Different layouts for each library

[arpeggioaccele]

Is there a way to set a different layout for each calibre library? For example revealing the cover browser for library 1 and hiding it for library 2.

Additional info:

I've separated the files I manage using Calibre into three libraries— one for comics, one for books with covers and another for books without covers.

Usually I hide the tag browser, cover browser, cover grid however I thought it would be nice to use the cover grid for comics at least. But I can't seem to find a way to turn the cover grid on when I switch to that library.

I hope I am not missing an obvious solution. I tried searching for a solution and found the View Manager plugin which seems to manage everything but layouts.

Perhaps I am not supposed to treat different libraries like different profiles or maybe no one switches libraries that often to need such a feature, but Calibre can set a virtual library automatically when a certain library is opened.

[BetterRed]

To toggle list/grid view press Alt+Shift+G, see ==>> Keyboard shortcuts

Added: if that doesn't suit, you might be able to automate with the Action Chains plugin.

BR

[theducks]

You could avoid having cover nocover libraries simply making a VL for each

Has: cover:true
Not: cover:false

[theducks]

Can the View Manager PI open-close the Comments or Tag Browser when choice initially invoked (I don't use, the reason I ask)
I worded initially because it should not prevent change once selected view has been triggered

[arpeggioaccele]

Thanks for the advice! I'll consider changing the hotkey, that would definitely make it a lot easier to enable cover grid.

I don't know if the View Manager plugin does that, I'll test later though.

You could avoid having cover nocover libraries simply making a VL for each

I use a separate library for cbz files because they're so large compared to epubs— I placed them in a separate drive to save space on my main drive.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by arpeggioaccele

Thanks for the advice! I'll consider changing the hotkey, that would definitely make it a lot easier to enable cover grid.

I don't know if the View Manager plugin does that, I'll test later though.

As a long time user of VM, I can tell you it doesn't.

Originally Posted by arpeggioaccele

I use a separate library for cbz files because they're so large compared to epubs— I placed them in a separate drive to save space on my main drive.

Why not put all your libraries on the separate drive. I doubt there's much advantage of keeping them on the system drive. At it's 'core' calibre uses a memory resident database - if you remove all the author and book folders from a library the main thing you'll notice is the lack of covers in the Book details panel.

BR

[arpeggioaccele]

Well the original reasoning behind different drives is that the separate drive is an unreliable sd card and I wanted to keep my precious books safer than the comics. (The comics being local copies of freely available webcomics that is.)

In practice, the advantage of separate libraries is that doing bulk edits is simpler, it's easier to backup and create different custom columns etc. for each library. (Though I'm sure for some having that all be in one database would be preferable.)

And that I loaded a bunch of movies on there and now it's full is my excuse to not merging them now.

Still, the original "problem" of a different layout setup for each library, whether it be a separate database or virtual library is not solved.

I would have thought it would be an option not unlike the current capability of setting a default virtual library for each database. (The "Apply virtual library when _ is opened" option)

The hotkey solution works, but there's also the tag browser, search bar, cover browser and book details to toggle.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by arpeggioaccele

. . . keep my precious books safer . . .

What are these 'precious books', First Folio NFTs :lol:

Originally Posted by arpeggioaccele

<snip>

Still, the original "problem" of a different layout setup for each library, whether it be a separate database or virtual library is not solved.

I would have thought it would be an option not unlike the current capability of setting a default virtual library for each database. (The "Apply virtual library when _ is opened" option)

The hotkey solution works, but there's also the tag browser, search bar, cover browser and book details to toggle.

And there's also this option.



Calibre is approaching its 17th birthday, I've been actively supporting it for the last 11 years, yours is the first instance of a request for per library layout options I can recall. I suggest you lodge an Enhancement request, see ==>> calibre - Bugs

BR

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

What are these 'precious books', First Folio NFTs :lol:


And there's also this option.

Attachment 202538

BR

Just a side comment: I think the status bar layout buttons should be displayed by default on new Calibre installs! It's got already a fair amount of easter eggs, lol.

[arpeggioaccele]

Calling an digital file precious is just me being dramatic lol. Everything I consider significant gets a cloud backup, like textbooks for class.

I did miss the option you point out, I'll definitely try it thanks!
I'll put in a feature request, though I agree that it might not merit attention if no one else has had an issue. https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre/+bug/2026636

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

Just a side comment: I think the status bar layout buttons should be displayed by default on new Calibre installs! It's got already a fair amount of easter eggs, lol.

I didn't realize that layouts existed until I had to figure out how to get back the book details pane after I accidentally collapsed it. It would be good to highlight the layout button or at least give it a unique icon (as it's currently sharing one with preferences.) [Edit: It seems that's what the option does, it displays the useful icons!]

[chaley]

I submitted changes to Kovid to add a calibre "action" that can show/hide any of the 6 panes. Assuming he accepts it, you can use the Action Chains plugin to set up the view how you want with a single shortcut to invoke the chain. You could also use Action Chains events to do it automatically when a given library is opened.

In addition, the change includes an "API" that View Manager can use to show or hide panes, should someone want to add this functionality to it.

Although one can add the action to a toolbar, there isn't any reason to do so because the buttons are built into calibre's lower status bar.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

Although one can add the action to a toolbar, there isn't any reason to do so because the buttons are built into calibre's lower status bar.

If the layout options were available as a toolbar item I would add it to the keyboard accessible booklist context menu or Favourites menu.

BR

[chaley]

The changes are in calibre source.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If the layout options were available as a toolbar item I would add it to the keyboard accessible booklist context menu or Favourites menu.

BR

Why? All the layout buttons have keyboard shortcuts so are keyboard accessible. But regardless, you can do that if you want to.

[Comfy.n]

@chaley Hi! I just tested the new layout actions, running Calibre from source, as I found it cool to have another distinctive way to visually acknowledge library switching - besides a different library icon.

Upon running the chain, I get:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "calibre_plugins.action_chains.action", line 448, in run_chain
  File "calibre_plugins.action_chains.chains", line 389, in run
  File "calibre_plugins.action_chains.chains", line 209, in _run_loop
  File "calibre_plugins.action_chains.chains", line 348, in refresh_gui
  File "C:\users\user\calibre-master\src\calibre\db\legacy.py", line 284, in all_ids
AttributeError: 'LibraryDatabase' object has no attribute 'new_api'

There's also a validation message:

Menu entry: mylib2 (plugin_name: Choose Library) cannot be found

The chain I tested was set up this way: 1 - a Calibre Action to quick switch to a given library and 2 - Hide Cover Grid

It runs the desired actions, but the message is displayed.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

The changes are in calibre source.

Why? All the layout buttons have keyboard shortcuts so are keyboard accessible. But regardless, you can do that if you want to.

Context menu's are accessible and navigable with 1 finger.

It's moot anyway, after re-trying 6.22 for the past couple of days, I've decided the behaviour of F2 editing in 6.18 suits me so much better that I'll stick to it for the foreseeable future.

BR