column that doesn't really solve the problem. For example, a simple problem with that is for a series I have called Fablehaven. I have a complete series (Books 1-5) in a single eBook. That is my preferred way to keep it. But my niece, who is in Elementary School, is intimidated by a long book, so I split it into each of the 5 separate eBooks for her, But now I have book 1 as well as book 1-5 listed as the same thing (1) in the series order. I don't want to say it's not part of the series because it most definitely is, & having it not group together when sorting by series would be inconvenient. Having another sort to use JUST for that series is also just cluttering the interface with no real benefit IMO. I have "Dragonwatch", which is the sequel series, listed as "Fablehaven: Dragonwatch" so it sorts after the series. There's also The Caretaker's Guide To Fablehaven, which I will eventually be adding to the collection, which will be sorted as either 101 or 0.5 or something like that, as I have yet to read it I am uncertain where I want it to fall.

Originally Posted by theducks

While not perfect, Just Knowing the convention used is how I dealt with this:
Note also, the numbers are ASCII when used in file names, so the leading 0 padding for single digits.

01.05 is a range, the 0x implies range
01.5 is a middle, between 1 and 2
10.12 is a range, just higher Note the decimal part is always treated as a integer AND it is larger, and yes, this falls apart if the number is a multiple of 10 (fairly rare. the giveaway is the initial integer is 9 or larger )

I use 0 for no sort position in a series/universe.
00.02 would be prequel numbering
And Yes, there are publishers that go out of their way to thwart me
with omnibus editions that SKIP items. 12 and 15, 07 and 09
Use EPUBsplit (the PI) and break them back into 2 books

I'm not exactly sure what you mean here. I personally use "Series (Vol #): Title" as my naming structure for books, if the series has more than 10 volumes I'll use "Series (Vol 01)" as sort order & have "Series (Vol 1)" as the Regular Name value. For In-Between specials I generally leave the number out of the title entirely but have it set in the {Series} field as "8.5" or "4.1, 4.2, 4.3, etc" If you put the "05.00" or "05.01" or "05.1" in the {Series Number} field it will take off the leading 0 as soon as you leave the editing of the field. For prequels I use "0.1", "0.2", "0.3", etc. & if there are thing between those prequels I use "0.21" between 2 & 3, etc. or if I ever came across one that had more than 9 prequels I'd probably also use the 2 digits. Calibre only allows 2 digits after the decimal & only a single decimal, so I wouldn't know how else to divide them.

Regardless, this doesn't help with my problem. I mean sure, I could have it labeled "Vol 1.5" but that would make it sit between Vol 1 & Vol 2. Labeling it "Vol 101" as I have it now makes it sit after the series, but I'd rather it be labeled as "Vol 1-5" & not have to sit with a "101" for the number.
But that aside 101 works, it's just not ideal. As for the series that has a "Books 1-5" that I'd rather keep together because they are a complete story on their own, but they are ALSO part of a larger series. Books 6 & 7, as well as the transitional story between them, Are just annoying having it look like it goes from book 1 to book 5.5, then book 6. But then the side story for book 1 COULD be read after you finish 1-5, no problems there, but it actually comes between book 1 & 2, & could be read happily after book 1, It actually takes place during book 1, just gives a prospective from a non-follow character & lets us see some of the stuff that we know happens but only heard about it, but with less detail. The closest thing I can think of as a comparison would be the Twilight series, there's a short story that comes between books 2 & 3 or 3 & 4 or something about a minor character who I think dies in a battle & I don't think the main characters even know who they are. It could be read after the whole series, but it could enrich your understanding of what led to the big battle or something, but can't be read until after a certain point, after book 2 or 3, without spoiling things. Then there was that book she was writing that I think got leaked or something & she decided to not finish about the story of book 1 from the vampire dude's prospective instead of the girl's. If it had come out it would have been a 1.5. But say you had the series as an omnibus, if Books 1-4 were listed as book 1, then book 1.5 would sort after the whole series & book 3.5 or 2.5 would just be hanging around after in a weird limbo. With that it'd be preferable for ME to have them just as separate books. But for those who want those books as a set it'd be inconvenient. But what if there was a reason for keeping them together? Then it'd be more of a hassle. Like for example Fablehaven which I used earlier, If "Dragonwatch" was just Fablehaven 5, 6, 7, 8, etc, It'd be confusing to have the 5 books of the original series not grouped together. Because those 5 books are a complete story on their own, but the universe continues afterwards with more stories. Sword of Truth is kinda like this, though I wouldn't want an Omnibus of that gigantic story personally, but there are like 15 books that make up a story, then the ones after it just continue after, but the original story is concluded. The author differentiates then by calling the after ones "Richard & Kalan" books, but as you really have to read the series to understand them that doesn't really work. I don't have those, I read them as physical books, but that'd probably cause a lot of trouble because of the same issue.

[LostOnTheLine]

My question, to clarify, is "Is there a way to have the series # listed as more than a single integer+decimal" As I don't know of any I assume there isn't but as it seems to be a big flaw I was wondering if there might be an extension or something to add this feature or something similar, like a "Multi" button that then gives you a "From #" & a "To #". Similar to how Goodreads has them, listed as "(Fablehaven #1-5)" grouped as part of the series, while also displaying that it is books 1 through 5