Problem Sorting and accessing Custom Columns

[jguneysu]

I created a custom column called "notes". When I sort the column, it is not showing things in alphabetic order. I use the field to indicate many things including where the book is loaded. So, for example, the sort will show the comments NOOK/NOTE/TAB in a group, then other comments starting with just about any other letter, then another group off NOOK/NOTE/TAB. I even looked at the HTML in the field and there is nothing different.. What am I doing wrong?

Also, I have this notes column in multiple libraries. In some libraries, I can do a quick access with a slow double-click on the data field. In others it will not work and only brings up the change window, why?

Also, in some libraries, it will allow me to bulk update the custom column. In others, the custom field tab is blank and I can only update the data one book at a time, why?
Thanks for any help..
I'm on Calibre 4.13

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by jguneysu

I created a custom column called "notes". When I sort the column, it is not showing things in alphabetic order. I use the field to indicate many things including where the book is loaded. So, for example, the sort will show the comments NOOK/NOTE/TAB in a group, then other comments starting with just about any other letter, then another group off NOOK/NOTE/TAB. I even looked at the HTML in the field and there is nothing different.. What am I doing wrong?

I'm not sure you can sort long text columns. What do you have in the Interpret this column as: field, it might sort of it's not HTML

Originally Posted by jguneysu

Also, I have this notes column in multiple libraries. In some libraries, I can do a quick access with a slow double-click on the data field. In others it will not work and only brings up the change window, why?

What do you mean by 'quick access', But, have a look at this tweak:



The settings I have mean double click and enter do nothing, but I still have F2 to edit the cell - which is perfect for me.

Originally Posted by jguneysu

Also, in some libraries, it will allow me to bulk update the custom column. In others, the custom field tab is blank and I can only update the data one book at a time, why?
Thanks for any help..
I'm on Calibre 4.13

The JobSpy plugin has a metadata tool to update long text columns in bulk, see ==>> Index of plugins

BR

[jguneysu]

Thanks so much for your input!
1. Interpret this column is set to html.. tried other values, but, it didn't help. Also, I have had a "Notes" custom column since about 2013 in all my libraries and didn't start having this sorting problem until this last year.. ? I think something got messed up in one of the Calibre updates maybe
2. By "quick access" I mean that you can click once on the field, then click again (not a double-click to open book) and the field data is editable in place. It does this in SOME of my libraries on the Notes field, but, in others, it opens a completely separate mini-window in which you do the editing and then have to click on the "save" button at the bottom.. considerably more cumbersome.. why would it work in one library and not in another?
3. Again, why would some libraries allow bulk edit of this Notes column just fine, but, other libraries just bring up a blank list on the Custom Metadata tab when you try to do a bulk edit (no fields shown to edit)? Why would I need a plug-in for SOME libraries but not others?

There must be something behind the scenes that I am missing as to how column editing and sorting is controlled. I have clicked on EVERYTHING to try to find some kind of option(s) that might be causing these problems.. it's driving me crazy!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by jguneysu

Thanks so much for your input!
1. Interpret this column is set to html.. tried other values, but, it didn't help. Also, I have had a "Notes" custom column since about 2013 in all my libraries and didn't start having this sorting problem until this last year.. ? I think something got messed up in one of the Calibre updates maybe

2. By "quick access" I mean that you can click once on the field, then click again (not a double-click to open book) and the field data is editable in place. It does this in SOME of my libraries on the Notes field, but, in others, it opens a completely separate mini-window in which you do the editing and then have to click on the "save" button at the bottom.. considerably more cumbersome.. why would it work in one library and not in another?

3. Again, why would some libraries allow bulk edit of this Notes column just fine, but, other libraries just bring up a blank list on the Custom Metadata tab when you try to do a bulk edit (no fields shown to edit)? Why would I need a plug-in for SOME libraries but not others?

There must be something behind the scenes that I am missing as to how column editing and sorting is controlled. I have clicked on EVERYTHING to try to find some kind of option(s) that might be causing these problems.. it's driving me crazy!

#1 Validate the problem Libraries. Right click the Library Icon: Library Maintenance: Check Library. run both phases. 1)tests the DB structure. 2) makes sure the books match the entry

#2 has a tweak. The 'as shipped' (normal) is edit
# Control behavior of the book list

#3 is a Per Library (field) configuration. You need to make Each (notes field) look like the one (Library) that works

[jguneysu]

1. When I right click on the library icon, there is no longer a "Maintenance" choice on the list. I used to have it, but, it is no longer there.. which release are you running?

2. Wouldn't a "tweak" affect all libraries? I don't see where you would indicate that it does one thing on one library and something else in another. I tried changing the Control Behavior of the Book List as you indicated previously, but, it just made things worse and affected all libraries.

