Convert subdirs to categories while importing automatically

geruser · 09-15-2013, 12:26 PM

Hi,
I want to import a huge subdir-structure into calibre. I learned that calibre will rearrange the books in the library.

The library now is organized by subject. E. g.: The Book 'DNS in action.pdf' is located in 'c:\books\sysadmin\linux\dns'. When importing this book automatically I want to auto-add the categories 'sysadmin', 'linux' and 'dns'. Another example: The book 'stranger in a strange land.txt' is located in 'c:\books\fiction\english\heinlein'. And here I want the categories 'fiction', 'english' and 'heinlein'. I know that heinlein must be the name of the author. But that comes later because I can't get metadata from a txt-file. I can live - for some time - with author = unknown as long as I have the category 'heinlein'.

How do I have to set up the import process to achieve this?

theducks · 09-15-2013, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geruser

Hi,
I want to import a huge subdir-structure into calibre. I learned that calibre will rearrange the books in the library.

The library now is organized by subject. E. g.: The Book 'DNS in action.pdf' is located in 'c:\books\sysadmin\linux\dns'. When importing this book automatically I want to auto-add the categories 'sysadmin', 'linux' and 'dns'. Another example: The book 'stranger in a strange land.txt' is located in 'c:\books\fiction\english\heinlein'. And here I want the categories 'fiction', 'english' and 'heinlein'. I know that heinlein must be the name of the author. But that comes later because I can't get metadata from a txt-file. I can live - for some time - with author = unknown as long as I have the category 'heinlein'.

How do I have to set up the import process to achieve this?

Path structure to metadata can not be done automatically.

If your scripting skills are up to it

, The CLI (see the Help pages) may work for you

If you add from small segments of the paths: you might set the 'Tags To Apply' (preferences: Adding Books) each time you add that group

Adoby · 09-15-2013, 01:56 PM

As the ducks says, elements from the path can't be used when importing, only from the filename.

One way you could fix this is to rename all your files to include what is now the path into the filename. And then do the import.

For instance rename

c:\books\sysadmin\linux\dns\Alena Kabelová & Libor Dostálek - DNS in Action.pdf

To

c:\books\sysadmin.linux.dns - Alena Kabelová & Libor Dostálek - DNS in Action.pdf

Then do the import. Read in the whole name as the title. After that use some bulk metadata search and replace with regex to put the right parts of the title into the fields #subject, authors and title.

It should be possible to automate most of the process and do it in bulk.

For instance list all books recursively and put the names and paths in a text file. Then use some editor or other tool to convert in bulk each line into a copy or rename command. Excel or Libre Calc would be possible to use. As would most advanced editors with scripting.

Then run the script to rename all the files in one fell swoop, and do the import in bulk.

One problem is that the filenames may become too long if you are working in Windows. Linux should work better.

09-15-2013, 12:26 PM	#1
geruser Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: none	Convert subdirs to categories while importing automatically Hi, I want to import a huge subdir-structure into calibre. I learned that calibre will rearrange the books in the library. The library now is organized by subject. E. g.: The Book 'DNS in action.pdf' is located in 'c:\books\sysadmin\linux\dns'. When importing this book automatically I want to auto-add the categories 'sysadmin', 'linux' and 'dns'. Another example: The book 'stranger in a strange land.txt' is located in 'c:\books\fiction\english\heinlein'. And here I want the categories 'fiction', 'english' and 'heinlein'. I know that heinlein must be the name of the author. But that comes later because I can't get metadata from a txt-file. I can live - for some time - with author = unknown as long as I have the category 'heinlein'. How do I have to set up the import process to achieve this?

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09-15-2013, 01:56 PM	#3
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,737 Karma: 26785684 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	As the ducks says, elements from the path can't be used when importing, only from the filename. One way you could fix this is to rename all your files to include what is now the path into the filename. And then do the import. For instance rename c:\books\sysadmin\linux\dns\Alena Kabelová & Libor Dostálek - DNS in Action.pdf To c:\books\sysadmin.linux.dns - Alena Kabelová & Libor Dostálek - DNS in Action.pdf Then do the import. Read in the whole name as the title. After that use some bulk metadata search and replace with regex to put the right parts of the title into the fields #subject, authors and title. It should be possible to automate most of the process and do it in bulk. For instance list all books recursively and put the names and paths in a text file. Then use some editor or other tool to convert in bulk each line into a copy or rename command. Excel or Libre Calc would be possible to use. As would most advanced editors with scripting. Then run the script to rename all the files in one fell swoop, and do the import in bulk. One problem is that the filenames may become too long if you are working in Windows. Linux should work better.

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