Plugin ideas... add yours here

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by capink

It does not make sense for plugins to create custom column(s), since you need to restart to be able to use the new custom column(s).

You can easily trigger the restart, and, from memory, the Annotations plugin does. But, I think for me it has been a little bit of laziness as the custom columns only need to be made once, and it would add extra code to write and maintain. I'll probably do it some day when I get a bit bored, as I'm actually a bit tired of how many people don't actually read the instructions/help and don't understand the need to create the columns, can't find it or mess it up. Though maybe the starting point is to add something to calibre for the plugin to call. Passing in suggested names and the data type would help to get them created properly.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Though maybe the starting point is to add something to calibre for the plugin to call. Passing in suggested names and the data type would help to get them created properly.

db.new_api.backend.create_custom_column()

The method is in db.backend.py, line 998 in current source. Reading the code, it throws an SQL exception if the lookup key is not unique. It throws VALUE_ERROR for some error conditions such as an invalid type or key. It modifies the custom column description table so that the column will appear next time calibre restarts.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by chaley

db.new_api.backend.create_custom_column()

The method is in db.backend.py, line 998 in current source. Reading the code, it throws an SQL exception if the lookup key is not unique. It throws VALUE_ERROR for some error conditions such as an invalid type or key. It modifies the custom column description table so that the column will appear next time calibre restarts.

I think I have used that at some time. But, I was more thinking of a dialog to prompt for the names to use. But, I might look at the current dialog, with suggestions passed in and disable the type related fields so that that is done correctly. While I like the idea of a simplified prompt that only asks for the name, I also like presenting the full details for people to see, but, making sure the column is created correctly.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by davidfor

I think I have used that at some time. But, I was more thinking of a dialog to prompt for the names to use. But, I might look at the current dialog, with suggestions passed in and disable the type related fields so that that is done correctly. While I like the idea of a simplified prompt that only asks for the name, I also like presenting the full details for people to see, but, making sure the column is created correctly.

If you decide to do this I am up for making necessary changes to the base create column dialog such as adding the ability to disable some of the field boxes, especially type. It seems that the dialog can already use a "prototype" definition simply by adding the prototype to the existing list of columns (parent.custcols) then passing that key. The dialog could do with some refactoring so changes that help your effort aren't a problem.

[Rellwood]

If there was a way of syncing with Amazon content and devices, maybe the Amazon Kindle Collections, it would be great. I know there is the Kindle Collections plugin, but it doesn't work if you don't have a jailbroken kindle. Since Amazon changed the way they display content and devices there isn't an easy way to see what is in the collections, or even what is in a library since they only show 25 books at a time, and the list isn't easy to copy to word/excel to format into an importable list.

The goal of the plugin would be to at the minimum sync books/docs in Amazon with Calibre one-way. Just a confirmation that said book or doc is in Amazon. Syncing can be done by id or by title/author. Also, purchase or add date should be listed - if it is listed as read that would be good. Amazon also lists the collections the book is in as well. Basically, whatever information that is shown in Content & Devices should be able to be synced with Calibre.

If there was a way of doing it with Kindle Collections, you guys would have figured it out already, but I would absolutly love to be able to sync what is in Kindle Collections with my library to see which books are in which collection.