calibredb add tags to existing entry

[chittu]

I want to add tags on the top of existing tags of the ebook entry in the library, I can't use set_metadata because it replaces the existing tags. I have to do this for hundreds of books, so it is not possible for me manually copy and paste old tags.

How can add tags instead of replacing (for an existing ebook in the library)?
How can I retrieve only tags? (show_metadata id pulls all the metadata but how to get just tags?)

[kovidgoyal]

calibredb list --field=tags

[chittu]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

calibredb list --field=tags

thanks but it pulls all the tags from the entire library, but I want to get the tags from a single entry like id 334, something like

$ calibredb --with-library "calibre_library" list --field=tags id 334

[theducks]

Originally Posted by chittu

thanks but it pulls all the tags from the entire library, but I want to get the tags from a single entry like id 334, something like

$ calibredb --with-library "calibre_library" list --field=tags id 334

In another section only the number of the ID is used: 334
you might try that. (the documentation is always playing catch up)

[kovidgoyal]

--search id:334

[chittu]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

--search id:334

that works, thanks (this is missing in the documentation!)

Similarly, can you add (not replace) tags on the top of existing tags like below?

calibredb --with-library "ebook_calibre_library" add -T custom_tag --search id:3972

[kovidgoyal]

No, its not missing in the documentation: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gen...db-list-search

And sure you can read th documentation for set_metadata and combine it with list to get the existing tags, then add the tag to the list and call set_metadata