Sort books by their last read time

[davidhcje]

Is it possible to sort books by the their last read time?

[kovidgoyal]

No, you can see recently read books on the home page and get the full list by clicking browse all downloaded books.

[theducks]

Is this question about the builtin Viewer (V) or when using the Browser w/content server ?
I think Kovid answered the latter.

In the Viewer: Open Book (on the menu: you might need to tap Esc to see it) gives you a list of previous (recently) viewed

[davidhcje]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

No, you can see recently read books on the home page and get the full list by clicking browse all downloaded books.

Hi, kovidgoyal, when saying "see recently read books on the home page", do you mean the main browser? Since I can't find the button "browse all downloaded books".

Originally Posted by theducks

Is this question about the builtin Viewer (V) or when using the Browser w/content server ?

To your question, theducks, I'm asking for the browser.

Originally Posted by theducks

In the Viewer: Open Book (on the menu: you might need to tap Esc to see it) gives you a list of previous (recently) viewed

And this is a good alternative.

[theducks]

The Browse all downloaded books button is ONLY visible on the Home screen when using the content server browser. (You don't download except to ADD to the Library. Viewing just USES the Library copy)

[davidhcje]

Thanks, but I don't quite understand your explanation, since I'm new to Calibre. Should I click on the connect/share > start content server? And what should I do afterwards?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by davidhcje

Thanks, but I don't quite understand your explanation, since I'm new to Calibre. Should I click on the connect/share > start content server? And what should I do afterwards?

I'm a bit confused about how you are using Calibre

The Content server is normally for Network access (WiFi or wired).
(If you have not started it, then it is NOT in use)
You could use your Browser to read, but most folk use the built in viewer or dedicated app.

The built in viewer has a 'recently read' on the file menu. THE LIBRARY has no record of the viewers usage.

[davidhcje]

Thanks for your explanation, theducks. Got it.

Originally Posted by theducks

The built in viewer has a 'recently read' on the file menu. THE LIBRARY has no record of the viewers usage.

Is it possible to let LIBRARY have a record of viewer usage? I guess just recording the last time stamp when a book is "double clicked" in the library could be used to sort books by last read time.

[BetterRed]

I have a vague memory of someone writing a plugin that recorded the date & time a book was last viewed in a custom column, I think it's in the Library Management sub-forum. The author wasn't inclined to make it official because of the maintenance burden.

However, perhaps the same thing could be done with the Action Chains plugin, see ==>> Index of plugins

BR

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I have a vague memory of someone writing a plugin that recorded the date & time a book was last viewed in a custom column, I think it's in the Library Management sub-forum. The author wasn't inclined to make it official because of the maintenance burden.

It's actually an option in Job Spy. However, I found it a bit annoying that it activated for every view action (clicking on a format in the details or Edit Metadata), so:

However, perhaps the same thing could be done with the Action Chains plugin, see ==>> Index of plugins

BR

I actually have it in Action Chains, bound to the V key and on a conditional for one book to prevent mass-opening accidents:

{
  "ActionsChainMenus": {
    "Menus": [
      {
        "active": true,
        "chain_settings": {
          "chain_links": [
            {
              "action_name": "Calibre Actions",
              "action_settings": {
                "disable_busy_cursor": false,
                "selection": [
                  {
                    "display": "View",
                    "path": [
                      "View",
                      "View"
                    ],
                    "paths_text": "View"
                  }
                ],
                "wait_jobs": false,
                "wait_progress": false
              },
              "comment": "Open book",
              "condition_settings": {
                "affect_validation": false,
                "cmp_type": "!=",
                "datatype": "text",
                "icon": "",
                "template": "{formats}",
                "tooltip": "",
                "value": "PAPERBOOK"
              }
            },
            {
              "action_name": "Single Field Edit",
              "action_settings": {
                "col_name": "#read",
                "template": "program:\n\n\tif and(check_yes_no('#read', '', '', 1),) then \t'No'\n\telse $#read\n\tfi",
                "value_type": "template"
              },
              "comment": "Set #read column (TEMPLATE)"
            },
            {
              "action_name": "Single Field Edit",
              "action_settings": {
                "col_name": "#percentread",
                "template": "program:\n\tif raw_field('#percentread', '1') ==# '0' then '1'\n\telse raw_field('#percentread')\n\tfi",
                "value_type": "template"
              },
              "comment": "Set #percentread to 1 (TEMPLATE)"
            },
            {
              "action_name": "Single Field Edit",
              "action_settings": {
                "col_name": "#lastread",
                "value": [
                  {
                    "__class__": "datetime.datetime",
                    "__value__": "2021-03-30T00:13:43.637933+00:00"
                  },
                  true
                ],
                "value_type": "predefined"
              },
              "comment": "Set #lastread to current time"
            },
            {
              "action_name": "Refresh View",
              "action_settings": {},
              "comment": "Refresh view"
            }
          ],
          "refresh_gui": true
        },
        "condition_settings": {
          "affect_menu": false,
          "cmp_type": "=",
          "datatype": "number",
          "icon": "",
          "template": "program: selection_count()",
          "tooltip": "",
          "value": 1.0
        },
        "image": "",
        "menuText": "View",
        "subMenu": "Invisible"
      }
    ]
  },
  "schemaVersion": 1.5
}

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I have a vague memory of someone writing a plugin that recorded the date & time a book was last viewed in a custom column, I think it's in the Library Management sub-forum. The author wasn't inclined to make it official because of the maintenance burden.

I remember there was a plugin that did it, but, I was thinking @DaltonST added it to Job Spy or one of his other plugins.