Do not understand error message.

[dmcd]

I'm trying to add a custom column for Genre. Following instructions but when I'm done, I see this error message: "You cannot provide the empty value as it is included by default".

Can somebody please explain what I am doing wrong?

Dale

[theducks]

Originally Posted by dmcd

I'm trying to add a custom column for Genre. Following instructions but when I'm done, I see this error message: "You cannot provide the empty value as it is included by default".

Can somebody please explain what I am doing wrong?

Dale

I suspect you have selected a predefined type and have not provided a list of acceptable values OR you have 2 commas in a row (a blank)

[dmcd]

Thanks for the reply. How do I know what comprises acceptable values? I enter a category tag followed by one comma, and then another - and so on. Are two words preceeding the comma unacceptable? EG., "British crime," instead of just "Crime".

Dale

[theducks]

Originally Posted by dmcd

Thanks for the reply. How do I know what comprises acceptable values? I enter a category tag followed by one comma, and then another - and so on. Are two words preceeding the comma unacceptable? EG., "British crime," instead of just "Crime".

Dale

Brits don't commit Crimes (we will blame the authors)

That is fine.
British Crime,American Crime is OK

British Crime,,American Crime is Not

I don't know how to do a value with a comma included, or other special characters.

[dmcd]

The Brits do write the best crime stories though and what's more, they use correct grammar and know how to spell!

I guess I'll just give up on that extra column. Can't make it stick or get past the error message.

Thanks for trying to sort it out for me.

Dale

[chaley]

Possibly you added a trailing comma e.g., "American Crime, British Crime," or a leading comma e.g., ",American Crime, British Crime"

[itimpi]

Trailing commas do not seem to be an issue as Calibre will do that itself if you add a tag via the keyboard, and then is happy to strip it off when you press OK.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by itimpi

Trailing commas do not seem to be an issue as Calibre will do that itself if you add a tag via the keyboard, and then is happy to strip it off when you press OK.

My assumption is that the OP is creating a custom column with a fixed set of values. The "set of values" is a comma-separated list provided when defining the column. Calibre splits the list apart into components, then each component has leading and trailing spaces removed. Because of this processing, a leading comma, a trailing comma, or two commas in a row will result in empty values and thus the error message.

I have considered just ignoring empty values as that value is always included as the first element. Perhaps I will make this change.

[dmcd]

Ahh, I see some light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps I had a leading comma there as a remnant when I changed my order of tags. I did try it with and without the trailing commas. I knew the metadata input fields forgave trailing commas and did have the thought that maybe this custom fields option did not - hence trying both.

It would be nice if it did ignore empty values thanks Charles. Then People wouldn't waste hours wrestling with an error they do not understand because it is "Programmers Speak". You do realise that there is quite a bit of this confusing teminology throughout the options, that makes perfect sense to programmers but is a foreign language to the rest of humanity? We need a bit of hand holding.

Thanks everyone for your help. Will try again tomorrow. Too late here tonight for me to avoid putting a brick through the monitor if things do not go to plan.



Dale

[speakingtohe]

If it is not apparent where the problem is I would start over or create a new column and add one item at a time. Will maybe show you where the problem lies.

I think calibre follows spreadsheet conventions for fixed value lists. Speaking as a once upon a time programmer, you have to follow the rules pretty carefully in this type of situation. Commas have a specific meaning and addition or omission can lead to unexpected behavior.

I usually preface my fixed value list items with a number so I can easily enter them from the GUI with one keystroke.

Helen

[dmcd]

Thanks for the tips Helen.

Dale