How to search for only the first occurence in a series?

[Hukuro]

Hello everyone. Thank you for this wonderful program, I want to make a nice digital library with it. I need just one more thing to fully customize my "shelf". I want the program to display only the first available book in any series.

So far I've been using the search query:

not series_index:>1

But it's not ideal because I don't own volume 1 for some series. For example I own only volume 4 of a series of 5.

Can somebody more experienced or intelligent give me the code I need?

Happy reading everyone.

[allanahk]

Hi there, I have a custom column which essentially does what you're asking - it's True if the book is either standalone or first in series (even if the series index doesn't begin at 1) and False otherwise. I find it useful to have this info in a column (called #first_in_series) so I can search very easily (either #first_in_series:=True or False). Here are the steps:

1. Preferences - Advanced - Tweaks - set "allow_template_database_functions_in_composit es = True"

2. Add column - column built from other columns (see attached pic)

3. Copy this code into the column template:

program: 
# Returns True if it is the first book in a series (or a standalone book with no series), including cases where the series index does not begin at 1. 
# Returns False otherwise

first_in_series = 'True';

if field('series') then 
	this_series = field('series');
	this_series_index = field('series_index');
	books_in_series = book_values('title', 'series:="' & this_series & '"', ',', 0);
	
	lowest_series_num = 999;
	for title in books_in_series:
		title_index = book_values('series_index', 'title:="' & title & '"', ',', 0);
		if title_index < lowest_series_num then
				lowest_series_num = title_index
		fi
	rof;	
	
	if lowest_series_num !=# this_series_index then
		first_in_series = 'False'
	fi
fi;

output = first_in_series

[chaley]

Originally Posted by allanahk

Hi there, I have a custom column which essentially does what you're asking - it's True if the book is either standalone or first in series (even if the series index doesn't begin at 1) and False otherwise.

FWIW I think this would be better as a template search. That way you pay the performance penalty only when you want instead of every time the book list is displayed. See "Search using templates" in the Search Interface section calibre manual.

[allanahk]

Originally Posted by chaley

FWIW I think this would be better as a template search. That way you pay the performance penalty only when you want instead of every time the book list is displayed. See "Search using templates" in the Search Interface section calibre manual.

I thought the same, and I agree it's probably the better way to do it. My library isn't enormous so I haven't noticed any performance slowdowns, but for a larger library it might be an issue and in that case I'd also recommend using a template search instead.

I just really like custom columns

[Hukuro]

Originally Posted by allanahk

1. Preferences - Advanced - Tweaks - set "allow_template_database_functions_in_composit es = True"

I studied the Tweaks file and the above option is not there. I'm afraid it's only available in the later versions, mine is 5.44. Sadly, I can't update the program further from Windows 8.1

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Hukuro

I studied the Tweaks file and the above option is not there. I'm afraid it's only available in the later versions, mine is 5.44. Sadly, I can't update the program further from Windows 8.1

Then the template can't work. The book_values() function was added in version 6.something.

You might be able to do it with the action chains plugin, doing a search similar to what is in this thread then setting a tag or a yes/no column for the books it finds. Ask in its thread in the plugins forum. I don't know if the plugin still supports calibre 5.44.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Hukuro

I studied the Tweaks file and the above option is not there. I'm afraid it's only available in the later versions, mine is 5.44. Sadly, I can't update the program further from Windows 8.1

Anyone stuck on 32 bit Linux (e.g. Mint 19.3 32bit is still supported) or 32 bit Win10 due to CPU type is also limited to Calibre 5.44. Still it's better than XP or Win7.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Hukuro

I studied the Tweaks file and the above option is not there. I'm afraid it's only available in the later versions, mine is 5.44. Sadly, I can't update the program further from Windows 8.1

Is there any reason you cannot upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit? The upgrade is still free.

This articel will tell you what you need to know.
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/h...ade-windows-10

[ownedbycats]

oh for god's sake

[jmurphy]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

oh for god's sake

Hold my beer.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is there any reason you cannot upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit? The upgrade is still free.

Why haven't you upgraded to Win11 22H2 yet? It's freeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jmurphy

Hold my beer.

Why haven't you upgraded to Win11 22H2 yet? It's freeeeeeeeeeeeee!

My laptop does run Windows 11. My Surface Pro 2 does not.

[Hukuro]

Originally Posted by chaley

You might be able to do it with the action chains plugin, doing a search similar to what is in this thread then setting a tag or a yes/no column for the books it finds. Ask in its thread in the plugins forum. I don't know if the plugin still supports calibre 5.44.

Thanks. The plugin runs on my version. I asked for help in the thread you mentioned

I also found a simple workaround for the time being. I mark books manually, with a custom value.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is there any reason you cannot upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit? The upgrade is still free.

Long story

Spoiler:

As tempting as that update may be, and considering how many services drop support for Windows 8.1, sometimes leaving broken apps behind (iTunes…), I have a bad history with Windows 10. I had it for a while in the past because it installed itself on my machine after I left the room for a couple of minutes. As it quickly turned out, that new Windows ran many forced and troublesome processes, half of them in the background and without my knowledge, for example downloading things. Just thinking about it takes me back to the times of the forever-in-my-heart internet connection of 60 kb/s download. I couldn't even load Google page, let alone download studying materials, because Windows 10 was always downloading something in the background, and obviously couldn't finish it with such a poor download speed. After a few years my laptop broke and I had to reset it to the factory settings, which took me back to Windows 8.1, with which I have stayed to this day. The forced update and intrusive policy of Windows 10 left a lasting bad taste.

If anyone made it to this point, thank you for reading through this tragic event of my life

[Hukuro]

The solution for Calibre 5.44 – Action Chains Plugin
The solution for later versions – above in this thread, by courtesy of allanahk.

Thanks for help, everyone

[DaltonST]

Originally Posted by Hukuro

Hello everyone. Thank you for this wonderful program, I want to make a nice digital library with it. I need just one more thing to fully customize my "shelf". I want the program to display only the first available book in any series.

As an addendum to your desired function, you might be interested in this 5 year-old post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...87&postcount=8 from the Multi-Column Search (MCS) plugin using its "SQL Query" Tab. Note that post's attached images that show exactly how that specific query works.



DaltonST

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Hukuro

Long story

Spoiler:

As tempting as that update may be, and considering how many services drop support for Windows 8.1, sometimes leaving broken apps behind (iTunes…), I have a bad history with Windows 10. I had it for a while in the past because it installed itself on my machine after I left the room for a couple of minutes. As it quickly turned out, that new Windows ran many forced and troublesome processes, half of them in the background and without my knowledge, for example downloading things. Just thinking about it takes me back to the times of the forever-in-my-heart internet connection of 60 kb/s download. I couldn't even load Google page, let alone download studying materials, because Windows 10 was always downloading something in the background, and obviously couldn't finish it with such a poor download speed. After a few years my laptop broke and I had to reset it to the factory settings, which took me back to Windows 8.1, with which I have stayed to this day. The forced update and intrusive policy of Windows 10 left a lasting bad taste.

If anyone made it to this point, thank you for reading through this tragic event of my life

• https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windo...rosoft-account
  
• https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/...ue/m-p/3643372
  
• https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/new...intel-systems/
  
• https://www.thurrott.com/windows/274...1-version-22h2

IMO, seven was the last acceptable Windows OS </rant>