JobSpy Usage

BetterRed · 01-06-2025, 08:10 PM

We want to get an idea of what features of the JobSpy plugin are widely used.

If you use JS could you give us an idea of what features you use, here's a listing of the main menus

Quote:

Look and Feel related tools

Change GUI Text and Alternating Row Colors [As Customized]
Customize User Category Tag Browser Icons
Resize Column Widths to Fit [Calibre Will Auto-Save]
Compress Column Widths Uniformly [Calibre Will Auto-Save]
Search Bar Dropdowns - Increase Visible Items and Search History
Edit Metadata Dropdowns - Start/Stop 'Visible Items Increaser' Daemon
Protect/Unprotect Custom Columns from Edit Metadata Dialogs [Menu]
RowSpy
Notes Viewer
Hide/Show Unused/Used Custom Columns
Hide All Custom Columns
Show All Custom Columns

Behaviour related tools

Invert Selection [Selected Books]
Apply View Manager Views based on Virtual Library
Ignore Copy-to-Library Custom Column Messages [Selected Library Combinations]
Copy-to-Library Shortcut [Selected Books]
Tickle Auto-Adder to Wake Up

Metadata related tools

Apply JS Quality Fixes [Menu]
Apply Default Values [Selected Books]
Update Custom Column Based on Another Custom Column [Selected Books]
Autofill Custom Columns via Keyboard Shortcuts [Menu]
Bulk Empty Chosen 'Comments/Long Text' Custom Column of all Values [Selected Books]
Bulk Update Chosen 'Comments/Long Text' Custom Column from Clipboard Text [Selected Books]
Update Author Sort for Complex Surnames [Selected Books - Matching Authors]
Extract Original Title/Translator to Update Custom Columns [Selected EPUBs]
Mega-Metadata Reference Book Dropdown Helper [Selected Book]
Reset Last-Modified Date [Selected Books]
Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books]
Back up/Restore Last-Modified Dates [Menu]
Pseudonymous Authors [Menu]
Scrub Tag/Tag-Like Columns Using Rules Tables [Menu]
Add Null to Selected Custom Columns for books with no existing real values in them [All Books]
Convert HTML 'Comments' to Plain Text [Selected Books]
Edit Identifiers [Current Book]
Show Book-Identifier Matrix [Selected Books]
Remove Identifier Types [Selected Books]
Refresh Format File Sizes [Selected Books]
Create Bibliography Text [Selected Books] [Copy to Clipboard]
View Comments [Selected Books]
Visualize Metadata
Import CSV File to Update Metadata

Search related tools

Search for Book Title List Currently in System Clipboard
Search Current Custom Column Using Text Currently in System Clipboard
Virtual Library Helper - Create Search Criteria Using Selected Book IDs
Virtual Library Helper - View VLs Sorted by VL Criteria instead of VL Name
Copy Saved Searches of Current Library to Target Library
Copy Selected Virtual Library from Current Library to Target Library

Utility tools

List Active Keyboard Shortcut Assignments
Select & Open Arbitrary Programs and Files
Select & Open Arbitrary Programs and Files (Basic)
Vacuum/Compress metadata.db En Masse [All Other Calibre Libraries]
Purge Library-specific Preferences [Selected Plug-ins]
Purge metadata.opf Backup Queue [User Discretion Advised]
Automatically Delete Temporary Reading Lists at Calibre Shutdown
Copy Selected 'User Category' to a Target Library
List Technical Custom Column Details from Table Custom Columns
Create Matrix of All Custom Columns used in All Libraries
FormatSpy
Display 'Polish Books' Job Font-Embedding Failures and Failed Books
Back Up Job Spy Configuration File 'Job Spy.ison'
Bibliography/Citations [Menu]

I've attached a copy of the above as 'JobSpy tools.txt'. The Configuration settings are too messy to post here, but I've attached a text file 'JobSpy config.txt'. These files have reference numbers so please include these in any replies.

BR

DNSB · 01-06-2025, 09:03 PM

I use very few of the many functions JobSpy supports and have a couple of scripts that allow me to duplicate those functions if/when JobSpy breaks. I'm assuming that it will break sooner or later since @DaltonST was on MobileRead less and less over several years and has not connected since July, 2023.

Comfy.n · 01-06-2025, 09:13 PM

These are the JS features I'm aware I use currently:

"GUI_TOOLS_LIBRARY_VIEW_ALTERNATING_COLOR": "#161649",
"GUI_TOOLS_LIBRARY_VIEW_BACKGROUND_COLOR": "black",]
"GUI_TOOLS_SEARCHBAR_ADDITIONAL_HISTORY"
"GUI_TOOLS_UPDATE_LAST_VIEWED_CUSTOM_COLUMN_AU TOMA TICALLY_COLUMN_NAME": "#last_viewed"

Last two are essential to me; the library view row colors customisation has been somewhat superseded by Calibre's built-in correspondent feature.

