Adding ID's in bulk

[jodeum]

I would like to add ID's (identifiers) in bulk to multiple books at the same time. I am referring to the URL based ID's, like ISBN, Amazon, Google. Not the internal Calibre database ID.

I know there is a search and replace in the 'edit metadata in bulk' section. But that does not simply add the same ID to multiple books. That searches for one ID and then allows you to replace it. I don't see any option to just add the same ID to a selection of books at the same time.

Normally an ID will take you to a webpage for that specific book. But there are times where an author has written multiple books in a series and I'd rather not add an exact link one at a time to each entry. For instance, both Fantastic Fiction and Goodreads have a page set up for an entire series by an author. I would like to add that page link to an entire series all at once. Think Piers Anthony Xanth series, I would be perfectly happy having one link to a series page for all the books. Adding a direct book page link to each of them one at a time would get tedious, fast.

Is something like that possible? I don't see the option in edit metadata in bulk. I tried Job Spy plug in, but that doesn't really do what I'm after. And I can't really find an option in any other plugin. Even adding a custom column doesn't seem to allow me to add one based on URL type ID's, it will only pull in the same data that is currently in the id field already. Is there some other custom column option to add clickable links thereby bypassing the ID entry?

[theducks]

Please use the word identifiers to avoid all confusion (of others) with {id}

identifiers:isbn is (supposed to be ) unique per book format. The same with many others.

Trying to make those into a link to series is not a great idea.

Search the internet plugin can be configured to take you to specific sites based upon certain field values. (the author might even be convinced to add series to some of those sites , but they usually are only a click away )

[jodeum]

Originally Posted by theducks

Please use the word identifiers to avoid all confusion (of others) with {id}

identifiers:isbn is (supposed to be ) unique per book format. The same with many others.

Trying to make those into a link to series is not a great idea.

I clarified the URL based ID to avoid confusion, which seems to have worked since you knew what I was referring to. FYI: they are officially shown as ID in both the edit metadata screen, and the tag browser. Since it's literally shown that way throughout the program itself, I would assume it's not difficult to surmise what I'm talking about, especially when I further mention links to various websites.

As for making ID link to a series, I think it's a perfectly good and valid use of the field. Nowhere does it say it should be a unique link per book. Multiple books could have the same link entered without problem. Why not have them link to a single page that lists the entire series? No reason at all. That's the entire reason the ID field is customizable and can have other URL's entered for sites that aren't in the default list.

[kovidgoyal]

ids are meant to be unique to a book, so there isnt really a way to add the same id to multiple books.

[ownedbycats]

Action Chains.

Install the plugin, open Add/Modify Chains, right-click the main part of the window and import the zip file I've attached. It'll let you select multiple books and then add, e.g. url:www.mobileread.com. Be careful though-- if you already have a url id and then try to add another, it will replace it without asking.

[BetterRed]

I would do this

SETUP

1. Create a custom column to hold the link(s)



2. Set fields to exclude from metadata paste



That list is not complete, e.g. I haven't put rating in the list

3. Set up copy and paste shortcuts (if not done already)



USAGE

1. Set up link for first book in Series



2. Copy metadata from first book - ctrl+c



3. Select Multiple Books



4. Paste metadata into selected books - ctrl+v



5. All Done




There can be more than one link, links can be 'anything' e.g. http://, file://, calibre://, onenote://, mailto: etc



BR

[BetterRed]

↑ ↑ ↑

It would be handy to have a way of selecting the fields to be pasted at the time of doing the paste, perhaps via a list of fields with checkboxes that was saved on a per library basis.

The exclude field tweak is global, which can make it cumbersome to use with multiple libraries.

Not sure if that would be best done in the core or a plugin.

BR

[chaley]

This is easy to do with bulk search & replace using template mode. Any existing URL identifier will be replaced with the one in the template.

I strongly suggest you make a backup of your library before running amok with this stuff.