Tag Browser and Virtual Libraries

[BetterRed]

The content of my Tag Browser is limited to the categories assigned to the books in the current Virtual library

I thought there was a setting to turn this off - i.e. to always show the full complement of categories irrespective of which Virtual library is active. Needless to say I can't find it.

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

The content of my Tag Browser is limited to the categories assigned to the books in the current Virtual library

I thought there was a setting to turn this off - i.e. to always show the full complement of categories irrespective of which Virtual library is active. Needless to say I can't find it.

BR

I think I found 'it'.

In the Category editor dialogues there's a checkbox (top right) labelled Only show items in the current Virtual library. But that limits what is listed in the category editor dialogue, not what's shown in the Tag Browser, and it's transient, which makes sense.

So, I'm still hoping I didn't dream something similar existed for the Tag Browser. I wouldn't want a per category setting; a single per library setting in Look & Feel->Tab browser would suffice.

BR

[ownedbycats]

Preferences > Look & Feel > Tag Browser > Hide empty categories. Is this what you mean?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Preferences > Look & Feel > Tag Browser > Hide empty categories. Is this what you mean?

No, I looked at that, I have it unchecked, and it's more-or-less the opposite of what I want:

When checked, calibre will automatically hide any category (a column, custom or standard) that has no items to show. For example, some categories might not have values when using Virtual libraries. Checking this box will cause these empty categories to be hidden.

Edit 1. I can appreciate why there isn't a setting, books could disappear from a VL the moment they were dropped onto a category item, assuming its presence broke the VL inclusion rule - e.g. drag-dropping a book from a Not Tagged VL onto the Fiction tag.

Edit 2. But that's also true if I add a tag via MDE, the book disappears from the Not Tagged VL when I hit 'Apply' or 'OK' out of MDE. I'd probably prefer VLs remain static until they're explicitly refreshed or refreshed implicitly via exiting the VL.

BR

[theducks]

I 100% agree with your edit 2:
Make a typo, and having you entry fly away before you have a chance to fix it is really undesired.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Edit 1. I can appreciate why there isn't a setting, books could disappear from a VL the moment they were dropped onto a category item, assuming its presence broke the VL inclusion rule - e.g. drag-dropping a book from a Not Tagged VL onto the Fiction tag.

I have a Cleanup VL. Books don't disappear from it until I do a new search or make a bulk-edit with the 'refresh' option active.

EDIT: See screenshot. This is a book that was in my Cleanup VL. Then I edited it to remove all the criteria that made it match that VL. It remains in the list.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

I 100% agree with your edit 2:
Make a typo, and having you entry fly away before you have a chance to fix it is really undesired.

There's a 3rd scenario.

If you edit metadata in the book list itself… as I mainly do… you can change a cell that breaks the current VL inclusion rule and the book doesn't disappear until the Book list is refreshed. When I want the list refreshed I do it via View Manager->Re-Apply Current View which I've set to Ctrl+Alt+R.

The reason I would prefer an unconstrained Tag browser list is not because I want drag-n-drop books into it, but to see what choices I have. At the moment to see a complete list of a category Foo in the Tag browser I must be in the All books VL. If I'm not, I must invoke the Manage items: Foo popup via Shift+F2 on a Foo cell, or invoke the Category editor: Foo popup via the Manage Categories menu. Both of which are modal dialogues that present flat lists, i.e. no hierarchy trees.

BR