I'm afraid we may never have an update on Dalton's long-time MIA...

capink · 01-07-2025, 05:00 AM

Numbering the features, and having people reply with the number of each feature they are interested in—in a code box or something like this—can help easily collate the information later.

For example

Code:

3 25 36

It would be a matter of copying and using a command line tool like "sort" to sort the features by how many people are interested in them.

Katja_hbg · 01-07-2025, 08:32 AM

Thanks, for taking care and asking.

I use

- Utility tools: List Active Keyboard Shortcut Assignments
- Metadata related tools: Autofill Custom Columns via Keyboard Shortcuts [Menu]
-Metadata related tools: Visualize Metadata (two or three times, as it has an export function as well)

BetterRed · 01-07-2025, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capink

Numbering the features, and having people reply with the number of each feature they are interested in—in a code box or something like this—can help easily collate the information later.

For example

Code:

3 25 36

It would be a matter of copying and using a command line tool like "sort" to sort the features by how many people are interested in them.

See new text file in first post - but I doubt there'll be more than a dozen responses.

BR

Comfy.n · 01-07-2025, 07:19 PM

Code:

L01 
L05
M09 (used it for some time before finding EPOM plugin, which offers a more comprehensive similar feature)
M13 (I never tried it, but when I knew this was possible it was good to know)
M24 (Katja made me remember that, from time to time, I like to take a look at the timestamp graph)
U01 
U09 (!! found it today, might be useful)
C59

BetterRed · 01-07-2025, 10:55 PM

Code:

	L09 Notes Viewer
	L11 Hide All Custom Columns
	L12 Show All Custom Columns

**	B05 Tickle Auto-Adder to Wake Up
**	U01 List Active Keyboard Shortcut Assignments
	U02 Select & Open Arbitrary Programs and Files
	U05 Purge Library-specific Preferences [Selected Plug-ins]
	U09 List Technical Custom Column Details from Table Custom Columns
	U10 Create Matrix of All Custom Columns used in All Libraries
	U11 FormatSpy
	C15 Activate Keyboard Shortcuts for Custom Column Auto-Fill? [Changes Require Restart]
**	C21 Tweak for Per-Library: 'Author Sort Copy Method
**	C22 Tweak for Per-Library: 'Add Books Read Metadata from File Contents Not Name
**	C22aTweak for Per-Library: 'Auto-Add Directory':
**	C59 Update Last-Viewed Custom Column Automatically

** Items I wouldn't want to lose

BR

DNSB · 01-08-2025, 01:47 AM

I went back and reviewed my usage. At this time, the only JobSpy tool I use on a regular basis is M11 (Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books]).

Since I only have two libraries and no VLs, many of the tools are not that useful to me. I used to make use of more of them such as vacuuming but now use calibre's tools for most of those tasks.

Comfy.n · 01-08-2025, 02:09 AM

M11 Reset Last-Modified Date [Selected Books]
M12 Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books]

@David, I believe you meant M12

ownedbycats · 01-08-2025, 01:04 PM

The main one I use is the Tag Browser Icon Assignment.

Visualize Metadata. I'd find it more useful if it also covered composite columns,

Notes Viewer. Especially with the longtext fanfiction metadata.

Book-Identifier Matrix.

DNSB · 01-08-2025, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

M11 Reset Last-Modified Date [Selected Books]
M12 Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books]

@David, I believe you meant M12

I wrote and meant M11 which is Set Last-Modified Data to Data-Added etc.

Were you counting the line break with Bulk Update Chosen 'Comments/Long Text' Custom Column from Clipboard Text [Selected Books] where the Books] shows on a second line?

Code:

M01 - Apply JS Quality Fixes [Menu]
M02 - Apply Default Values [Selected Books]
M03 - Update Custom Column Based on Another Custom Column [Selected Books]
M04 - Autofill Custom Columns via Keyboard Shortcuts [Menu]
M05 - Bulk Empty Chosen 'Comments/Long Text' Custom Column of all Values [Selected Books]
M06 - Bulk Update Chosen 'Comments/Long Text' Custom Column from Clipboard Text [Selected Books]
M07 - Update Author Sort for Complex Surnames [Selected Books - Matching Authors]
M08 - Extract Original Title/Translator to Update Custom Columns [Selected EPUBs]
M09 - Mega-Metadata Reference Book Dropdown Helper [Selected Book]
M10 - Reset Last-Modified Date [Selected Books]
M11 - Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books]
M12 - Backup/Restore Last-Modified Dates [Menu]
M13 - Pseonymous Authors [Menu]
M14 - Scrub Tag/Tag-Like Columns Using Rules Tables [Menu]
M15 - Add Null to Selected Custom Columns for books with no existing real values in them [All Books]
M16 - Convert HTML 'Comments' to Plain Text [Selected Books]
M17 - Edit Identifiers [Current Book]
M18 - Show Book-Identifier Matrix [Selected Books]
M19 - Remove Identifier Types [Selected Books]
M20 - Refresh Format File Sizes [Selected Books]
M21 - Create Bibliography Text [Selected Books] [Copy to Clipboard]
M22 - View Comments [Selected Books]
M23 - Visualize Metadata
M24 - Import CSV File to Update Metadata

dunhill · 01-18-2025, 05:13 PM

The truth is that the world of @DaltonST plugins is too wide to not take advantage of the code or work already done.

