Creating Custom Column for Read and Date Read

[library addict]

I would like to use the new feature in Calibre Companion to sync the Read (yes/no) and Date Read with Calibre. But I do not have these custom columns in Calibre.

I have a customn date column in one of my Calibre libraries for date archived. So if I have two date custom columns how do I ensure CC syncs to the correct one?

I know this is a basic question I should probably know the answer to, but...
What do I use for Lookup Name, Column Heading, and and Column Type when I create these new custom columns to ensure they will sync with CC?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[LadyKoori]

OOOO! I totally know this one. (and you all thought I only came to bug you with problems)

To create a Read column, you want the lookup name to be something like #read, the heading to be Read, and the type to be yes/no. That last part is very important. For date read you would use #dateread for lookup, Date Read for the heading, and the type to be date.

Then you go into settings on the CC app. Scroll down to Marking Books Read. This is where you tell CC which column to sync the info to. Don't forget to tell it to update the date read when read. The value for Sync Column for Read would be #read and the value for Sync column for Date Read would be #dateread if you use the names I used above.

Edit: Obviously the names can vary just make sure that the sync columns have the right lookup names. The ones above are what I use.

[library addict]

Thanks!

ETA: One other quick question. Do I need to mark all the unread books with "no" in the Read column or will it treat blank as "no" (or at least not "yes")?

Never mind I figured out to mark them yes and no using bulk reconvert.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by library addict

Thanks!

ETA: One other quick question. Do I need to mark all the unread books with "no" in the Read column or will it treat blank as "no" (or at least not "yes")?

Never mind I figured out to mark them yes and no using bulk reconvert.

I hope you mean using "Edit metadata in bulk"?

Anyway, each of the three options (yes/no/empty) will appear as an option to search by in the grouping drawer under "Read". What each of those mean is really up to you. See here (in the Calibre Companion FAQ): https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...3&postcount=43

So you can use "yes" to mean have-read, and "no"/"empty" to mean have-not-read. Or whatever else you want.

[chaley]

@library addict: given that you had questions and that now you have gone through this, could you take a look at the CC FAQ about Read info and tell me how it *didn't* answer you questions? Scroll down until you see "Marking books read and syncing that information with calibre". Now is the time for us to get this right, saving people confusion and frustration.

@LadyKoori:

@eschwartz: my preference is Yes for read and empty for not-read because it is visually cleaner both in CC and calibre. I don't (yet) have a real use for No, but might use it as a priority not-read (next to be read).

[theducks]

@chaley
No is reserved for books I (this is my read list) have no intention of completing.
I do not discard books, someone else may want to take a peek at it Also I paid $ for it).

A NO makes the data set complete, no repurchasing a missing title.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I hope you mean using "Edit metadata in bulk"?

Oops. Yes, Edit metadata in bulk is what I meant.

Originally Posted by chaley

@library addict: given that you had questions and that now you have gone through this, could you take a look at the CC FAQ about Read info and tell me how it *didn't* answer you questions? Scroll down until you see "Marking books read and syncing that information with calibre". Now is the time for us to get this right, saving people confusion and frustration.

Now that I see the FAQs, it is a very thorough explanation. I appreciate the pictures, too. I did a search of the forum to see if there were instructions, but must not have used the right keywords. And I forgot about the FAQ thread yesterday. No excuses.

[Terisa de morgan]

If you don't mind I steal the thread I have a question, related to CC although it's really a Calibre question: Is there any way to create a CALCULATED yes/no column so I can sync it with CC?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

If you don't mind I steal the thread I have a question, related to CC although it's really a Calibre question: Is there any way to create a CALCULATED yes/no column so I can sync it with CC?

No. CC insists that the Read column be a real Yes/No column, something I did to (I hope) reduce support costs. And in any event, syncing a composite (calculated) column doesn't work because there is no way to sync in reverse (CC to calibre).

You can have CC group on a composite column if you wish, which may satisfy your needs. In CC's settings, add its lookup name to the list of columns to group by. The column will appear in the grouping drawer. The values you see are those that were in effect the last time you transferred metadata (connected as a wireless device).

[Terisa de morgan]

Thank you, I supposed it but I wanted to confirm it. I will configure it now (and try to check why read date is not being sent).

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

(and try to check why read date is not being sent).

Watch your device when you connect. When you connect, CC will pop up a message for a few seconds if the lookup name you are trying to sync is not in your library or is the wrong type, or if there is a problem with the version of calibre you are running.

[Terisa de morgan]

Yes, I've seen it (a lot till I selected the right column ), and I've discovered MY mistake with the read date column, it works now like a charm, thank you very much.