Custom Column "Series Count"

[fellars]

I am trying to create a custom column that shows the total number of books in a series. i.e.. if I have 4 separate books in the series "Above the Sky", I'd like to have a column that shows the number 4 in each book under the series "Above the Sky." Is this possible, and if so, could you please let me know how to do this? Thanks!

[chaley]

• Set the tweak (Preferences / Tweaks) "Allow template database functions in composite columns (ID: allow_template_database_functions_in_composites)" to True, as in
  

  allow_template_database_functions_in_composites = True

• Create a "Column built from other columns" that uses the template
  

  program:
  	if $series then
  		book_count('series:"=' & $series & '"', 0)
  	else
  		''
  	fi

  Set Sort/search for the column to "Number"

[theducks]

Originally Posted by fellars

I am trying to create a custom column that shows the total number of books in a series. i.e.. if I have 4 separate books in the series "Above the Sky", I'd like to have a column that shows the number 4 in each book under the series "Above the Sky." Is this possible, and if so, could you please let me know how to do this? Thanks!

Not to rain on the parade. Counts like these are already available in the Tag Browser without adding to DB bloat. (this is why I use empty books as my wish list and I have a Wishlist VL that shows just those without a format )

2 flaws with either : They only show the count for ENTRIES in the Library, not the actual series available.

Note: The Tag Browser respects the current Virtual Library count. (I have no idea what chaleys count does in this condition)

[MSWallack]

How would this work with series that have books that fall between the main books and thus have been numbered x.5 or prequels that are numbered 0.0?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by theducks

Not to rain on the parade. Counts like these are already available in the Tag Browser without adding to DB bloat. (this is why I use empty books as my wish list and I have a Wishlist VL that shows just those without a format )

Composite columns don't add "bloat". All that is in the db is the column definition, around 50 bytes + the length of the template.

2 flaws with either : They only show the count for ENTRIES in the Library, not the actual series available.

Note: The Tag Browser respects the current Virtual Library count. (I have no idea what chaleys count does in this condition)

As written the template ignores VLs. If you want the count to respect VLs then in the call to book_count change the zero to a 1.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by MSWallack

How would this work with series that have books that fall between the main books and thus have been numbered x.5 or prequels that are numbered 0.0?

Both the template and the tag browser count books with the same series name. The series_index is ignored.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by chaley

Composite columns don't add "bloat". All that is in the db is the column definition, around 50 bytes + the length of the template.

As written the template ignores VLs. If you want the count to respect VLs then in the call to book_count change the zero to a 1.

I shoulda known you would think of everything,

[fellars]

Originally Posted by chaley

• Set the tweak (Preferences / Tweaks) "Allow template database functions in composite columns (ID: allow_template_database_functions_in_composites)" to True, as in
  

  allow_template_database_functions_in_composites = True

• Create a "Column built from other columns" that uses the template
  

  program:
  	if $series then
  		book_count('series:"=' & $series & '"', 0)
  	else
  		''
  	fi

  Set Sort/search for the column to "Number"

Thanks so much for this....I really appreciate the help!