[GUI Plugin] Kobo Utilities

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Skydog

Nothing has changed with the information in my post#2348. I'm sorry, but I do not understand if I should edit the template or the lookup and with what? Would you be so kind to provide the required correction? That would be most helpful for me to understand. I very much appreciate your help, not to mention your patience.

The template is working code in my calibre library. It uses the lookup names columns that are in the library. For it to work for you, you need to use your lookup column names.

The template uses two columns. One is the column for the percentage read. Mine is "kobo_percent_read". The other column is the last read date. For me, this is "kobo_last_read". You need to change the template to use your lookup names instead of mine.

[Phil_C]

@davidfor

Have you had a chance to look at the log file back in post #2340?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=2340

Thanks!

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The template is working code in my calibre library. It uses the lookup names columns that are in the library. For it to work for you, you need to use your lookup column names.

The template uses two columns. One is the column for the percentage read. Mine is "kobo_percent_read". The other column is the last read date. For me, this is "kobo_last_read". You need to change the template to use your lookup names instead of mine.

This cleared up my confusion. Many, many thanks for your assistance!

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Phil_C

@davidfor

Have you had a chance to look at the log file back in post #2340?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=2340

Sorry, I keep not having time to look at it. But, I have now.

I can reproduce what you are seeing. When I open a new book and go back to the book list, it shows as "1% Read". But, when I look at the database, it has zero in the percent read column. It looks like opening a books sets the percent read to zero in the database, but, the minimum displayed is 1%. It isn't something I would normally notice. I rarely open a book and leave it on the first page when connecting to calibre.

I'm sure this did show 0% on the device in the past.This must have changed at some point, but, I don't remember when it changed. As I said, it isn't something I would usually see. But, it looks like it is here to stay.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by davidfor

I'm sure this did show 0% on the device in the past.This must have changed at some point, but, I don't remember when it changed. As I said, it isn't something I would usually see. But, it looks like it is here to stay.

Been happenin for a few releases. I accidentally open (big hands and poor no depth perception). Only the cover was shown
I have to go back and flag it Not Read

[Phil_C]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Sorry, I keep not having time to look at it. But, I have now.

I can reproduce what you are seeing. When I open a new book and go back to the book list, it shows as "1% Read". But, when I look at the database, it has zero in the percent read column. It looks like opening a books sets the percent read to zero in the database, but, the minimum displayed is 1%. It isn't something I would normally notice. I rarely open a book and leave it on the first page when connecting to calibre.

I'm sure this did show 0% on the device in the past.This must have changed at some point, but, I don't remember when it changed. As I said, it isn't something I would usually see. But, it looks like it is here to stay.

It was showing 1% for quite a while both on the device and when connecting to calibre. Then it showed "Reading" and 0%. Now it's 1% and 0%. Very strange.

Meanwhile, in each of those scenarios, the book would always show 1% on the Home screen.

I guess I have to watch for these books when connecting, make sure to manually adjust the % in calibre, and use the plugin to restore to the Kobo. That way the book remains at 1% everywhere until I'm ready to read it.

Thanks for looking.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Phil_C

It was showing 1% for quite a while both on the device and when connecting to calibre. Then it showed "Reading" and 0%. Now it's 1% and 0%. Very strange.

Meanwhile, in each of those scenarios, the book would always show 1% on the Home screen.

That's what I seem to remember, but, I don't remember when it changed. It might have been a couple of years ago when the changes in how the ToC and the headers and footers went in. If I try an older firmware on one of my devices, I'll try and remember to check.

I guess I have to watch for these books when connecting, make sure to manually adjust the % in calibre, and use the plugin to restore to the Kobo. That way the book remains at 1% everywhere until I'm ready to read it.

I don't see the point. Just let them sync and leave it at that. But, I also can't work out why you are doing this. I think you mentioned that you are using it as some sort of to-be-read list. Personally, I can't think of anything worse to do. This would mean that when I filter the books to show books that I am reading, it would probably have more books on it that I am not than am reading. That doesn't sound like it helps me find a book. Why not create a TBR collection and put the books in it? That way you can easily see the books you are thinking of reading soon, and are can see the books you actually are reading without any confusion. What is happening here seems to demonstrate there is a problem with your method.

[Phil_C]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Why not create a TBR collection and put the books in it? That way you can easily see the books you are thinking of reading soon, and are can see the books you actually are reading without any confusion. What is happening here seems to demonstrate there is a problem with your method.

