Virtual Column Issue

[BetterRed]

If I define a virtual column like this:



the virtual column, in this case Creator, does not acquire all of the attributes of the real column, i.e. Author:

Author Creator

I think i know why, but would welcome an explanation from the developers. From my perspective the important items are Manage xxxxx, and xxxxx (Creator) link options. Why do I want this, because I get irritated whenever I see something like this:



rather than this:



I'm open to suggestions, but my preference would be a means by which I could assign a different Column Header to the authors column… ditto the id, identifiers, series, etc columns.

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I'm open to suggestions, but my preference would be a means by which I could assign a different Column Header to the authors column… ditto the id, identifiers, series, etc columns.

BR

I doubt this solves your problem, but in calibre source there is a tweak that can be used to change the column heading for standard columns. As it is a tweak it is user dependent, not library dependent, which I think you will not like. There are reasons for this choice, the most important being that the column heading information must be known while calibre is starting, not after a library is opened. It also doesn't apply to some dialogs, such as the Edit Metadata ones, because they have their own copy of the column headings.

Also (in source): you can also now show native columns for book id, formats, and path. Use the hidden columns selector show the ones you want.

[ownedbycats]

I noticed the new standard columns! Thank you

[BetterRed]

I spotted the tweak too, and saw it was global rather that per library, I'll definitely be assigning some distinctive labels to timestamp, modified, id, identifiers etc.

But back to my original issue, missing BD context menu items for virtual columns:

a rename_column template function, so I would put {rename_column(authors)} into my Creators column. Or even a new column type.

BTW: JobSpy has fulfilled my other wish for a per library setting for BD->Clicking on author names should:

BR

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I noticed the new standard columns! Thank you

And immediately found a bug/oversight

https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre/+bug/2017708

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by chaley

I doubt this solves your problem, but in calibre source there is a tweak that can be used to change the column heading for standard columns. As it is a tweak it is user dependent, not library dependent, which I think you will not like. There are reasons for this choice, the most important being that the column heading information must be known while calibre is starting, not after a library is opened. It also doesn't apply to some dialogs, such as the Edit Metadata ones, because they have their own copy of the column headings.

This is being rolled back - if I understood the conversation in the issue-tracker right it's basically just too difficult (or maybe tedious) to implement and maintain. A little disappointing tbh but oh well.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

This is being rolled back - if I understood the conversation in the issue-tracker right it's basically just too difficult (or maybe tedious) to implement and maintain. A little disappointing tbh but oh well.

It's in the 6.17 Release Notes:

Add a tweak in Preferences->Tweaks to allow for changing the titles of builtin columns

But I can't find it.

What I did find was a new option in the header menu that isn't in the release notes, "Don't allow moving columns with the mouse". I guess it's for those who move them accidentally when clicking to sort.

I do the exact opposite, when moving a column I often inadvertently sort on it… then I have to reapply the View I had and try again.

BR

[ownedbycats]

It was rolled back. I think the changelog was left in by accident.
https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...223d0187bc8e53

I had it enabled for a bit and it moved to plugin tweaks:

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

It was rolled back. I think the changelog was left in by accident.

What's New has been updated.

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

What I did find was a new option in the header menu that isn't in the release notes, "Don't allow moving columns with the mouse". I guess it's for those who move them accidentally when clicking to sort.

I do the exact opposite, when moving a column I often inadvertently sort on it… then I have to reapply the View I had and try again.

BR

Although it has that effect, preventing accidental movement, that isn't its purpose. There is an Qt bug triggered by sorting that causes the book list to horizontally scroll fully to the left. We haven't figured out the exact cause but did determine that the bug isn't triggered if the column headings aren't draggable. This option is there to provide a workaround for people who experience the problem.

The problem seems to happen fairly rarely, but it does happen. I see it 3 to 4 times per week (on Windows). It happens much more frequently if you sequentially sort on different columns while horizontally scrolled, especially fully to the right.

If after choosing this option you want to move a column then you can re-enable dragging or use the column management preference. I always use the preference.

[ownedbycats]

But it is useful to prevent accidental rearranging!

[BetterRed]

I'll admit to struggling over why a click to sort would result in a column drag - but then I thought maybe a touch screen. I rarely use QV.

Because I edit in the book list I often drag columns to a more convenient sequence for the task at hand, when done I use the View Manager Reapply Current to get back to 'normalcy'.

BTW: being able to see what I have in my Creators library whilst doing something in one of my Content libraries is better than I imagined… such as leaving myself note in the authors data folder of something I should look into.

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I'll admit to struggling over why a click to sort would result in a column drag - but then I thought maybe a touch screen. I rarely use QV.

What does QV (QuickView?) have to do with this discussion?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

What does QV (QuickView?) have to do with this discussion?

I obviously misread your 'Qt bug' - as 'QV bug' - probably because of the next sentence implies calibre devs take responsibility to fix it : 'We haven't…' ;-)

BTW the glitch with Sort By->Sort on multiple columns in Favourites getting greyed keeps coming back, so I removed it. It must be something in Sort By because my other cherry picked Favourites are fine.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

BTW: being able to see what I have in my Creators library whilst doing something in one of my Content libraries is better than I imagined… such as leaving myself note in the authors data folder of something I should look into.

BR

I forgot to thank you for this feedback. I do appreciate it.