Feature Request:Independent Virtual Library Sorting

[kevn57]

I continually use virtual libraries to pare down my nearly 10,000 book library. What I'd really love to see is each vl be sorted separately. My TBR vl I want sorted as dated modified (which is the date added to TBR vl), my Read vl I'd like sorted on Date Read a custom column with my latest read on top. My SF, Fantasy, Mystery vls I'd like sorted on series. All Books I'd like sorted on date added so added books will always appear at the top.

I use Comicrack to read Comicbooks and they have smart playlists which function identically to vl, and they retain the sort independent of each other. That's how I knew it was something I really wanted.

Right now I use View Manager as a workaround but it's really not as nice as independently sorted either through a plugin or feature added to the program.

Anybody else have any thoughts on this?

[ownedbycats]

Why does View Manager not as nice?

[kevn57]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Why does View Manager not as nice?

View Manager doesn't keep my Read Virtual Library sorted as date read, if I switch to TBR I need to sort it by Date modified, then when I switch back to Read I need to resort to Date Read. Unless I'm using View Manager incorrectly.

[theducks]

Do you have the latest version?

I think you are describing 2 (defined) views

[kevn57]

Originally Posted by theducks

Do you have the latest version?

I think you are describing 2 (defined) views

I'm using View Manager 1.6.0 by Grant Drake, I d/l and update through Calibre Portable 5.27. Whenever Calibre informs me that itself or an update is available I get it right away. Just to be sure I clicked check for updated plugins and nothing came up. Also checked the thread here on the forum and it shows latest version Version 1.6.0 2020-11-04.

I'd be happy if All Books sorted and stayed sorted as Date added desending.
If TBR sorted as Date Modified.
Genre vl's sorted by Author and series.

The Date Read vl is easily handled my View Manager because it's the only vl I want sorted by Read Date so I have VM switch to Date Read vl when I ask for that view.

But if I go from TBR to All Books it changes the All Books sort. I mean it's not a big deal but I figured if comicrack could do it maybe Calibre can do it as well. Maybe I'm the only person who wants that kind of functionality.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by kevn57

I'm using View Manager 1.6.0 by Grant Drake, I d/l and update through Calibre Portable 5.27. Whenever Calibre informs me that itself or an update is available I get it right away. Just to be sure I clicked check for updated plugins and nothing came up. Also checked the thread here on the forum and it shows latest version Version 1.6.0 2020-11-04.

I'd be happy if All Books sorted and stayed sorted as Date added desending.
If TBR sorted as Date Modified.
Genre vl's sorted by Author and series.

The Date Read vl is easily handled my View Manager because it's the only vl I want sorted by Read Date so I have VM switch to Date Read vl when I ask for that view.

But if I go from TBR to All Books it changes the All Books sort. I mean it's not a big deal but I figured if comicrack could do it maybe Calibre can do it as well. Maybe I'm the only person who wants that kind of functionality.

Again, you need 2 VIEWS because the sort rule applies seperatly to each.
BTW you switch views on the View Manager Icon, not the VL tabs

[BetterRed]

Whilst switching in View Manager can trigger a Virtual Library switch, the reverse is not true; it would create a dependency within baseline calibre on an optional plugin, which is forbidden.

BR

[kevn57]

Originally Posted by theducks

Again, you need 2 VIEWS because the sort rule applies seperatly to each.
BTW you switch views on the View Manager Icon, not the VL tabs

> 2 VIEWS

I've only been using the single view, I tried 2 views and really don't care for it. I'd rather resort on switching then cut down available screen space. I run Calibre maximized with 12 columns showing in list view. I love all the info at my fingertips like that it's so easy to edit.

>BTW you switch views on the View Manager Icon

Yes I do understand that in fact I assigned Function Keys to 3 of them
Date F6 Sort Only
Date Read F7 Sorts by and then Switches to the VL.
Series/Author F8 Sort Only
TBR F9 Sort and then Switch to TBR VL.

[BetterRed]

I'm not certain of this, but you might be able to trigger a VM view switch on change of VL via the Action Chains plugin.

Ask in the AC plugin thread ==>> Index of plugins

BR

[capink]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I'm not certain of this, but you might be able to trigger a VM view switch on change of VL via the Action Chains plugin.

Ask in the AC plugin thread ==>> Index of plugins

BR

This can be added to the Action Chains plugin:

• I can add a new event to Action Chains called: VL Tab Changed. This event will be triggered whenever the user switches tabs.
• I can add a new custom action that gives the user the option to assign View Manager views to VL tabs.
  
  Edit: This can also be done by invoking the builtin Calibre Actions multiple times, while setting a condition on each invocation based on the vl tab name. But you must make sure the view(s) does not set a virtual library, as that will already be done by switching tabs.
• By adding the action above to the "VL Tab Changed" event, anytime the user switches tabs, the corresponding view will be applied automatically.

I will give this a go tomorrow.

[kevn57]

Thanks for the help I really appreciate it. I'll try it tomorrow I already d/l the action chain plugin.

[capink]

Here is the custom action to do what I described in previous post.

• Add the custom action to the plugin: Action Chains > Manage modules > Create module > copy/paste the action.
• Create a new chain and add the custom action.
• Configure the action by pressing the settings button next to the Action. Here you can assign View Manager views to each VL.
• Add the chain created above to the "VL Tab Changed" event. (Action chains > event manager)
  
  Note: You must update to the last version of Action Chains (1.13.0) to able to use the "VL Tab Changed" event.

[kevn57]

capink thank you so much for doing this, I updated, followed your instructions and it works just perfectly. I really appreciate you doing this I hope other people see this thread who want VL to sort automatically.