How to bulk convert 'Title' metadata to non-sort style?

John IV · 06-05-2022, 01:32 PM

Hello, I would like to convert the 'title' metadata in a group of existing books from:

Name of my Book, The
to
The Name of my Book

How can I most easily accomplish this in Calibre? Thank you!

theducks · 06-05-2022, 03:41 PM

Preferences: tweaks: search for <ID: title_series_sorting>
That is step 1
Step 2 is to force Calibre to recompute the sort (field)
Select all (books): Tap 'E' (bulk mode metadata edit). tick the box

John IV · 06-05-2022, 04:01 PM

Thank you for the response. Following the steps didn't seem to do it.
The title_series_sorting tweak is set to 'library_order'.
Did the bulk metadata edit w/ the checkbox ticked but no change in the title metadata or display in the library after a Calibre restart.

I should mention that the title field of my books is actually in the sort order 'Name of my book, The' if that makes a difference to this procedure.

I altered the title_series_sorting tweak to strictly_alphabetic and repeated your step two just in case, but it also did not change.

theducks · 06-05-2022, 04:22 PM

Where are you looking to see the change.

Those steps were for the Library view. The sort field (there is no column) should have updated.

OTOH IF the Title shows that way, your import was wrong to begin with. (The sort is computed from Title)

I could do it with Bulk mode of the Metadata editor and some REGEX S&R on the title field.
It is doable there, but that tool is not forgiving (from a BACKUP is the only recovery), so I hesitate to offer a solution that may damage if applied wrong.

John IV · 06-05-2022, 04:34 PM

I had gotten my collection 'all set' with title, titlesort, and filename all matching with the articles at the end after the comma.

I then realized that I wanted the title only to display with the articles at the front (for the display at the top of Kindles pages and elsewhere). So I needed a way to do the bulk edit on the meta data title, but leave the sort title and filename alone.

Your bulk edit w/ REGEX S&R sounds like what I'd be looking for. My actual collection/files are separately backed up numerous times away from the calibre library so I'd like to try your method if you would be so kind. Thanks

06-05-2022, 01:32 PM	#1
John IV Member Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2022 Device: Kindle Scribe	How to bulk convert 'Title' metadata to non-sort style? Hello, I would like to convert the 'title' metadata in a group of existing books from: Name of my Book, The to The Name of my Book How can I most easily accomplish this in Calibre? Thank you!

06-05-2022, 03:41 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,881 Karma: 59840450 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Preferences: tweaks: search for <ID: title_series_sorting> That is step 1 Step 2 is to force Calibre to recompute the sort (field) Select all (books): Tap 'E' (bulk mode metadata edit). tick the box Attached Thumbnails

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06-05-2022, 04:01 PM	#3
John IV Member Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2022 Device: Kindle Scribe	Thank you for the response. Following the steps didn't seem to do it. The title_series_sorting tweak is set to 'library_order'. Did the bulk metadata edit w/ the checkbox ticked but no change in the title metadata or display in the library after a Calibre restart. I should mention that the title field of my books is actually in the sort order 'Name of my book, The' if that makes a difference to this procedure. I altered the title_series_sorting tweak to strictly_alphabetic and repeated your step two just in case, but it also did not change.

06-05-2022, 04:22 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,881 Karma: 59840450 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Where are you looking to see the change. Those steps were for the Library view. The sort field (there is no column) should have updated. OTOH IF the Title shows that way, your import was wrong to begin with. (The sort is computed from Title) I could do it with Bulk mode of the Metadata editor and some REGEX S&R on the title field. It is doable there, but that tool is not forgiving (from a BACKUP is the only recovery), so I hesitate to offer a solution that may damage if applied wrong.

06-05-2022, 04:34 PM	#5
John IV Member Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2022 Device: Kindle Scribe	I had gotten my collection 'all set' with title, titlesort, and filename all matching with the articles at the end after the comma. I then realized that I wanted the title only to display with the articles at the front (for the display at the top of Kindles pages and elsewhere). So I needed a way to do the bulk edit on the meta data title, but leave the sort title and filename alone. Your bulk edit w/ REGEX S&R sounds like what I'd be looking for. My actual collection/files are separately backed up numerous times away from the calibre library so I'd like to try your method if you would be so kind. Thanks

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