Calibre 9 feature request - tweak to supress the #pages column creation

[kacir]

The 9.X version of Calibre adds a new column to the database named #pages and fills it with the estimated page number for each book. This is used by the new "Bookshelf" layout.

There are many users that will appreciate the new layout. People are already expressing that they like the new feature. I personally do not plan to use that and I do not like the idea of having a new column in the database and also the idea that Calibre will process all the books in the library to fill the new column. In the process it will update metadata.opf file for all the books.

I have a large number of books in the library and an SSD and I do not like the idea of Calibre updating a large number of files to support a bookshelf layout I do not plan to use. Also, it would take Calibre a long time to process all the existing books.

Could we, please, pretty please, get a new tweak that would suppress the creation of the #pages column and the recount of pages for all the existing and new books?

Bookshelf layout is not the only new feature Calibre got with 9.X major version and I would like to use some of new and also future features. I will use 8.16.1 for now, but I would like to update eventually. I really like the way Calibre keeps adding new and improving existing features, sometimes dramatically.

[BetterRed]

For an understanding of the database changes and how/when they are done see ==>> Version 9 - database update details

BR

[kacir]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

For an understanding of the database changes and how/when they are done see ==>> Version 9 - database update details
BR

Thank you for a quick answer.
I will study the thread you have linked to.

[kovidgoyal]

If you never turn on bookshelf view and never add pages column to either book list view or book details the pages column will not be auto filled for your existing library. Newly added books will be page counted, that's all. And page counting takes a few milliseconds per book and is done asynchrously so will have no noticeable impact. Also, IIRC, page counting does not update metadata.opf. It's a generated value, like size (which is also updated everytime a new book is added), so no point storing it in metadata.opf

[kacir]

Thank you Kovid for a quick answer and for an explanation. And, of course, for Calibre itself and for a thoughtful design of the bookshelf layout handling. I did not realise that not all columns from the database are be backed-up in the metadata.opf files. I also did not realise that the recount of pages for already existing books is only triggered if a bookshelf view is initiated at least once.

Is there a way I could disable a Bookshelf layout icon in the Layout toolbar, so I do not click on it by mistake when switching between the cover grid and list view? Or, would it be possible to add a warning dialog window via some tweak that would display "Are you sure" when I click on a bookshelf icon?

[kovidgoyal]

No I'm afraid not.

[BetterRed]

@kacir - Suggestion:

Don't show individual buttons, uncheck Look and Feel->Status bar buttons:



Hard to mis-click - but you lose the right click to pop the relevant L&F preferences dialogue.

Set the (ir)relevant Shortcuts to None



[Toggle] Quickview is in the Quickview group.

Or forget the button on the status bar and add the Layout actions icon to a toolbar or menu



BR

[Glsparks2]

Initial version 9 page count of ~30k books took a half hour.