[Metadata Source Plugin] Goodreads

[Rellwood]

I love this plugin, but had a request, if there could be an option to NOT update any isbn?

I often have set isbn's that came when I imported the book, and are the true isbn for THAT copy (ebook), having them overwritten by a metadata plugin kind of sucks because the isbn might be different in Goodreads than what I have. Perhaps an option to not update isbn if there isn't one present?

[seeder]

Originally Posted by p@perm0nk

Love this plugin so amazing work!

Not sure if this has been discussed already. Just noticed that the Goodread's book information page also includes the fields like "Original title", "Setting" and "Characters". Would it be possible to update the plugin to include these fields as well? Ultimate goal is to create a custom column where we can store these info, like rating and review. I believe many would appreciate the inclusion of the "Setting" metadata at least.

Here is one Goodread example.

As far as I know, unfortunately, Metadata Source plugins can't store information in custom columns directly. The best solution I've found is to save additional information in the basic metadata fields. And in second step use another plugin to move that info into custom column.

The Goodreads plugin already does this by storing rating count and rating percentage. In its settings, you have the option to save this extra information under special identifiers (such as grvotes and grrating).

Another approach can be seen in the Lubimyczytac plugin, which saves additional information (like rating, rating count, number of pages, etc.) in the Comments metadata field. After downloading, the METAmover plugin can be used to parse this extra data from the Comments field and insert it into custom columns.

I've tried using similar methods in my own plugins (databazeknih.cz, legie.info, pitaval.cz and xTrance.info), where you have multiple options for where and how to store the downloaded metadata in the basic fields. For now I just use similar approach to just show info in metadata columns as described in GoodReads wiki. Or you can configure Action Chains plugin to move info between metadata fields.

[kiwidude]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

I love this plugin, but had a request, if there could be an option to NOT update any isbn?

I often have set isbn's that came when I imported the book, and are the true isbn for THAT copy (ebook), having them overwritten by a metadata plugin kind of sucks because the isbn might be different in Goodreads than what I have. Perhaps an option to not update isbn if there isn't one present?

It isn’t up to a metadata plugin to make this decision - it is calibre that picks data out of all the metadata results and applies to your book. So you would have to ask Kovid to make a calibre option for it.

[kiwidude]

Originally Posted by seeder

As far as I know, unfortunately, Metadata Source plugins can't store information in custom columns directly. The best solution I've found is to save additional information in the basic metadata fields. And in second step use another plugin to move that info into custom fields..

Thanks seeder for answering this, agree with all you said. Unfortunately over the years this part of calibre hasnt been enhanced to allow something more elegant than what we are currently doing, which I can only describe as “clunky hacks/workarounds”. Polluting the identifiers metadata to stuff votes and detailed ratings as I do in this plugin is far from ideal but was my preferred approach over requiring a user to run two plugins everytime they retrieve metadata. The comments field approach does result in a much cleaner db but you have to remember to do a second plugin run every single time.

As to whether calibre could be changed to support custom fields, I imagine anything is possible but that this isn’t an area Kovid has personal interest in so would require a contribution by someone else that he approves to make happen. I don’t have the time to take that on at the moment, I only barely can push out simple updates for plugins now and then.

[p@perm0nk]

Originally Posted by kiwidude

Thanks seeder for answering this, agree with all you said. Unfortunately over the years this part of calibre hasnt been enhanced to allow something more elegant than what we are currently doing, which I can only describe as “clunky hacks/workarounds”. Polluting the identifiers metadata to stuff votes and detailed ratings as I do in this plugin is far from ideal but was my preferred approach over requiring a user to run two plugins everytime they retrieve metadata. The comments field approach does result in a much cleaner db but you have to remember to do a second plugin run every single time.

As to whether calibre could be changed to support custom fields, I imagine anything is possible but that this isn’t an area Kovid has personal interest in so would require a contribution by someone else that he approves to make happen. I don’t have the time to take that on at the moment, I only barely can push out simple updates for plugins now and then.

I came across your Search Internet plugin. This one is amazing too! I just added my custom URL that queries Perplexity for a country book set in and author's nationality without spoilers. Less manual work for now.