Add ISBNs to ID field of existing books in libary from a list?

Tenome · 07-08-2023, 11:02 AM

I have a list of ISBNs. Is it possible to add them to a group of existing books in my Calibre library in the ID field in order (so it adds "isbn:XXX") via some existing plugin or feature? I know about the Add Books from ISBN feature, but that doesn't seem to do what I'm asking.

Basically I need to add ISBNs to a lot of books at once. Calibre's metadata download is pretty unreliable so I can't use that.

capink · 07-08-2023, 11:20 AM

Import List plugin.

theducks · 07-08-2023, 12:09 PM

Is this a Chicken <> Egg issue? (existing books)
How do you get your 'list' item match up with the Calibre book entry {id}?

Look at the 'commandline tools' on the help site. (calibredb for a starter)
You need to get, THEN match the (calibre) ID (put it in the List)

I would first try the Import List (plugin): from CSV which uses Match Author and Title. It has identifiers:ISBN as a field target

BACKUP your Library before you do ANY BULK type operation.

Tenome · 07-08-2023, 12:50 PM

Hmm. So I need to generate the list of Calibre IDs first, and then use Import List to assign ISBNs? I guess I'll figure out how to do that then, thanks.

I figured out how to do it using Calibre's Create Catalog function and Import List. Thanks again.

07-08-2023, 11:02 AM	#1
Tenome Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 26 Join Date: Jan 2022 Device: none	Add ISBNs to ID field of existing books in libary from a list? I have a list of ISBNs. Is it possible to add them to a group of existing books in my Calibre library in the ID field in order (so it adds "isbn:XXX") via some existing plugin or feature? I know about the Add Books from ISBN feature, but that doesn't seem to do what I'm asking. Basically I need to add ISBNs to a lot of books at once. Calibre's metadata download is pretty unreliable so I can't use that. Last edited by Tenome; 07-08-2023 at 01:01 PM.

07-08-2023, 12:50 PM	#4
Tenome Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 26 Join Date: Jan 2022 Device: none	Hmm. So I need to generate the list of Calibre IDs first, and then use Import List to assign ISBNs? I guess I'll figure out how to do that then, thanks. I figured out how to do it using Calibre's Create Catalog function and Import List. Thanks again. Last edited by Tenome; 07-08-2023 at 01:21 PM.

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07-08-2023, 11:20 AM	#2
capink Wizard Posts: 1,194 Karma: 1995558 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kindle	Import List plugin.

07-08-2023, 12:09 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,012 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Is this a Chicken <> Egg issue? (existing books) How do you get your 'list' item match up with the Calibre book entry {id}? Look at the 'commandline tools' on the help site. (calibredb for a starter) You need to get, THEN match the (calibre) ID (put it in the List) I would first try the Import List (plugin): from CSV which uses Match Author and Title. It has identifiers:ISBN as a field target BACKUP your Library before you do ANY BULK type operation.

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