Save Template, {series} etc Always Empty

[dbareis]

Hi,

What I'd like is to have a book that is not in a series named like the Calibre default: {author_sort}/{title}/{title} - {authors}

Ones in a series I'd like to preceed the title with "SeriesName #SeriesNumber - "

The "#" looks like it could be problematic, I'd looked at examples and know how most of it should work so tried: {author_sort}/{title}/{series}{series:|| #}{series_index:| - | - }{title} - {authors}

For example "Jack Reacher #3 - Tripwire - Lee Child.epub"

Anyway I've tried all sorts of variations and none worked so for debugging I finally simplified it to: {author_sort}/{title}/{series} {series_index} {title} - {authors}

Even the above fails, the series information is never expanded, thinking this could be a calibre bug I downloaded the latest version a few minutes ago and that also fails.

Am I missing something obvious? And in any case can someone please put me out of my misery and let me know what I should use to get what I want?

Thanks for any help,
Dennis

[gabby98]

This worked for me and did what I think you want:

{author_sort}/{title}/{series:|| #} {series_index:|| - }{title} - {authors}

This if you want the number with a leading 0:

{author_sort}/{title}/{series:|| #} {series_index:0>2s|| - }{title} - {authors}

[dbareis]

Originally Posted by gabby98

This if you want the number with a leading 0:

{author_sort}/{title}/{series:|| #} {series_index:0>2s|| - }{title} - {authors}

OK, tried that, still doesn't work. I'm on Windows 7 64 bit, perhaps a Calibre bug on that?

Any prerequisite plugs required etc?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by dbareis

OK, tried that, still doesn't work. I'm on Windows 7 64 bit, perhaps a Calibre bug on that?

Any prerequisite plugs required etc?

It also works for me, Win7/64. The template

{author_sort}/{title}/{series:|| #} {series_index:|| - }{title} - {authors}

gives the result shown in the screen capture.

No plugins are required for the template language.

The only way I can think of to get the behavior you describe is for the series column to be empty, implying you are putting the series info somewhere else. I admit that this hypothesis is far fetched.

The easiest way to debug templates is to create a custom column "built from other columns", which is what my screen capture shows. Once you have done that, click on a cell in that column then press F2 to open the template editor. From there you can quickly experiment and get immediate feedback. If you do this then you could also post a screen capture like mine so we can see the source data going into the template.

[chaley]

Another thought. Are you sure you are changing the right template? If you are doing send-to-device then there are two templates, the default template set in preferences -> send-to-device and the device-specific template set in the device plugin. To get the latter, connect the device, right-click on the device icon that appears, and select "Configure this device".

[dbareis]

If I add a custom column as suggested then that column does display what I want, however that is still not what is saved to disk (when I use that template).

Thanks for the column/F2 tip, thats great :-)


I've been configuring: Preferences->Import/Export->Sending Books to Disk->[Save Template]

I am not actually using Calibre to send anything to my device. I thought I'd tested the save template option by hardcoding text there and seeing the saved filename containing that text, but now trying it again it may not be using that template at all...

OK, as a sanity test what I want is for Calibre to save the eBooks I add or modify with the filename/structure I specify in the template.

I tried debug mode but that doesn't do much debugging, anyway it thinks I'm on 32 bit OS, that is incorrect, probably not related but strange:

calibre Debug log
calibre 0.9.36 isfrozen: True is64bit: False
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1 Windows ('32bit', 'WindowsPE')
('Windows', '7', '6.1.7601')
Python 2.7.4
Windows: ('7', '6.1.7601', 'SP1', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Starting up...

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by dbareis

OK, as a sanity test what I want is for Calibre to save the eBooks I add or modify with the filename/structure I specify in the template.

If you are talking about altering the file/directory format within the calibre library itself, you can't do it. The calibre library structure is not user configurable.

[Sabardeyn]

dbareis,
If you are trying to customize calibre's internal file structure, then absolutely nothing will (or should!) work for you. Calibre's file structure cannot be altered, otherwise data will be lost.

Nor should you be using or manipulating these files outside of calibre. Calibre's copies of you ebooks are just like a jet plane's black box - data goes in, nothing touches the data inside. This is done intentionally, as otherwise other program(s) can alter the files and corrupt calibre's data.

I think everyone reading your first post above assumed you were exporting ebooks from calibre to another device - a smartphone, laptop, ereader, etc. Some other physically separate device/system. Not the computer on which calibre is installed.

[gabby98]

Originally Posted by Sabardeyn

dbareis,
....
I think everyone reading your first post above assumed you were exporting ebooks from calibre to another device - a smartphone, laptop, ereader, etc. Some other physically separate device/system. Not the computer on which calibre is installed.

I certainly did...

thanks

[dbareis]

Originally Posted by Sabardeyn

dbareis,
If you are trying to customize calibre's internal file structure, then absolutely nothing will (or should!) work for you.

I'm not trying to change the file structure, I'm simply trying to change the arbitary method chosen to name files with one that suits me better, from what I can see this would not impact Calibre at all to allow (since bracketed numbers on folders seem to be used to match up) but if it can't be done, it can't be done.

I will continue to name the books in Calibre to get the results I need to work around this limitation.

Thanks

[theducks]

Originally Posted by dbareis

I'm not trying to change the file structure, I'm simply trying to change the arbitary method chosen to name files with one that suits me better, from what I can see this would not impact Calibre at all to allow (since bracketed numbers on folders seem to be used to match up) but if it can't be done, it can't be done.

I will continue to name the books in Calibre to get the results I need to work around this limitation.

Thanks

There is nothing Arbitrary about the naming. There is a Plan and all the code written supports the Plan.

File structure does include the Naming of files an folders (including Case and Punctuation marking).

[Sabardeyn]

dbareis,
Calibre's source code requires: those files, in that location, specifically structured and named "as is".

The absolute only way you're going to successfully change the structure is to learn Python programming, fork calibre (and any extensions you might want to use), and produce a custom build of the program. But I would not expect too much assistance in any resulting difficulties.


BTW, I should mention that probably half of the new users in these forums go through a "change the file structure" phase. No one has succeeded yet. Because, other than mucking about in the files, there is no reason to have your preferred structure within calibre's library. You might want to see a specific structure when you export them. Or, when displaying them. But the actual file structure, name and location as used by the database? Nope.

Remember, calibre's library is meant to be a back-up that you don't directly touch. It is not meant to be your one and only copy of these ebook files.

Please take a look at the FAQ, particularly questions 2-4.

[miquele]

Remember, calibre's library is meant to be a back-up that you don't directly touch. It is not meant to be your one and only copy of these ebook files.

While I agree with everything said about the file structure being immutable for good reasons, I cannot agree with the last bit.

Calibre is *the* place for my eBooks, and I might take a back-up of my calibre library, but it itself is the primary location, and *not* a back-up at all.

[Sabardeyn]

Ok, I'll let you get away with that one.

For some users calibre is their main ebook repository, for others it is a back-up. Regardless, don't mess with calibre's copies of the files or face the possibility of permanent loss.
Besides, otherwise we might have to you.