[GUI Plugin] Current Paths

[Comfy.n]

Current Paths

Shows the Calibre config folder path in the window title and status bar.

Features
- Displays current config path in title and/or status bar
- Displays current library path in title and/or status bar
- Toggle visibility via toolbar context menu or shortcuts



Installation
- Load from file
1. Download the latest release zip.
2. Preferences -> Plug-ins -> Load Plugin from File.
3. Select the zip, install, and restart Calibre.

License
This plugin is licensed under the GNU GPL v3.

Compatibility
- Calibre 1.48.0 or later
- Windows, macOS, Linux

Release notes

Spoiler:

Version 2.0.1

- provides checkboxes for clear display of selected options
- improves display of paths on window title, when VLs are active

- v2.0.0: plugin renamed to Current Paths. Can now show also the current library path.
- v1.0.0: initial release — shows config path in title/status bar, toggles via menu.

[Comfy.n]

reserved

[BetterRed]

Suggestion: display current Library path

Cannot be in same location as current Config path - i.e. if both are enabled one must be in Title bar and the other in the Status Bar.

Use case: I sometimes 'point' calibre at a library backup (mirror) on another device - library names (i.e. the folder names) are the same, but the paths are different - e.g.

D:\Calibre\Libraries\Test

is backed up to

I:\#Data Backup\Calibre\Libraries\Test.

BR

[Comfy.n]

Good idea. Will take a look tomorrow, thanks

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

Good idea. Will take a look tomorrow, thanks

Don't forget the problem in Calibre Config Reports - Shortcuts.

BR

[BetterRed]

Couple of members of my reading group noticed this on my laptop this morning - when I said it would have the same for Library path they asked when, and came back with this:



BR

[Comfy.n]

good idea, will have a look ASAP

[Comfy.n]

I've uploaded version 2.0, @BR. Sorry for the delay!

[JSWolf]

Two things that would be good for this plugin.

1. Have it put in the plugin index
2. An option to go to the config directory

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Two things that would be good for this plugin.

1. Have it put in the plugin index
2. An option to go to the config directory

Please stop trying to micro-manage the planet, Jon.

Until it works I for one will not be adding it to the index.

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

I've uploaded version 2.0, @BR. Sorry for the delay!

No worries, I changed the name of the thread.

A menu of Toggles doesn't do the job, one cannot see what's toggled where. It allows both paths to be shown in both locations with no clue what to click to get what you want where. I'm sure you can work it out… because you wrote the code

Please consider replacing the menu of Toggles with the dialogue I attached to post #6.

If I switch to another Virtual library whatever I have displayed in the Title bar disappears. Not hard to work out why, the base repaints the Title bar to include new VL name and your plugin is not reacting to that event (sorry I don't speak Quute). It may have done that before, but I had config in Status line

BR

[Comfy.n]

one cannot see what's toggled where.

welp, I can immediately see what's toggled by just looking at the title bar or status bar...

Regarding VLs overriding title bar info: I don't see how that can be easily worked around. Will do my best. In any case, I can always leave the library path display option only for status bar.

Regarding Config folder. I have a working plugin that does *only* that, and I hadn't published it officially because CCR can do it as well. Anyway, as some wise man once said:

I'm beginning to wonder if its not better to have many small add-ons each addressing a specific need, rather than a few swiss-army-knives/ jack-of-all-trades add-ons.

[Comfy.n]

I forgot to add that there's shortcut support for Current Paths plugin.
One doesn't need, necessarily, to do the toggles via context menu.

[BetterRed]

It's not immediately obvious to me which Toggle: Show . . . I need to click to Hide the config path in the title bar, or Hide the library path on the Status line. I have to deduce that order to Hide something you have to Show it

If the plugin cannot detect the change to the title bar when a VL switch occurs, perhaps the option to display anything in the title bar should be removed. I have the impression that the Virtual Library feature is widely used, pretty sure all the members of my reading group who use calibre use VLs - they swap search terms with one another.

Because it's set and forget, I won't use Current Paths' shortcuts or have it in a menu or toolbar - I will access its menu via the All actions menu… it's how I access infrequently used functions.

BR

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Because it's set and forget

BR

Correct. That's why I didn't see need for visual indicators on context menu entries. It's typically a one-time setup.

Regarding display on window titles: that was my choice to have this redundancy. I don't mind having duplicate elements on the UI; in fact, those actually help me have quick access to actions, or see from another angle the context I am currently working.

I think the visual checkbox indicator is probably the way to go.