Testers needed for Reading Tracker plugin

[Wiggo]

Does it show multiread?

[varia]

Originally Posted by Wiggo

Does it show multiread?

Can you explain what you mean by multiread? Like reading a book that is book ebook and listening to the audio version... or something else?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by varia

Can you explain what you mean by multiread? Like reading a book that is book ebook and listening to the audio version... or something else?

I suspect books that are rereading in the same version. For example, I've reread my ebook copy of Three Men in a Boat about 20 times.

[varia]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I suspect books that are rereading in the same version. For example, I've reread my ebook copy of Three Men in a Boat about 20 times.

Ahh, that was one I've thought about. If it's something I can implement I certainly would.

[varia]

Hi all, a new version is out with changes. The Tracker tab is back with a significant improvement in populating tracked books; thanks to Comfy.n for the API insight.
The spreadsheet area now defaults in locked mode as a safety feature. If you're running jobs in Calibre wait for completion before editing books in the tracker.

A few features on my list for consideration:
-add translations
-support for custom book type and statuses
-enhanced CSV export
-wrap-up templates
-support for 1/4 stars

Feedback, ideas, suggestions, are welcomed.

Happy tracking!
Varia

[Wiggo]

Originally Posted by varia

Can you explain what you mean by multiread? Like reading a book that is book ebook and listening to the audio version... or something else?

As DNSB mentioned correctly I was talking about rereads, multireads was the wrong word - sorry.

Your PI looks very good but it isn't for me, too many new columns.
I always worry that too many columns will slow Calibre down even more.

[sgmoore]

Originally Posted by Wiggo

Your PI looks very good but it isn't for me, too many new columns.

I think the column requirements is a "barrier to entry" which might put some people off the plugin.

Is there any real need for any extra columns other than Finish Date?

For example, If Tracked is not defined then all books could be tracked. If My Rating is not defined then the built in Calibre Rating could be used. I think all the other columns should be optional as well.

[varia]

Originally Posted by Wiggo

Your PI looks very good but it isn't for me, too many new columns.
I always worry that too many columns will slow Calibre down even more.

I get it. Everybody's mileage is different.
Regarding number of columns affecting/not affecting performance, you can check with the developer or other users in the forums, if you like. I can't speak to that as it is beyond my scope.

Originally Posted by sgmoore

I think the column requirements is a "barrier to entry" which might put some people off the plugin.

Is there any real need for any extra columns other than Finish Date?

For example, If Tracked is not defined then all books could be tracked. If My Rating is not defined then the built in Calibre Rating could be used. I think all the other columns should be optional as well.

If all you want is finished date, you don't need a plugin for that. And no, not everyone one wants to track anything. Not everyone wants statistics, or exports, or a spreadsheet, or column creation, or anything to get between them and their reading. I respect that. I wouldn't expect them to be here commenting on a plugin they are not interested in.

If you're interested in collaborating on a "mini tracker" plugin that gives reading information with minimal effort, feel free to start a project road map.

[Lys]

Hi! That's a very cool idea and cool plugin

I'm trying it out, but I think I'm doing something wrong because I can see all my "tracked" books in the tracker tab, but I see no data in the dashboard card.

If I click on Tracked books or Books finished (year), the search bar gets filled with:

#tracker:true

and

#tracker:true and #readstatus:"=finished"

But I can't see any year in the drop-down menu, nor I can find a way to get the number calculated.

What am I doing wrong? I guess some of my mapping is off?

[varia]

Originally Posted by Lys

Hi! That's a very cool idea and cool plugin

I'm trying it out, but I think I'm doing something wrong because I can see all my "tracked" books in the tracker tab, but I see no data in the dashboard card.

If I click on Tracked books or Books finished (year), the search bar gets filled with:

and


But I can't see any year in the drop-down menu, nor I can find a way to get the number calculated.

What am I doing wrong? I guess some of my mapping is off?

Hi, thanks for checking it out. Can you give a rundown (or screenshot) of your mapped columns?

[Lys]

Originally Posted by varia

Hi, thanks for checking it out. Can you give a rundown (or screenshot) of your mapped columns?

Sure! Here you are. I re-used a lot of columns that I had already created for my calibre-kobo setup (via KoboUtilities)

#tracker is a Y/N column (I do allow three values for the field)

#readstatus is a composite column with this template:

{#percent_read:'cmp($, 100, cmp($, 0, cmp($, -99, 'Not Interested', 'DNF', 'DNF'), '', 'Reading'), 'Finished', '')'}

#last_read_timestamp is date type (I'm using the same column for start and finish date)

#numero_pagine is Integers type

#note is a long text column type not shown in tag browser

#collections is a text with a fixed set of permitted values

#percent_read Integers type

#grades is a rating column type (allowing half-stars)

[thiago.eec]

I think the must important step right now is to allow the user to use their own custom columns without hard coding their lookup name. Right now, you can choose any type of custom column in the Columns tab, even if they won't work; also, even if it is the right type, it won't work either if the lookup name differs.

Like @Comfy.n said, you can check out Reading Goal's solution. You can choose your own columns based in their data type and add a new column (respecting the needed type) if it doesn't exist.

P.S.: I'm the Reading Goal author.

[varia]

Originally Posted by Lys

Hi! That's a very cool idea and cool plugin

I'm trying it out, but I think I'm doing something wrong because I can see all my "tracked" books in the tracker tab, but I see no data in the dashboard card.

If I click on Tracked books or Books finished (year), the search bar gets filled with:

and


But I can't see any year in the drop-down menu, nor I can find a way to get the number calculated.

What am I doing wrong? I guess some of my mapping is off?

In the Calibre search bar when you search #tracker:true do any books show? Your books are mapped so I don't think it's anything wrong on your part. I have an inkling there is some hardcoding in the Dashboard so it's not seeing your books. The tracker tab pulls the books differently so that's why it's populating. Give me a few and I'll dig into it some more.

[varia]

Originally Posted by thiago.eec

I think the must important step right now is to allow the user to use their own custom columns without hard coding their lookup name. Right now, you can choose any type of custom column in the Columns tab, even if they won't work; also, even if it is the right type, it won't work either if the lookup name differs.

Like @Comfy.n said, you can check out Reading Goal's solution. You can choose your own columns based in their data type and add a new column (respecting the needed type) if it doesn't exist.

P.S.: I'm the Reading Goal author.

I was just thinking it was a hardcoding issue. I believed you nailed this particular case and that was the intended direction I was going into while creating it. Flexibility is a must. Thanks for the input, Thiago. I appreciate it.

[Lys]

Originally Posted by varia

In the Calibre search bar when you search #tracker:true do any books show? Your books are mapped so I don't think it's anything wrong on your part. I have an inkling there is some hardcoding in the Dashboard so it's not seeing your books. The tracker tab pulls the books differently so that's why it's populating. Give me a few and I'll dig into it some more.

yes, the search part works correctly (both for the tracker part and the finished books part. It doesn't pull the year, but I can't select it either in the drop-down menu). The most read author doesn't work instead.

I was wondering if the readstatus column could be an issue since it's a column built from other columns one (despite the end result still being a column with the desired entry: Finished, DNF, Reading)