Your Fav Custom Columns/Setup

[RachaelW83]

I'm starting fresh in a new calibre library and want to try and set up things before adding tons to my library. I've found several tips on columns and customization here that have been helpful.

I'm curious what are some of your fav or most useful custom columns and set-up tips?

[allanahk]

There's some really good suggestions in this thread. Personally my most useful columns are the word count (using the Count Pages plugin), a custom column for read status (Unread, Partially Read, Read, and Abandoned), and a yes/no column for whether I want the book on my ereader

[theducks]

I have a total of 25 (base 0) columns, includes standard ones. I was from the Lean-mean database schoo era.l

I also use the Count pages plugin: but only use #Pages and #grade-level columns (gives an idea on how long and how light).

I have a #master-format column to track how the book arrived. (many of us convert for other devices). This is a fixed value type.

The next columns track my touch-up/tweak 1)Validated (I use Calibre editors one), 2) Date last edited (fixed the faults, cleaned the code and made it 'my way')

I have a #Subtitle column (Kobo supports these). I have to hand split-off these as there is no surefire title parse)

My Done-Reading is a Date: (blank)=not read, a date=done except if it is 2000=abandoned

IMHO Infer status rather when you can, rather than have values. (Enable Tri-State logic in Preferences:Behavior). Not read/done: simply look for a blank spot in the list.

The next 2 handle collections
I have a #split_series column (I only do 1 alternate or it becomes <various> for the second)
#alt_authors. This started out for books written under a pen-name (I put the real name here and have searches also look here), but then I ran into ridiculously long filenames when I used {authors}, so I move all the Authors (if over 3) here and put the Editors-name (ed) into {Authors}
Speaking of roles I do not use additional columns for these. Calibre mostly ignores the (role-value) part of an author entry when sorting, so I simply flag their non-author role: (ed), (trans), (Illus), (Creator)

I also have a #usertags. (I leave the standard {tags} as normally used by publishers). This is where I leave myself notes (not all for general consumption) I do wish Calibre would not embed these INTO the book.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by RachaelW83

I'm starting fresh in a new calibre library and want to try and set up things before adding tons to my library. I've found several tips on columns and customization here that have been helpful.

I'm curious what are some of your fav or most useful custom columns and set-up tips?

What devices are you going to be using with Calibre?

[JSWolf]

I have a Y/N column for Read books. I have a Y/N column for on the Reader. I have columns for number of words and pages.

[hrm]

I have a Yes/No column for Read or Unread, and a Cost Column so I can track how much I spend on books each year.

[RachaelW83]

I have a Kindle Fire but mostly read on android.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What devices are you going to be using with Calibre?

I have Read yes/no , Date Added to Goodreads/or Calibre, Modified Ratings Column.

I'm trying to make one work to show which reading list, using reading list plugin, in its own column like tags but I haven't had any luck

[dunhill]

Copy the ones I mentioned in the other thread
The columns I have are:
Status (Read, To Read, Reading)
Title
Author
Date (From Calibre)
Ranking
tags
Series
Editorial
Published
pages
Started (Read start date)
Finished (Date the reading finished)
Days (Number of days to read it)
Reading time
Calif. Goodreads in numbers
Is it Audiobook? If it is in digital format, it says Yes/No
Physical Books--
Price
price date
Bookstore where I bought the book
if you ask for the book
Who do you lend them to?
Location
Audio book---
Duration
story teller

But it all depends on what you need

[Ansem_93]

-Read column (really wonder why this is not in calibre by default)
-Type of book: book, light novel, comic, manga -> need it for virtual libraries
-Number of pages

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Ansem_93

-Read column (really wonder why this is not in calibre by default)

Probably because there's different ways to handle this: a boolean (yes/no) column, text with fixed values, an integer column for percent read (I use this one myself). To enforce one way would not be good for people who prefer a different way.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Probably because there's different ways to handle this: a boolean (yes/no) column, text with fixed values, an integer column for percent read (I use this one myself). To enforce one way would not be good for people who prefer a different way.

Or my choice which a column that shows the percent read until 100% is read at which point the column content is set to 'Finished'.

[icallaci]

I used to use a Read column but now I just give finished books a rating. If it has a rating, I've read it. If it doesn't have a rating, I haven't read it.

[Ansem_93]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Probably because there's different ways to handle this: a boolean (yes/no) column, text with fixed values, an integer column for percent read (I use this one myself). To enforce one way would not be good for people who prefer a different way.

How do you update the percent read? Manually every time? O_O

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Ansem_93

How do you update the percent read? Manually every time? O_O

Ownedbycats uses a Kobo and the Kobo utilities plugin that among other things, syncs the %read from the device to calibre.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Ansem_93

How do you update the percent read? Manually every time? O_O

As mentioned, Kobo Utilities. Also, for paper books, I have an action chain that lets me input the current page number and it calculates the percentage from that.