Auto-tag with custom column data

lazorbeam · 01-21-2016, 12:18 AM

Does anyone know if it's possible to auto-tag a book with custom column data? For example, I have a "Characters" custom column and would like a book to automatically be tagged with this. I've recently acquired an Android device and very sadly can no longer use Marvin ereader and am exploring CalibreBox (which is saving my life!). I'd like to increase tag searching functionality.

A barrier I can see in this process is about *when* this auto-tagging would be applied - since I add the column data myself, clearly it can't happen as a book is being added. Anyway.

To be clear, I am aware of metadata downloading but a lot of my library is fanfic and that doesn't really apply there. Thanks.

Tanjamuse · 01-21-2016, 01:12 AM

Where do you download fanfic from since you can't download the metadata?

davidfor · 01-21-2016, 01:20 AM

As you mention fanfic, are you using the FanFicFare plugin to download it? If so, it can do this sort of thing if the source site has the information.

Otherwise, I don't think there is an automatic way to do it. That would need a source for the information and how to extract it and apply it. Some sites will have it, but the standard metadata source plugins for downloading metadata cannot update custom columns. They can put this into the tags, but that is not what you want.

Having said that, a possibility is the Import List plugin. It can read a CSV file and set metadata for the books from that file. If you have the information elsewhere and can massage it into a CSV, this could work.

lazorbeam · 01-21-2016, 06:03 PM

Sorry, to clarify - I do use FanficFare as well as the AO3's download option or other sources. Both of these do include metadata but, with the nature of fanfic, that stuff is sometimes a mess. I don't always find it consistent for searching and often delete it.

If I'm reading davidfor's post right, I don't want to *update* my Customn Column - I want to take my tidy manually-added info and apply it to the tags. And yeah, I'm not sure how it would work. The best I was thinking was that it could somehow be applied during a Convert or Polish process. I know you can update book metadata during Polish but I believe that assumes the tags are already as desire.

I looked into the Import List plugin but I think that's more than I'm looking for. It's not a huge deal for me to go back and batch edit my current library (I sort of enjoy the organizing process), but I was hoping to set up something for moving forward.

Thanks for the input from both of you. Appreciate it.

davidfor · 01-21-2016, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazorbeam

Sorry, to clarify - I do use FanficFare as well as the AO3's download option or other sources. Both of these do include metadata but, with the nature of fanfic, that stuff is sometimes a mess. I don't always find it consistent for searching and often delete it.

FFF includes a lot of stuff to handle the metadata on the site. I'm by no means an expert and just use the simplest changes for the few times I use it. But, there is a lot of discussion in the FFF thread about this.

Quote:

If I'm reading davidfor's post right, I don't want to *update* my Customn Column - I want to take my tidy manually-added info and apply it to the tags. And yeah, I'm not sure how it would work. The best I was thinking was that it could somehow be applied during a Convert or Polish process. I know you can update book metadata during Polish but I believe that assumes the tags are already as desire.

OK, I read your request as how to populate the custom column,

As you have the values in the custom column already, you should be able to use "Search & replace" in the bulk medatata editor to add the values from the custom column to the tags column.

lazorbeam · 01-21-2016, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

FFF includes a lot of stuff to handle the metadata on the site. I'm by no means an expert and just use the simplest changes for the few times I use it. But, there is a lot of discussion in the FFF thread about this.

I'll investigate. I've tried to customize which metadata is downloaded (unrelated to this tag) and I found parts of it a little tough, but I should give it another go. I only use FFF for about 1/3 of my downloads probably, but I would like to master this.

Quote:

As you have the values in the custom column already, you should be able to use "Search & replace" in the bulk medatata editor to add the values from the custom column to the tags column.

Funny, I was looking at this option before I posted this thread. I've only used this feature to batch adjust Comments. I hit a wall because, as I understand, I'm "searching" from the Comments field but replacing in the Tags field and I'm basically not sure how to make that happen.

