Alphabetize tags on individual records

[laszlopanaflex]

Hi! I'm wondering if it is possible to alphabetize the list of comma-separated tags on each record in Calibre (not the tag browser, but the tags applied to a book). Currently, it looks like Calibre keeps the tags in the order in which they were entered.

I am admittedly a serial folksonomist and apply lots of tags to my books, so as to help others filter down my collection. I'm hoping there's a tweak or script that can re-order the tags alphabetically in ascending order, for example:

from:

BOOK1 tags: c, d, a, b, e
BOOK2 tags: w, z, y, x
BOOK3 tags: 4, 1, 2, 5, 6, 3

to

BOOK1 tags: a, b, c, d, e
BOOK2 tags: w, x, y, z
BOOK3 tags: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Hopefully it is actually possible to accomplish this, but I'm not a very savvy/sophisticated user so I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance!

[BetterRed]

There a list_sort function in the template language.

However, in the GUI the Tags are shown in sorted order in the book list, book details and edit metadata - where are you seeing them in the order they are stored?

BR

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

However, in the GUI the Tags are shown in sorted order in the book list, book details and edit metadata - where are you seeing them in the order they are stored?

The metadata editor shows them in the stored order.

@laszlopanaflex: If you open the tag editor from metadata editor (the button to the left of the tags field, that will sort the tags. That can be saved.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The metadata editor shows them in the stored order.

So it does, if you enter them there.

If you enter them in the book list, they get shown as sorted immediately. I normally use the Tag Editor from the book list with shift+F2. Another good reason to edit the metadata in the booklist.

BR

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

So it does, if you enter them there.

If you enter them in the book list, they get shown as sorted immediately. I normally use the Tag Editor from the book list with shift+F2. Another good reason to edit the metadata in the booklist.

Nope, a reason to avoid editing in the booklist. I'm the opposite and want the tags in the order I enter them. This is one of the reasons I always run from source.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Nope, a reason to avoid editing in the booklist. I'm the opposite and want the tags in the order I enter them. This is one of the reasons I always run from source.

Lol, same. I enter tags by order of importance/relevance. Thankfully, bulk s&r keeps the order.

[laszlopanaflex]

Fantastic - thank you! I've been editing the tags in the Metadata Editor directly into the "tags" field and have been getting lost with my haphazardly-applied tags. This helps very much.