I recently asked about importing from a csv and the plugin has the possibility of obtaining graphics

M24 Visualize Metadata
M25 Import CSV File to Update Metadata

un_pogaz · 01-21-2025, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunhill

The truth is that the world of @DaltonST plugins is too wide to not take advantage of the code or work already done.

Ironically, that's what kept me away from JobSpy: It way way too big.
I can understand why it's easy to get everything in one big package, but I think a lot of features would have benefited from being divided into smaller plugins, which would have been easier to take over and maintain according to the needs of the community.

If somes feature would benefit from being added directly to Calibre, it could be sometime better to take advantage of Calibre's great modularity and to just extract some feature into their own plugin.

Like, I could be make a plugin for 'M24 Visualize Metadata' and another for 'M25 Import CSV File to Update Metadata'. This both don't seem to fit to Calibre for me, but I cleary can see the use of such tools.

BetterRed · 02-19-2025, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

See new text file in first post - but I doubt there'll be more than a dozen responses.

BR

Not even half a dozen

Me
Comfy
OWB
Dunhill
DNSB

I'll try to add a list of which functions are used tomorrow.

BR

01-06-2025, 09:13 PM	#3
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,611 Karma: 7891011 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	These are the JS features I'm aware I use currently: "GUI_TOOLS_LIBRARY_VIEW_ALTERNATING_COLOR": "#161649", "GUI_TOOLS_LIBRARY_VIEW_BACKGROUND_COLOR": "black",] "GUI_TOOLS_SEARCHBAR_ADDITIONAL_HISTORY" "GUI_TOOLS_UPDATE_LAST_VIEWED_CUSTOM_COLUMN_AU TOMA TICALLY_COLUMN_NAME": "#last_viewed" Last two are essential to me; the library view row colors customisation has been somewhat superseded by Calibre's built-in correspondent feature. I'm afraid we may never have an update on Dalton's long-time MIA... Last edited by Comfy.n; 01-15-2025 at 09:39 PM.

01-07-2025, 05:00 AM	#4
capink Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1995558 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kindle	Numbering the features, and having people reply with the number of each feature they are interested in—in a code box or something like this—can help easily collate the information later. For example Code: 3 25 36 It would be a matter of copying and using a command line tool like "sort" to sort the features by how many people are interested in them.

01-18-2025, 05:13 PM	#13
dunhill Guru Posts: 893 Karma: 810834 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Device: moon+ reader, kindle paperwhite	The truth is that the world of @DaltonST plugins is too wide to not take advantage of the code or work already done. I recently asked about importing from a csv and the plugin has the possibility of obtaining graphics M24 Visualize Metadata M25 Import CSV File to Update Metadata Attached Thumbnails Last edited by dunhill; 01-18-2025 at 05:22 PM.

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01-06-2025, 09:03 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,273 Karma: 169098402 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I use very few of the many functions JobSpy supports and have a couple of scripts that allow me to duplicate those functions if/when JobSpy breaks. I'm assuming that it will break sooner or later since @DaltonST was on MobileRead less and less over several years and has not connected since July, 2023.

01-07-2025, 08:32 AM	#5
Katja_hbg Groupie Posts: 183 Karma: 158116 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD (landscape), Kobo Aura One	Thanks, for taking care and asking. I use - Utility tools: List Active Keyboard Shortcut Assignments - Metadata related tools: Autofill Custom Columns via Keyboard Shortcuts [Menu] -Metadata related tools: Visualize Metadata (two or three times, as it has an export function as well)

01-08-2025, 01:47 AM	#9
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,273 Karma: 169098402 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I went back and reviewed my usage. At this time, the only JobSpy tool I use on a regular basis is M11 (Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books]). Since I only have two libraries and no VLs, many of the tools are not that useful to me. I used to make use of more of them such as vacuuming but now use calibre's tools for most of those tasks.

01-08-2025, 02:09 AM	#10
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,611 Karma: 7891011 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	M11 Reset Last-Modified Date [Selected Books] M12 Set Last-Modified Date to Date-Added (Timestamp) [Selected Books] @David, I believe you meant M12

01-08-2025, 01:04 PM	#11
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,982 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	The main one I use is the Tag Browser Icon Assignment. Visualize Metadata. I'd find it more useful if it also covered composite columns, Notes Viewer. Especially with the longtext fanfiction metadata. Book-Identifier Matrix.

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