"On Device" Column

[ElMiko]

When I plug in my Kindle, Calibre is clever enough to automatically add a column that tells me which items in my library are currently on my device. But as soon as I unplug the device, the column disappears. I'm guessing this is because Kovid et al designed it that way under the assumption that once the device is unplugged, the user can add and delete books via the device itself, thus rendering the "On Device" column obsolete. However, I don't add or delete books from my device manually --- just through Calibre. So, whatever Calibre says is on my device before I unplug it is exactly what'll be on my device the next time I plug it in. Because I find book browsing on ereaders agonizingly inefficient, I would really prefer to use the Calibre interface to browse those items, read descriptions, and pick which book (of those already on my Kindle) I'm going to read next, without having to be constantly plugging and unplugging my Kindle into/from my computer. So here's my question:

Is there anyway for me to keep that "On Device" column visible (including all of its data)? Or am I going to have to add a completely redundant user-defined column, "On Device [2]", that I check (and uncheck) manually?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by ElMiko

Is there anyway for me to keep that "On Device" column visible (including all of its data)?

No

Or am I going to have to add a completely redundant user-defined column, "On Device [2]", that I check (and uncheck) manually?

You can do it that way. Alternatively, you can do a two-step process that copies the ondevice value to a bool column.
- Select all books. Use bulk metadata edit to clear your bool column.
- Search ondevice:true. Select all books. Use bulk metadata edit to set your bool column.

The reading list plugin might also be of interest.

[ElMiko]

Originally Posted by chaley

No

You can do it that way. Alternatively, you can do a two-step process that copies the ondevice value to a bool column.
- Select all books. Use bulk metadata edit to clear your bool column.
- Search ondevice:true. Select all books. Use bulk metadata edit to set your bool column.

The reading list plugin might also be of interest.

Yeah, okay that's what I figured (and what I meant by checking and unchecking manually). Thank you for the thorough response, though. As you note, it's not such a terrible inconvenience doing the new column, but I just figured it would be a even lesser inconvenience if I didn't have to do it all!

I'll also be sure to look into the reading list plug-in.

Again, thanks for the comprehensive and prompt response!

EDIT:
Just wanted to add further thanks for directing me to the reading list plugin. It looks like it achieves exactly the kind of automation I was looking for!