Can I create my own ID format?

[BetterRed]

@Iouanalao - Why does it have to be in the ID's column. What's wrong with having it in the Comments column, or a custom long text column.

I have "evernote:blah blah" links in some Author Link fields. And in a long text custom column for books (#notes/Notes), I have both "evernote:blah blah" and "onenote:blah blah blah" links.

I tried using the ID column for EN and ON links but I found it too fiddlesome, and I couldn't work out how to 'label' the links, what I saw was the link, which for EN looks something like -- evernote:///view/12032092/s105/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000/9a96e1c8-de9c-44bf-9841-b60e9ee40830-2821/ -- ON links are somewhat similar but longer even.

When I click on an author name in the Book Details sidebar then, if the Author Link field has an evernote: link then the relevant note is opened in Evernote. When I click on an Evernote or OneNote link in the Notes area of the Book Details sidebar, then the relevant note is opened in the relevant program.

I have the Notes column for other reasons. Getting the links from evernote and onenote and pasting them into a long text column is trivial. And what I see is the name of the note (the link itself is automagically encapsulated in the html <a href ...> tag), which I can edit and decorate if I'm minded. I could also have links to multiple EN and ON notes for the one book. And I suspect I could also have links with other protocols like mailto: and ftp: although I've not tried them.

I also use file: links in my Notes column. Sometimes a 'document' is republished under different title by a different publisher. In that case I put a file link to the 'original' book folder in the republished title's Notes column. If they existed, I would paste a calibre: link.

I also prefer to use the same mechanism for linking to external applications for Authors and Books.

IMO by trying to shoehorn your logores links into the ID's column you're painting yourself into a corner.

BR

[Iouanalao]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@Iouanalao - Why does it have to be in the ID's column. What's wrong with having it in the Comments column, or a custom long text column.
BR

I would prefer to leave the Comments column for the description of the book only but if I cannot get the links to work the way I want in the Ids field then I'll have to resort to using that space. Inserting the link in the Comments section does work exactly the way I want.

I tried a long text column but anything I put in there merely merges into the current Comments column. I tried a regular text column but, after inserting and clicking the link, it only serves as filter to show other books with that same link, which is, of course, only that one book.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Iouanalao

theducks and kovidgoyal, thank you both for the help. It's working now but not quite the way I want it to. This is probably due to the way the resource links are constructed? I have no idea; all this is above my head. The only way I can get the link clickable from the tag browser is if I insert it this way: url1:http://ref.ly/logosres/FOBC73TH (I picked up this idea from this thread on the Logos forum.)

While this works, it goes through the browser before being redirected to launch the resource; it involves using the internet and it adds a small delay to the process. That is OK overall but I would prefer a more direct approach. Any ideas? I'll also post on the Logos forum to see if anyone there can suggest ideas for constructing the link in a way that directly launches the program.

Once again, thanks for the help

This is what it looks like from the tag browser


The regular resource link (first one) is clickable from the Comments section

So, the application has installed a protocol handler. In that case, to avoid using the URL, the only thing you can do at the moment is use my plugin. Calibre as it stands only recognises http, https and and file as protocols as part of a URL identifier. Extending that to other common protocols such as mailto and ftp might be practical, but handling any local protocol is probably not a good idea.

The plugin I posted should handle this. Install it, restart calibre and configure it. Add an entry with:

Identifier: logosres
Display Name: Logos Bible
URL: logosres:%s

You can use whatever you want for the indentifier and display names.

Then, for each of these books enter, "logosres:xxxxxxxx" replacing the x's with the id. For the example you have posted, enter "logosres:FOBC73TH" (without the quotes). The book details should then display "Logos Bible" as a link and clicking on it should display the info you want without opening the browser.

I can't guarantee this will work as I don't have tat software installed. But, I have done some experiments with other protocols and they work.

[Iouanalao]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The plugin I posted should handle this. Install it, restart calibre and configure it. Add an entry with:

Identifier: logosres
Display Name: Logos Bible
URL: logosres:%s

You can use whatever you want for the indentifier and display names.

<SNIPPED>

I can't guarantee this will work as I don't have tat software installed. But, I have done some experiments with other protocols and they work.

Two things:
#1. I apologize for not reading your earlier post more thoroughly. I saw something about fanfiction and, I'm sorry to say, I moved on

#2. You are a genius - it works! And exactly the way I envisioned it

Thank you so very much - I'm very happy about this

I simply insert my links


And it shows up, all ready to be clicked and launch the program to the right resource


(I used Logos as the Display Name, instead of Logos Bible)

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Iouanalao

I would prefer to leave the Comments column for the description of the book only but if I cannot get the links to work the way I want in the Ids field then I'll have to resort to using that space. Inserting the link in the Comments section does work exactly the way I want.