My system worked well for a long time. A list of TBR books on the Clara under My Books > Recent. The same books in calibre at 1% and color coded. When a book was finished, it disappeared from the Kobo list and showed 100% in calibre in a different color. Automatic.

As to your suggestion, can calibre and the reader have a book in multiple collections? Without extra columns? (I read a lot of series books.) And if so, it seems I would have to manually remove it from the TBR collection once finished.

I have to think about this. There must be several ways to approach it. (But I'm old and grumpy and change is hard! )

[compurandom]

Originally Posted by Phil_C

can calibre and the reader have a book in multiple collections?

Yes. That's why they are collections rather than folders.

Most of my books are in more than one collection.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Phil_C

My system worked well for a long time. A list of TBR books on the Clara under My Books > Recent. The same books in calibre at 1% and color coded. When a book was finished, it disappeared from the Kobo list and showed 100% in calibre in a different color. Automatic.

As to your suggestion, can calibre and the reader have a book in multiple collections? Without extra columns? (I read a lot of series books.) And if so, it seems I would have to manually remove it from the TBR collection once finished.

I have to think about this. There must be several ways to approach it. (But I'm old and grumpy and change is hard! )

As @compurandom said, books can be in multiple collections. I think that is why Kobo changed from their original use of "Shelf", which does imply a single shelf for each book, to "Collection". And calibre can create collections on the device based on nearly any column in calibre (I'd recommend not using the title). Whether there is an existing column that suites depends on what you want to do. Personally, I use a "Status" column that is populated with the status such as "ToRead", "Reading" and "Finished". I went into a little bit of detail in this recently in https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...18#post4171818. Alternatively, using a template such as the one discussed above with @Skydog would work.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by davidfor

And calibre can create collections on the device based on nearly any column in calibre (I'd recommend not using the title).

That sounds horrifying. I almost want to try it.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by Phil_C

My system worked well for a long time. A list of TBR books on the Clara under My Books > Recent. The same books in calibre at 1% and color coded. When a book was finished, it disappeared from the Kobo list and showed 100% in calibre in a different color. Automatic.

As to your suggestion, can calibre and the reader have a book in multiple collections? Without extra columns? (I read a lot of series books.) And if so, it seems I would have to manually remove it from the TBR collection once finished.

I have to think about this. There must be several ways to approach it. (But I'm old and grumpy and change is hard! )

You're not alone. I was using a similar system to keep books on the home page as a kind of TBR. It's darned annoying to have to edit the 0% for each book, upon connecting, particularly for more than one device.

[Phil_C]

Originally Posted by davidfor

As @compurandom said, books can be in multiple collections. I think that is why Kobo changed from their original use of "Shelf", which does imply a single shelf for each book, to "Collection". And calibre can create collections on the device based on nearly any column in calibre (I'd recommend not using the title). Whether there is an existing column that suites depends on what you want to do. Personally, I use a "Status" column that is populated with the status such as "ToRead", "Reading" and "Finished". I went into a little bit of detail in this recently in https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...18#post4171818. Alternatively, using a template such as the one discussed above with @Skydog would work.

Thanks. Very interesting. I also found an old 2015 thread that deals with some of this.

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

That sounds horrifying. I almost want to try it.

Well put! Have to be in the right mood to fiddle with these ideas. Maybe after a couple of feet of snow and nowhere to go?

Originally Posted by Skydog

You're not alone. I was using a similar system to keep books on the home page as a kind of TBR. It's darned annoying to have to edit the 0% for each book, upon connecting, particularly for more than one device.

Yup. But after I fix up one device, I use the plugin to zap the second device. Of course, that takes time to connect each, etc. Anyway, it's somehow oddly comforting to know I'm not the Lone Ranger.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by Phil_C

Yup. But after I fix up one device, I use the plugin to zap the second device. Of course, that takes time to connect each, etc. Anyway, it's somehow oddly comforting to know I'm not the Lone Ranger.

It's amazing how spoiled I've become thanks to Calibre (and davidfor's plugin). I confess to being lazy and connect three devices in one sitting, making just one edit to Calibre before exiting.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

That sounds horrifying. I almost want to try it.

I did that once when I trying to overload collections on an Aura HD. Collections based on title and collections based on author gave me enough collections to slow my Aura HD to a crawl.