Managing metadata / more than two "file cards" possible

[Henning]

Dear all

I Like to learn more about editing metadata.

I do have a huge database with more than 3.500 items. I do have about 400 series in this collection and I try to manage this series with "extra books". This "extra books" store series-related-information: like a rating for the complete series or if/if not this series is finalized or if/if not I read all parts of the series...

To organize these information I created several columns. Unfortionate they also show up for books - but I guess that's how it is...


I would like to ask two questions:
1. The best option to handle the library would be to change the layout of the "view" <Basic metadata> -- Is this - anyhow - possible??

2. The second best option to handle the library would be to create two "file cards" instead of one. As far as I understand all columns are listed on one "file card" named <Custom metadata>. It would be helpful to define the content (and layout) of the "file cards" for columns and to define more than one.

Any ideas?


Thanks for your help.

[theducks]

Preference: Behavior: Edit Metadata Layout: has 3 choices

Default has 2 (folder type) Tabs
All on 1 Tab

There is
Preferences: Tweaks:

ID: metadata_edit_custom_column_order

Controls the order that custom columns are listed in edit metadata single and bulk. The columns listed in the tweak are displayed first and in the order provided. Any columns not listed are displayed after the listed ones, in alphabetical order. Do note that this tweak does not change the size of the edit widgets. Putting comments widgets in this list may result in some odd widget spacing when using two-column mode. Enter a comma-separated list of custom field lookup names, as in metadata_edit_custom_column_order = ['#genre', '#mytags', '#etc']

That might help a bit

[BetterRed]

@Henning - the following tools can help you to separate "Book records" from "Series records"

Virtual libraries

Quickview

The calibre:// URL scheme

View Manager plugin

You can edit metadata in the Book List using the F2 and Tab keys. The Virtual Library and View Manager tools will allow you to create a specific book list view for editing the "Series records" in place. That would allow you to configure the Metadata Editor to be optimal for "Book records".

FWIW: I do all single record metadata editing in the book list.

BR

[Henning]

@BetterRed: I do not understand your reply. I think, I'm not searching for tools to separate "Book records" from "Series records" but for options/workflows/plugins to handle the diverse custom columns I have to organize my library.

To be more precise:
I like to collect books. So I have many series within the process of getting all parts of the series. A series "XYZ" might have "n" parts at date "dd.mm.jjjj". I might have acquired part "2", "4", "5". But I would like to wait for part "1" and "3" before starting reading all of them. ... To specify the status of "availability" I created a custom column. Obviously this column has no value for a "book record", only for "Series records"

I created in total about 12 custom columns to organize my "book records" (6 columns) and "Series records" (6 columns). This makes the tap <Custom metadata" in the default setting a bit confusing....

@Theducks: Thanks for pointing me to <Preference: Behavior: Edit Metadata Layout> - I overlooked this feature. In combination with the <Preferences: Tweaks / ID: metadata_edit_custom_column_order> this is -most likely an improvement. Still - The number of custom columns I use is creating confusing views - in all three options (default / Compact Metadata / All in 1 tab). It would be nice to separate costume columns by purpose - I guess that might be a feature included in the plug-in <Job Spy>.

----------
I searched for options to further customize the <Edit metadata> and found the plug-in <Job Spy>. I'm not sure if it really would solve my problem but it's mentioned that the plug-in can define a list of custom columns which are than NOT shown in the view <Edit metadata>. As fare as I understand this is very close to my "second best cenario": having more than two tabs. (But to change the list of shown custom columns a restart is required .... which is inconvenient ...
I also read that the maintenance (by DaltonST) of the plug-in is unclear - which is unfortunate!

My Questions
1. Is there an option - maybe a Tweak to have three tabs of columns in the view "edit metadata"?
2. Please Feedback on the plug-in "Job Spy" in respect to a) maintenance and b) a tool to customize the view "Edit metadata dialog"

Thanks for your help.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Henning

@BetterRed: I do not understand your reply. I think, I'm not searching for tools to separate "Book records" from "Series records" but for options/workflows/plugins to handle the diverse custom columns I have to organize my library.

To be more precise:
I like to collect books. So I have many series within the process of getting all parts of the series. A series "XYZ" might have "n" parts at date "dd.mm.jjjj". I might have acquired part "2", "4", "5". But I would like to wait for part "1" and "3" before starting reading all of them. ... To specify the status of "availability" I created a custom column. Obviously this column has no value for a "book record", only for "Series records"

I created in total about 12 custom columns to organize my "book records" (6 columns) and "Series records" (6 columns). This makes the tap <Custom metadata" in the default setting a bit confusing....

@Theducks: Thanks for pointing me to <Preference: Behavior: Edit Metadata Layout> - I overlooked this feature. In combination with the <Preferences: Tweaks / ID: metadata_edit_custom_column_order> this is -most likely an improvement. Still - The number of custom columns I use is creating confusing views - in all three options (default / Compact Metadata / All in 1 tab). It would be nice to separate costume columns by purpose - I guess that might be a feature included in the plug-in <Job Spy>.

----------
I searched for options to further customize the <Edit metadata> and found the plug-in <Job Spy>. I'm not sure if it really would solve my problem but it's mentioned that the plug-in can define a list of custom columns which are than NOT shown in the view <Edit metadata>. As fare as I understand this is very close to my "second best cenario": having more than two tabs. (But to change the list of shown custom columns a restart is required .... which is inconvenient ...
I also read that the maintenance (by DaltonST) of the plug-in is unclear - which is unfortunate!

My Questions
1. Is there an option - maybe a Tweak to have three tabs of columns in the view "edit metadata"?
2. Please Feedback on the plug-in "Job Spy" in respect to a) maintenance and b) a tool to customize the view "Edit metadata dialog"

Thanks for your help.

[B] - If you have questions regarding an optional plugin, such as JobSpy, post your question in that plugin's thread ==>> Index of plugins

When I started using calibre I had similar issues as yourself with the single book metadata edit panels. Couldn't get a layout that suited all situations.

Then I discovered I could edit data in the book list. I use the View Manager plugin and the Virtual Library feature to present different sets of columns in different orders to suit different situations.

If you want to make a formal enhancement request see para 4 in ==>> https://calibre-ebook.com/bugs

BR