3. I tried, but, the Column Type field is greyed-out and does not allow changes. Also, the one that WORKS, does not show the two fields, Column Heading and Interpret this Column As when you go into edit mode for the custom metadata field. Why would the fields be different from one library to the next?

[kovidgoyal]

Library maintenance is still there, if you are not seeing it then you probably have a device connected. Disconnecte it and you will be fine.

[jguneysu]

Thanks so much Kovid!.. I disconnected the folder as device I was using and the Maintenance options came up!.. I deleted two extraneous files that were reported and restarted Calibre, but, it had no affect on any of the sorting or editing of custom metadata column problems I'm having.. back to the drawing board

[BetterRed]

@jguneysu - could you post screen shots of a) the relevant custom column definitions in the different libraries, b) the Control behaviour of the book list tweak (yes it does operate on all libraries)

And, what happens if you Press F2 on the book list cells

HTML long text columns should show this,



Plain long text columns should show this,



BR

[jguneysu]

This is how in-line editing looks for my Notes column.. this is how I want it to work in all my libraries:

[jguneysu]

Please forgive me, but, I have never posted an image before.. I am beyond frustrated trying to figure out how it works.. I tried to search 10 different ways and all results that come up look totally unrelated to what I searched for about posting images.. grrr

I clicked in the Insert Image icon in the Quick Reply window and it wants me to enter a URL.. it seems like you should be able to browse your computer for an image, but, it implied to me that you need to upload something.. So, I had to look all over the place and finally found a place to create Albums and upload pictures in my profile. I did that and clicked on the picture where it displayed a URL. I used that URL when the Insert Image wanted a URL and submitted the reply.. it barfed all over it so obviously that is not how you do it.. Why is it so complicated to post an image??

[georgemk]

Click on the "Go Advanced" button in the quick reply box and use the paperclip to attach the image.

[jguneysu]

UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO POST IMAGES...

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@jguneysu - could you post screen shots of a) the relevant custom column definitions in the different libraries,

LIBRARY WHERE I CAN EDIT NOTES THE WAY I WANT TO (IN LINE):
Edit custom column
Lookup name notes
Column heading Notes
Column type Text, column shown in the Tag browser
(this field is greyed out and no changes allowed)
Description (blank)

LIBRARY WHERE IT FORCES YOU TO USE A POP UP WINDOW:
Edit custom column
Lookup name notes
Column heading Notes
Column type Long text, like comments, not shown in the Tag browser
(this field is greyed out and no changes allowed)
Description (blank)
Column heading No heading
Interpret this column as HTML


b) the Control behaviour of the book list tweak (yes it does operate on all libraries)

CONTROL BEHAVIOR OF BOOK LIST: (DON'T THINK A SCREENSHOT IS NEEDED HERE..)
# Control behavior of the book list

doubleclick_on_library_view = u'open_viewer'

enter_key_behavior = u'do_nothing'

horizontal_scrolling_per_column = True



And, what happens if you Press F2 on the book list cells

WHEN I PRESS F2, THIS TYPE OF EDITING WINDOW COMES UP.. THAT IS THE CUMBERSOME WAY THAT I DON'T WANT. I JUST WANT TO EDIT THE FIELD IN PLACE LIKE YOU CAN TO WITH TITLE AND SERIES, ETC..

HTML long text columns should show this,

Attachment 178106

I NEVER GET THIS SIMPLE WINDOW:
Plain long text columns should show this,

Attachment 178107

BR

[jguneysu]

See attached list of images.

[jguneysu]

Thanks so much georgemk

[BetterRed]

@jguneysu - once it is defined the Column type cannot be changed.

In your fourth image the Column type of the Notes column is Long text, like Comments, not shown in tab browser", with Interpret this column as set to HTML

In your fifth image the Column type of the Notes column is Text, shown in tab browser"

The Column type controls how data can be entered, e.g. an Integer can only have digits and a sign.

To get what you say you want, you will need to to have Column Type for Notes, set as it is in image 5 (i.e. Text, shown in Tag Browser) in both libraries. You cannot change column type once its set, but you can change the lookup name, so I suggest you change the one that's wrong to bad_notes and then add a fresh notes column of type Text, shown in Tag Browser.

You may be able to use Bulk Edit Search and Replace to move bad_notes to notes, but backup the library first. Without access to the data I'm not sure what the regex would be, and I've needed to move an HTML column to a Text column.

However, looking at the data, I suspect it might be easier to do it by hand. Select the NOOK/NOTE/TAB books and use Bulk Edit to put NOOK/NOTE/TAB into the new notes column etc, etc.

When you've done all the variants remove the bad_notes column.

BR