(So I'm slowly revealing that I'm savvy enough to know what I want to do, but not savvy enough to do it well....)

lazorbeam · 01-21-2016, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazorbeam

Funny, I was looking at this option before I posted this thread. I've only used this feature to batch adjust Comments. I hit a wall because, as I understand, I'm "searching" from the Comments field but replacing in the Tags field and I'm basically not sure how to make that happen.

Ah, okay, I see how this can work in Search and Replace. Now that I've switched Search Mode to "Regular Expression", I see that you can select a different Destination Field (i.e. Tags). So, I'm going to explore Regex a bit more. This could perhaps be the trick!

davidfor · 01-21-2016, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazorbeam

Ah, okay, I see how this can work in Search and Replace. Now that I've switched Search Mode to "Regular Expression", I see that you can select a different Destination Field (i.e. Tags). So, I'm going to explore Regex a bit more. This could perhaps be the trick!

Yes, you need to use the regex mode. Beyond that, I can't help much as I haven't played with the search and replace enough. But. I recommend backing up the library before you start. Then you can restore it if you make a mistake.

theducks · 01-21-2016, 09:09 PM

be sure to select append mode or you will replace existing field values

lazorbeam · 01-21-2016, 11:36 PM

Thanks. I was successful! I saved two processes (for two columns' data) that copied the data over. And yes, I learned about appending and adding commas.

I practiced on a few copies and then quickly fixed my library.

Appreciate your help. I'm glad you mentioned S&R again.

01-21-2016, 12:18 AM	#1
lazorbeam Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: iPhone; Fire HD	Auto-tag with custom column data Does anyone know if it's possible to auto-tag a book with custom column data? For example, I have a "Characters" custom column and would like a book to automatically be tagged with this. I've recently acquired an Android device and very sadly can no longer use Marvin ereader and am exploring CalibreBox (which is saving my life!). I'd like to increase tag searching functionality. A barrier I can see in this process is about when this auto-tagging would be applied - since I add the column data myself, clearly it can't happen as a book is being added. Anyway. To be clear, I am aware of metadata downloading but a lot of my library is fanfic and that doesn't really apply there. Thanks.

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01-21-2016, 01:12 AM	#2
Tanjamuse Wizard Posts: 1,327 Karma: 5306 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: none	Where do you download fanfic from since you can't download the metadata?

01-21-2016, 01:20 AM	#3
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	As you mention fanfic, are you using the FanFicFare plugin to download it? If so, it can do this sort of thing if the source site has the information. Otherwise, I don't think there is an automatic way to do it. That would need a source for the information and how to extract it and apply it. Some sites will have it, but the standard metadata source plugins for downloading metadata cannot update custom columns. They can put this into the tags, but that is not what you want. Having said that, a possibility is the Import List plugin. It can read a CSV file and set metadata for the books from that file. If you have the information elsewhere and can massage it into a CSV, this could work.

01-21-2016, 06:03 PM	#4
lazorbeam Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: iPhone; Fire HD	Sorry, to clarify - I do use FanficFare as well as the AO3's download option or other sources. Both of these do include metadata but, with the nature of fanfic, that stuff is sometimes a mess. I don't always find it consistent for searching and often delete it. If I'm reading davidfor's post right, I don't want to update my Customn Column - I want to take my tidy manually-added info and apply it to the tags. And yeah, I'm not sure how it would work. The best I was thinking was that it could somehow be applied during a Convert or Polish process. I know you can update book metadata during Polish but I believe that assumes the tags are already as desire. I looked into the Import List plugin but I think that's more than I'm looking for. It's not a huge deal for me to go back and batch edit my current library (I sort of enjoy the organizing process), but I was hoping to set up something for moving forward. Thanks for the input from both of you. Appreciate it.

01-21-2016, 09:09 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,939 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	be sure to select append mode or you will replace existing field values

01-21-2016, 11:36 PM	#10
lazorbeam Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: iPhone; Fire HD	Thanks. I was successful! I saved two processes (for two columns' data) that copied the data over. And yes, I learned about appending and adding commas. I practiced on a few copies and then quickly fixed my library. Appreciate your help. I'm glad you mentioned S&R again.

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