Adding a summary column

blouche · 06-06-2023, 06:30 AM

Hi, I wanted to add a column that contains the book summary.

It's "Comments" under "Edit metadata," so I tried that, but it doesn't seem to be a standard lookup name as far as I know.

I'd appreciate any help.

theducks · 06-06-2023, 10:29 AM

{comments}

(to see lookup names of any column)

Preferences: add your own columns: (look at the column 'lookup name' )

BetterRed · 06-06-2023, 07:38 PM

Because it can't be shown in the book list, the comments/Comments column is not shown in the Preferences->Add your own columns list.

You'll find it in the Preferences->Look & feel->Book details->Select displayed metadata list.

BR

LitoFrame · 06-08-2023, 04:35 PM

When I use the {comments} it shows me the html source. Is there any command to shows it in Normal view?
Thanks!

BetterRed · 06-08-2023, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LitoFrame

When I use the {comments} it shows me the html source. Is there any command to shows it in Normal view?

Where does "it show the HTML source".

The comments edit box has two tabs Normal (rendered text) and HTML. The Normal tab is a WYSIWYG Rich Text editor which creates HTML, elsewhere it should show the rendered text, e.g Book details, Epub jackets, catalogues etc?

BR

LitoFrame · 06-08-2023, 08:07 PM

I attached the screenshoots...

theducks · 06-08-2023, 08:54 PM

I believe {comments} is the raw data (HTML) and what you see in the MDE or Details are a processed view. So what you are doing bypasses the process
(Not the NOTE in the Add your own columns that says Comments (type) are always last in the order shown)

BetterRed · 06-08-2023, 09:48 PM

You've discovered why the built-in (real) comments/Comments column is not offered as a column that can be displayed in the Book list. Virtualising it as a derived custom column with a template won't overcome that.

Bottom line - long text columns cannot be shown in the booklist directly. What I do is to cloak them with a column icon if they're not empty.

In one of my libraries I want to know if a book has comments; so, I attach a 'page' icon to the Title column if comments is set, viz:

Click image for larger version

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IMO creating custom columns with the same lookup names as built in columns is best avoided - even of they have to be prefixed with '#' when used elsewhere.

LitoFrame · 06-09-2023, 11:26 AM

It is strange you can't change how the column interpret when you use template language.

I ended up create a custom column (column type: long text) where there is a field "Interpret this column as:" and I can select HTML. There is a same comment field in metadata (in the custom metadata tab, not in the basic metadata tab).

06-06-2023, 06:30 AM	#1
blouche Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: iphone	Adding a summary column Hi, I wanted to add a column that contains the book summary. It's "Comments" under "Edit metadata," so I tried that, but it doesn't seem to be a standard lookup name as far as I know. I'd appreciate any help.

06-08-2023, 08:07 PM	#6
LitoFrame Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kindle 11	I attached the screenshoots... Attached Thumbnails

06-08-2023, 09:48 PM	#8
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,032 Karma: 30277294 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	You've discovered why the built-in (real) comments/Comments column is not offered as a column that can be displayed in the Book list. Virtualising it as a derived custom column with a template won't overcome that. Bottom line - long text columns cannot be shown in the booklist directly. What I do is to cloak them with a column icon if they're not empty. In one of my libraries I want to know if a book has comments; so, I attach a 'page' icon to the Title column if comments is set, viz: IMO creating custom columns with the same lookup names as built in columns is best avoided - even of they have to be prefixed with '#' when used elsewhere.

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06-06-2023, 10:29 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,271 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	{comments} (to see lookup names of any column) Preferences: add your own columns: (look at the column 'lookup name' )

06-06-2023, 07:38 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,032 Karma: 30277294 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Because it can't be shown in the book list, the comments/Comments column is not shown in the Preferences->Add your own columns list. You'll find it in the Preferences->Look & feel->Book details->Select displayed metadata list. BR

06-08-2023, 04:35 PM	#4
LitoFrame Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kindle 11	When I use the {comments} it shows me the html source. Is there any command to shows it in Normal view? Thanks!

06-08-2023, 08:54 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,271 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I believe {comments} is the raw data (HTML) and what you see in the MDE or Details are a processed view. So what you are doing bypasses the process (Not the NOTE in the Add your own columns that says Comments (type) are always last in the order shown)

06-09-2023, 11:26 AM	#9
LitoFrame Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: Kindle 11	It is strange you can't change how the column interpret when you use template language. I ended up create a custom column (column type: long text) where there is a field "Interpret this column as:" and I can select HTML. There is a same comment field in metadata (in the custom metadata tab, not in the basic metadata tab).

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