I tried a long text column but anything I put in there merely merges into the current Comments column. I tried a regular text column but, after inserting and clicking the link, it only serves as filter to show other books with that same link, which is, of course, only that one book.

@Iouanalao - I solve the problem of my Notes "flowing into" Comments by pasting a snippet containing a 'header' and 'footer' from my global snippets library into new Notes, I write and paste between the 'header' the 'footer' viz:



Here's the snippet

<div><div>   <div><b>Notes</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div><u><b>===========================================================</b></u></div></div><div>    </div><div>    </div></div>

I use Bulk Metadata edit Search and Replace to prepend the "Comments" on the Comments column, if its not already there -- or if its only a couple of books I just type it in

BR

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Iouanalao

Two things:
#1. I apologize for not reading your earlier post more thoroughly. I saw something about fanfiction and, I'm sorry to say, I moved on

#2. You are a genius - it works! And exactly the way I envisioned it

Thank you so very much - I'm very happy about this

(I used Logos as the Display Name, instead of Logos Bible)

Good, I'm glad it worked like I thought it would. This was not something I thought of when creating the plugin, but it's a good use. Sometime in the future I'll probably look at doing it the way Kovid suggested, but I have a couple of things to do before I can.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Good, I'm glad it worked like I thought it would. This was not something I thought of when creating the plugin, but it's a good use. Sometime in the future I'll probably look at doing it the way Kovid suggested, but I have a couple of things to do before I can.

David I think I can put this to good use, not for the above use case, but to link to the source of the documents I call 'books'.

Rather than Generic Identifiers, how about Custom Sources.

My only complaint is that I have to enter the specific identifiers from the metadata edit screen, which I don't normally use. Ideally I'd like an F2 popup on the booklist like those for custom long text and tags - perhaps limited to Custom Sources.

BR

[Iouanalao]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@Iouanalao - I solve the problem of my Notes "flowing into" Comments by pasting a snippet containing a 'header' and 'footer' from my global snippets library into new Notes, I write and paste between the 'header' the 'footer' viz:

Thanks for the tip; I'll save it for future reference.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Rather than Generic Identifiers, how about Custom Sources.

I like that name

Originally Posted by BetterRed

My only complaint is that I have to enter the specific identifiers from the metadata edit screen, which I don't normally use. Ideally I'd like an F2 popup on the booklist like those for custom long text and tags - perhaps limited to Custom Sources.

I never use an F2 popup (I didn't know there was such a thing) so ideally this would be optional because Edit Metadata is the primary screen I use to manage my library.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Iouanalao

I never use an F2 popup (I didn't know there was such a thing) so ideally this would be optional because Edit Metadata is the primary screen I use to manage my library.

@Iouanalao - if you hit Shift+F2 in a Tags cell you should get an Easter Egg popup The only other popups that comes to mind is F2 on a custom long text column - and the calendar popup on dates if you click the down arrow after clicking F2 (or what ever you to to edit a cell).

I do almost all of my metadata editing on the booklist, the exceptions are Comments and Cover related functions - neither of which I use much anyway. I use Bulk Metadata edit quite often, especially its S&R section.

Glad you like "Custom Sources" - I too skipped over David's post when I saw 'fan-fiction'

BR

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

David I think I can put this to good use, not for the above use case, but to link to the source of the documents I call 'books'.

Yes, your use for calibre does make something like this sensible.

Rather than Generic Identifiers, how about Custom Sources.

Maybe "Custom Identifiers"?

My only complaint is that I have to enter the specific identifiers from the metadata edit screen, which I don't normally use. Ideally I'd like an F2 popup on the booklist like those for custom long text and tags - perhaps limited to Custom Sources.

I've never noticed before but there is no column for identifiers. Or, at least I can't see it. That makes and F2 edit hard. But, there is a dialog to edit the identifiers from the metadata editor. There isn't a shortcut to open that directly, but maybe it can be added.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Yes, your use for calibre does make something like this sensible.

Maybe "Custom Identifiers"?


I've never noticed before but there is no column for identifiers. Or, at least I can't see it. That makes and F2 edit hard. But, there is a dialog to edit the identifiers from the metadata editor. There isn't a shortcut to open that directly, but maybe it can be added.

