[Old Thread] desperate help needed with plugboards etc!

[BelgarionNL]

hello,

today i finally got the 650 and right away i disliked the way it cannot sort out the books by:

genre(tag), author, series, series number, titel
fantasy, Tolkien, J.R.R., Lord of the Rings, 1, Fellowship of the ring

so i googled, then read alot of posts about it:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=126313
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=118563
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=111736
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...3&postcount=32

but i just can't wrap my head around it! i know some basic scripting but for some reason i cannot figure this out!!! probably because it's 3am now.


do you guys know of a step by step guide or could you tell me step by step what to change and in short how i can customize it!

i really liked this lay-out https://www.mobileread.com/forums/att...3&d=1292620551 except for the series first letters in front of the title


edit: i tried to add a template in plugboards e.g. device_db:PRS505 = ([{author_sort}] -> authors), ([{series:lookup(\s,#serinit,series)}{series_index:> 2s|| - }{title}] -> title), ([{series}{series_index:0>2s| | - }{title}] -> title_sort)

but i get this error...

calibre, version 0.8.8
ERROR: : The PRS505 device does not support the device_db format.

[speakingtohe]

I would make it simpler and leave out the device_db part. Pick epub or lrf etc. from first dropdown and either find a suitable template or build your own one step at a time.

[BelgarionNL]

i would like to see this in my collections and "see all"

sorted as: author>Series>series number>title

The Fellowship of the Ring
Tolkien, JRR - Lord of the Rings 01

The Two Towers
Tolkien, JRR - Lord of the Rings 02

The Return of the King
Tolkien, JRR - Lord of the Rings 03

The Hobbit
Tolkien, JRR

[PeterT]

My attempt at that is:

({author_sort}{series:| - |}{series_index:o>2s| - | - }{title})

So I believe you would add the following in the Metadata Plugboard

Format: epub
Device: PRS505
Source Template: ({author_sort}{series:| - |}{series_index:o>2s| - | - }{title})
Destination Field: Title

[BelgarionNL]

yea noooo.... thats not working since its has that bug! i got it sorted to author series %% title with help!

but no luck with plugboard that seems to be bugged with the sony 650

[BelgarionNL]

got it working! installed old version then set the plugboards! updated and now everything is working as it should!

[PeterT]

Wonderful! What template did you end up using?

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Wonderful! What template did you end up using?

I can answer that one. This is the Metadata Plugboard used:

Format: device_db
Device: PRS505
Source Template1: {author_sort}{series:| - | }{series_index:0>2s}
Destination Field1: authors
Source Template2: {series}{series_index:0>2s|| - }{title}
Destination Field2: title_sort

Most plugboards prefix the Title with some form of Series/Index combo. This one actually suffixes the Author with the Series/Index info. Although it seems a bit weird it does have a couple of benefits:

• On the Sony the Title info on the top line is in that large blocky font and Series - index - Title often runs off the right edge of the screen. The Author info on the bottom line is in the much smaller font and so there is more room for Author - Series - index.
• The Home - See All - by Author actually works better, for books in a series, when you want to see all books by Author/Series/index/Title (I know you could also use the "special" Collection All_by_Author to achieve a "perfect" result).

Here's a screencap.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Most plugboards prefix the Title with some form of Series/Index combo. This one actually suffixes the Author with the Series/Index info. Although it seems a bit weird it does have a couple of benefits:

Does this work the same on the 505 as it does on the 650?

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Does this work the same on the 505 as it does on the 650?

I've just connected my PRS505 to check for you. See screencap.

At first glance it looks OK, but I haven't tested thoroughly. I don't think the PRS505 ever had the same problems sorting by Author that the x50s have.

[Edit:] Note that you also need to make sure that in Prefs - Plugins - Device Interface - Sony - Customize, the box labelled 'Use author_sort for author' is unchecked.

[speakingtohe]

Well I tried the plugboard above, and my reader (Sony PRS 600) froze up.

Coincidental I am sure, as after poking it with the stylus and pressing various buttons for two hours it came back to life and the plugboard worked fine.

I was totally wrong earlier about using the device_db, not that I understand device_db and calibre kept giving me an error about not supporting device_db until I selected any device.

Thanks to all for an interesting way to access my books

Helen

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I was totally wrong earlier about using the device_db, not that I understand device_db and calibre kept giving me an error about not supporting device_db until I selected any device.

Yes, there is a small bug in Calibre at the moment (in v0.8.7 and v0.8.8 at least) when trying to set the device_db:PRS505 plugboard. However, it is now fixed and will be in v0.8.9. on Friday.

Sorry you had problems.

[speakingtohe]

@jackie_w No real problems and no apologies necessary.

Was interesting and I appreciate that.

Helen

PS I am still at 8.5

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I can answer that one. This is the Metadata Plugboard used:

Format: device_db
Device: PRS505
Source Template1: {author_sort}{series:| - | }{series_index:0>2s}
Destination Field1: authors
Source Template2: {series}{series_index:0>2s|| - }{title}
Destination Field2: title_sort

FYI for PRS-950 users.

Jackie_w thanks for the info. I changed to this plugboard for use on my 950. But for my PRS-950 I had to change Destination Field1 to author_sort for the series info to show.

[H3lpdesk]

I like the idea of this and am trying to (cluelessly) do similar on the T1. I've been trying to put together the steps and proccesses (and where to go to do the things), with some fantastic guidance from the post at:

Here's what I have (as guidance, in Preferences):

To output titles in a particular format
Plugins | (search for) Sony PRST1 | Click [Customize plugin]
Use code in the ‘Save Template’ text box to set the format:
{author_sort}/{title} - {authors}; or use, say:
{series} {series_index:0>3s} {authors} {title} {author_sort}
...I'm not sure that this is what I actually want, but it's a start! I'm not actually sure what I will end up with bso am looking to see what other people have done to face challenges. I just want to manage hundreds of books, in series (I'm using the Calibre series filed for that) and sub series (Prefixing the the title for that).

To control how Sony sorts and displays entries
| Sending books to device | Metadata Management (set to automatic)

| tweaks | Specify how SONY collections are sorted
sony_collection_sorting_rules = [(['series'], 'series_index')]

| metadata plugboard
(https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ight=device_db)

To append series name and No to author on T1,
in 'Source template', type: {author_sort}{series:| - | }{series_index:0>2s}
in Destination Field, type: authors

Hopefully people on the forums can help me comment this into a guide I can produce for both new and experienced users...?