New Library

[7thSon]

Let me start by saying I've just finished with a library creation for epubs and it went off without a hitch.
I then created another new library to break up and sort a large collection.
I used the same methods for this new library... I chose "create empty library" and "copy structure". However, whereas in the previously created new library, my files were imported as LN, FN; in this second new library, they weren't.
I'm using the same method for importing, I'm dragging (one at a time, since it seems if you drag multiple items, they copy out of order, even if you hold them by the topmost file in the group) and dropping files from the Calibre library in the finder onto the Calibre window, but this time they're azw3s.
I'm going alphabetical to maintain an alpha-numeric order for the folders created. Author last name beginning with "A" "Book Title" (1) to "Book Title" (248), Authors "B" "Book Title" (249) to "Book Title" (1837).
That's an OCD thing. But auto-import author sort LN, FN is more important to me. Sorting by LN, FN just works for me. Books added down the road will upset the numeric "order", but that's the way it is.
Looking at Calibre's preferences for importing/exporting, the "expressions" confuse me. Is there something I can tweak there? In "tweaks", next to the "plugins" button, the Author sort name algorithm seems the way to go, but again the expression language just isn't clear to me. What, if any, tweak can I apply to get the results I want. This is just beyond my grasp.

[theducks]

You do NOT get to control the {ID} in the new Librart (the # in paren )
Copy to Library usually maintains what was in the source.
This does NOT apply if you used ADD

[7thSon]

Huh. Seems strange. The first "new library" I created, which was a broken down version of the original, I drag/dropped epubs from the finder onto the blank new library and they were imported LN, FN. The 2nd or 3rd library depending how you look at it, I drag/dropped azw3 files onto empty new library. It seems the azw3s are the stubborn ones. They were converted from epub in Calibre first.
I didn't use any commands or tools within Calibre to add the files to the new library, in either case.
Are you saying if I did use "Add" it would copy LN, FN?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by 7thSon

Huh. Seems strange. The first "new library" I created, which was a broken down version of the original, I drag/dropped epubs from the finder onto the blank new library and they were imported LN, FN. The 2nd or 3rd library depending how you look at it, I drag/dropped azw3 files onto empty new library. It seems the azw3s are the stubborn ones. They were converted from epub in Calibre first.
I didn't use any commands or tools within Calibre to add the files to the new library, in either case.
Are you saying if I did use "Add" it would copy LN, FN?

Unknown for either Add or D&D (depends on the book)
select books: right-click: Copy to Library:<target + option>
This uses the DB record as part of the move/copy

[7thSon]

Gotcha. Thank You. That makes sense. Dumb of me not to do that from the start using the menus and toolbars