[GUI Plugin] Kindle Collections (old)

[SusiQ]

Thought I'd let you know, plugin doesn't work with K1 : "ERROR: Create Kindle Collections plugin: Unable to open Kindle file: F:\system\collections.json<P>"
Not surprised since I think that .json thingy is for collections and K1 doesn't support them. It also listed some corrupt Mobi files, so will reconvert them. It did, however, generate the preview log of what collections it WOULD have created, sorted by tags. Will let you know what happens when I get the K3. And again, I can't thank all of you enough for the effort you put in to creating this thing and making it work! It is a godsend to someone like me!!

Susie

[Jyfwired]

Originally Posted by meme

I don't have a MAC so I can't test it for the MAC. What does "calibre-customize -a create_kindle_collections_plugin.zip" respond with?

Where do I go to test that on my Mac? Is this an option inside of calibre?

[Jyfwired]

OK - when I download the plugin to the MAC , I get two .py files in a folder named 'create_kindle_collections_plugin'. The files are: create_kindle_collections_plugin.py and create_kindle_collections_code.py.

I've installed the command line interface to the mac, per the user guide. When I execute the command you've suggested here's what I get:


jenyfmbp:~ jenyf$ calibre-customize -a create_kindle_collections_plugin
Python function terminated unexpectedly:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/Applications/calibre.app/Contents/Resources/Python/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 147, in main
return run_entry_point()
File "/Applications/calibre.app/Contents/Resources/Python/lib/python2.7/site.py", line 116, in run_entry_point
return getattr(pmod, func)()
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/ui.py", line 580, in main
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/ui.py", line 379, in add_plugin
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/ui.py", line 65, in load_plugin
calibre.customize.ui.PluginNotFound

Your help is appreciated. I just need to understand where the files need to be located in order to use the command line interface. I'm using the OSX Terminal program.

[meme]

Don't unzip the plugin - it must stay zipped

You can use the GUI to add a plugin (Preferences->Plugins, add) - but you still have to not unzip the file

If the MAC is auto-unzipping it to the py files, then I'm not sure how to stop it from doing that.

[kiwidude]

Keep the files in the zip (don't extract them). Put the zip file in the same folder as where your command prompt is opened at (is ~jenyf your home folder or something?).

I don't know if things are different in the linux/mac world but on windows at least you will need to add .zip to the end of that command line:

calibre-customize -a create_kindle_collections_plugin.zip

[jay2222]

Am I right to say that the plugin could create Collections from text strings in the doc title?

[tlrowley]

Originally Posted by meme

Don't unzip the plugin - it must stay zipped

You can use the GUI to add a plugin (Preferences->Plugins, add) - but you still have to not unzip the file

If the MAC is auto-unzipping it to the py files, then I'm not sure how to stop it from doing that.

If you right click on the file and select "download linked file" it should not be automatically unzipped. Alternatively, the zipped file should still be in the trash and can be yanked out and put back That's what I normally do.

[chilady1]

meme - I just wanted to send a note of THANKS to you. I had some issues with the Kindle Collections plugin but after cleaning up some items I was able to get the plugin to work they way I wanted it. Your directions were spot on and I didn't have any problems.

This is a great addition to Calibre and just wanted to come back and let you know all is good! Thanks again!

[Shadow Panther]

Originally Posted by meme

The plugin does not add BOOKs to the Kindle. Calibre is responsible for that.

The plugin only creates Collections on the Kindle (see the Kindle user guide for an explanation of collections.

You can tell the plugin to only include specific collections. For example, if you only want to create a collection for the author 'Bob Smith' then uncheck all the columns in the plugin (not the Keep Kindle checkboxes) and check authors. Then type in 'Bob Smith', without the quotes, into the Include column for author. Then run preview.

It might help if you give some examples of what you want to see on your Kindle for collections, and if you are already using collections on your Kindle.

I use collections, but they vary in how they are sorted,

some are by series and some by author.

Example of what I want to do:

I recently received 59 Stephen King books. between these there is the 7 dark tower books now what I want to do is transfer the 7 dark tower books to a collection "Stephen King - Dark Tower" and the rest of the books to "Stephen King" without rearranging the rest of my collections on the Kindle.

Then I know this is slightly off topic but how does one include the "Book number" into the title that is created when transferring the book over to the kindle ? I changed {author_sort}/{title} - {authors} to {author_sort}/{series} - {title} - {authors} and {author_sort}/{series_number} - {title} - {authors}, but neither give me the booknumber prior to the name of the book

[meme]

Originally Posted by jay2222

Am I right to say that the plugin could create Collections from text strings in the doc title?

Can you give an example of a few books and how you would want them collected?

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Shadow Panther

Then I know this is slightly off topic but how does one include the "Book number" into the title that is created when transferring the book over to the kindle ? I changed {author_sort}/{title} - {authors} to {author_sort}/{series} - {title} - {authors} and {author_sort}/{series_number} - {title} - {authors}, but neither give me the booknumber prior to the name of the book

I believe the book number is {series_index}.

[Jyfwired]

Originally Posted by meme

Don't unzip the plugin - it must stay zipped

You can use the GUI to add a plugin (Preferences->Plugins, add) - but you still have to not unzip the file

If the MAC is auto-unzipping it to the py files, then I'm not sure how to stop it from doing that.

OK - I'm good! Downloading with FireFox browser kept the file as a zip file, and I was then able to install the plugin!!! (Safari automatically unzips the file into a folder--- which is nice, most times).

Thanks for your attention. I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Thanks for the plugin. I'm psyched t use it.

[pchrist7]

Hi meme
Did some more testing, and IF I, remember to do what ever config changes needed, your plugin works like a charm.
VERY nizzzzze
As a Dane "I must find something to complain about", so I hope somewhere in the future a "merge" with existing collections, so every collections isn't sorted by collection name (start from scratch), but rather by "last accessed" adding the new collections "last".
Don't go crazy about this ! You did GREAT work !!
All can be done within Calibre.
Cudos !!

[meme]

Actually that was an easy 1 line to add, so you'll see it whenever I get finished tinkering with the next release.

So it will soon set the last access time to something old only for collections managed by Calibre - it will leave the current last access time for any Kindle managed collections, and given the timestamp I'm using the Kindle managed collections will always be the most recent.

Now, the sort order for titles is another matter. I've been just sorting basically alphabetically. But I think I've finally got a handle on how the Kindle 3 is sorting and so I'm changing the sort to match what the Kindle shows (mostly - its a strange algorithm).

[nynaevelan]

Originally Posted by meme

Now, the sort order for titles is another matter. I've been just sorting basically alphabetically. But I think I've finally got a handle on how the Kindle 3 is sorting and so I'm changing the sort to match what the Kindle shows (mostly - its a strange algorithm).

How will this new sorting affect K2 users, do the two use the same programming for sorting??