I still think Custom Sources is better - but not going to die in a ditch over it. However, I'll say why I prefer it;

• There are 3 database columns with similar names - 'IDs', 'id', and 'uuid' - I often get confused between 'IDs' and 'id'.
  
  
  
• Amazon is not the identifier, its the source, the ASIN is the Identifier - as in Amazon Standard Identification Number.

If by 'a dialog to edit the identifiers' you mean this :



That's for isbn - you'd have to introduce something to select what you call an Identifier and what I call a Source - here's what I have configured



To enter a value I need to remember the identifier, then type it e.g. 'lowypub:', 'ipapub:' etc, and then typically paste in rest of the URL - eg 'islamic-state-propaganda-and-mainstream-media' or '2471/lessons-from-private-cities'

Ideally I would like a list containing "Lowy Institute", "Inst Public Affairs" etc with a column to enter the %s value(s).

In metadata edit I suggest an additional button between the clipboard isbn icon and the text box; similar to the one on Tags that pops the Tag Editor, except it would pop the Custom <whatever> Editor.

Making that editor available with Shift+F2 as chaley did for the Tag Editor wont be 'easy' because there's no Custom <whatever> column. Maybe it could be wrapped in something that could be selected from a toolbar and be assigned a keyboard short cut.

Oh - when customising the Generic Identifiers I was able to Escape out of the dialogue without Saving, even though I added 2 and deleted 1 row. Is an "are you sure" message possible.

BR

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I still think Custom Sources is better - but not going to die in a ditch over it. However, I'll say why I prefer it;

• There are 3 database columns with similar names - 'IDs', 'id', and 'uuid' - I often get confused between 'IDs' and 'id'.
  
  Attachment 147447
  

• The identifiers are displayed in the details, but they would need to be displayed in a column in the list for the F2 to work.
  

  Amazon is not the identifier, its the source, the ASIN is the Identifier - as in Amazon Standard Identification Number.

Amazon is the source for the metadata, but in this case, we do not have a source for the metadata. Maybe it is source for the book. And I think that using source here is suggesting to much.

If by 'a dialog to edit the identifiers' you mean this :

Attachment 147449

You're close, but no cigar If you right-click in the identifiers field, the top item is a "Edit identifiers in a dedicated field".

That's for isbn - you'd have to introduce something to select what you call an Identifier and what I call a Source - here's what I have configured

Attachment 147450

To enter a value I need to remember the identifier, then type it e.g. 'lowypub:', 'ipapub:' etc, and then typically paste in rest of the URL - eg 'islamic-state-propaganda-and-mainstream-media' or '2471/lessons-from-private-cities'

Ideally I would like a list containing "Lowy Institute", "Inst Public Affairs" etc with a column to enter the %s value(s).

In metadata edit I suggest an additional button between the clipboard isbn icon and the text box; similar to the one on Tags that pops the Tag Editor, except it would pop the Custom <whatever> Editor.

Making that editor available with Shift+F2 as chaley did for the Tag Editor wont be 'easy' because there's no Custom <whatever> column. Maybe it could be wrapped in something that could be selected from a toolbar and be assigned a keyboard short cut.

The dialog I mentioned is a simple text edit. The identifiers are presented one per line which is easier than the single line in the metadata editor. But, to the best of my knowledge, there is no way to get a list of defined identifier. Getting the list of identifiers used in the library is possible, but if you haven't use one, there is no way to get it.

It would also be possible parse URL and extract the id. But, that would need support added to each metadata source plugin.

Oh - when customising the Generic Identifiers I was able to Escape out of the dialogue without Saving, even though I added 2 and deleted 1 row. Is an "are you sure" message possible.

Yes, it doesn't have any of these "advanced" functions.

[BetterRed]

I think I'll stick to what I'm doing - put the source (eg Lowy Institute) into Publisher and the link in a note, within calibre if that's all there is, within Evernote if there's more - such as subsequent commentaries and critiques.

[Iouanalao]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@Iouanalao - if you hit Shift+F2 in a Tags cell you should get an Easter Egg popup The only other popups that comes to mind is F2 on a custom long text column - and the calendar popup on dates if you click the down arrow after clicking F2 (or what ever you to to edit a cell).

Looks nice. I'll try it with my next batch of edits.

On a happy note, I finished adding the IDs for all my 3000+ Logos resources (not as difficult as it sounds as I had the links in an Excel file and only had to copy and paste). Thanks again to davidfor for the very helpful plugin

[kovidgoyal]

@davidfor: I implemented this in Preferences->Look & Feel->Book details as I needed a break from working ont he new content server. Feel free to give it a whirl.