Can Calibre search for a count?

[shauntih]

Is there a way to search for the series that have, say > 5 books in the series, or for authors that have > 10 books in the library? I like to read large series and being able to search for a count would really help me find books to read when I'm in this mood. I haven't been able to find anything that is pointing me in the right direction.

Any help is appreciated!
Celita

[Sirtel]

The tag browser -> Settings (in the lower left corner of the tag browser) -> Sort by the number of books. When you then click on either Authors or Series in the tag browser, you'll see them ordered by the number of books.

[BetterRed]

↑ ↑ ↑ ✔

You may need to use this too:



BR

[chaley]

You can generate a list of books in a series (or any other column) with at least N books in the series with a template search. I felt like playing with it and here is a solution that works for me.

Steps:

1. Create a stored template (Preferences / Template functions / Stored templates).
   • The template name is 'count_books_with_same_field_value'. It can actually be what you want, but it must be a valid name and you must use this name below.
   • The template is
     

     python:
     def evaluate(book, context):
     	args = context.arguments
     	if args is None or len(args) != 2:
     		return 'Bad argument count. Must be 2 (column, count)'
     	
     	column = args[0]
     	min_count = int(args[1])
     
     	globals = context.globals
     	db = context.db.new_api
     
     	if globals is None or 'possibles' not in globals:
     		possibles = set()
     		id_count_map = db.get_usage_count_by_id(column)
     		for id,count in id_count_map.items():
     			if count >= min_count:
     				possibles.add(db.get_item_name(column, id))
     		globals['possibles'] = possibles
     
     	possibles = globals['possibles']
     	book_vals = db.field_for(column, book.id)
     
     	if not isinstance(book_vals, (tuple, list)):
     		book_vals = list((book_vals,))
     	for v in book_vals:
     		if v in possibles:
     			return '1'
     	return ''

   • Press the "Create" button to store the template.
   Here is a screen capture of the Stored template dialog.
   
2. Create a template search
   • Click the "Advanced search" icon in the search bar (a gear).
   • Choose "Template search"
   • Set the "Template value" to "True"
   • Set the "Comparison type" to "Set/Not set"
   • Set the "Template" to
     

     program: count_books_with_same_field_value('series', 4)

     where 'series' is the column lookup key you want to check, and '4' is the minimum count you want.
   • Here is a screen capture of the Template search dialog
     
3. Save the new template search as a saved search if you wish

For example, this template search:

template:"""program: count_books_with_same_field_value('series', 4)#@#:b:True"""

will produce a list of books in any series with at least 4 books.

Comparison of approaches:

• The techniques mentioned in the above posts do something similar, one item at a time. For example, sorting by count in the tag browser then clicking on a series with the count you wish will produce a list of books in that series.
• The template search approach described here produces a list of books in all series with at least the count you wish.

I can't say which technique works better for you.

[shauntih]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The tag browser -> Settings (in the lower left corner of the tag browser) -> Sort by the number of books. When you then click on either Authors or Series in the tag browser, you'll see them ordered by the number of books.

Unfortunately, that doesn't allow me to search when I don't know what I'm searching for. But thank you for the response.

See post 7

[shauntih]

Originally Posted by chaley

You can generate a list of books in a series (or any other column) with at least N books in the series with a template search. I felt like playing with it and here is a solution that works for me.
...
Comparison of approaches:

• The techniques mentioned in the above posts do something similar, one item at a time. For example, sorting by count in the tag browser then clicking on a series with the count you wish will produce a list of books in that series.
• The template search approach described here produces a list of books in all series with at least the count you wish.

I can't say which technique works better for you.

This sounds like more what I'm after. I don't know python (yet), and have never used templates, so this is all new to me. It sounds like it may get me where I need to be once I figure it out. I am a little confused that when I enter the python code in the template, it is so tiny it cannot be read (see attached). It doesn't look like that in your snippet.

Am I strange for wanting to find authors or series I like (because I have, like 10 books by that author), when I can't remember who they are? I don't think it should be this difficult.

[shauntih]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The tag browser -> Settings (in the lower left corner of the tag browser) -> Sort by the number of books. When you then click on either Authors or Series in the tag browser, you'll see them ordered by the number of books.

I misunderstood originally, and don't know how to edit the original reply. Actually, this DOES help!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by shauntih

I misunderstood originally, and don't know how to edit the original reply. Actually, this DOES help!

Once you've reached 10 posts, you should be able to edit your own posts.

Meantime I fixed it for you.

BR

[dunhill]

There is a plugin to count the books of an author "Author Book Count"
Or else you could put aside the forms that I recommend @chaley, I use one that he surely would have made taking into account the column of the count of books by author and in the detail of the book it gives you the information if that book belongs to a series:

python:
def evaluate(book, context):
    # Use the built-in template function to format the title and authors
    x = context.funcs.template('{Title} - {authors}')
    # Count the books in the series. First get the series name
    series = book.get('series')
    if series:
        # The book is in a series. Get the count of books in that series
        db = context.db.new_api
        series_id = db.get_item_id('series', series)
        book_count = len(db.books_for_field('series', series_id))
        # Add number of books to title - author string
        x = x + f' -- From the series "{series}, which has {book_count} book{"s" if book_count > 1 else ""}'
    else:
        x = x + " -- This book does not belong to a series"
    return x