Numbering omnibus volumes?

[Phssthpok]

I have a number of omnibus editions... "The Adventures of Foo Bar books 1-4"... but unfortunately I can't use [1-4] or [1,2,3,4] as series numbers. Currently I'm tagging as "Omnibus" and using [0.14] as the series number (since only 2 decimal places are allowed), which is pretty horrible but is so far the only solution I can find.

Does anyone have a better solution to this problem?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Phssthpok

I have a number of omnibus editions... "The Adventures of Foo Bar books 1-4"... but unfortunately I can't use [1-4] or [1,2,3,4] as series numbers. Currently I'm tagging as "Omnibus" and using [0.14] as the series number (since only 2 decimal places are allowed), which is pretty horrible but is so far the only solution I can find.

Does anyone have a better solution to this problem?

Use 1.04 to number your omnibus.

[jhowell]

I would use 1.04 to allow for volume numbers up to 99.

[theducks]

I use the 1.04 method except when the Omnibus skips.
then EPUB split
There is a second benefit to the Split method
My have read count goes up as I finish each split, while the whole 4 volume book counts as 0 until I hit the end

[DNSB]

I would agree with using 1.04. This also has the advantage where if I have a collection of boxed sets, say, 1-3, 4-6, 7-10, I use 1.03, 4.06, 7.10 as the series index.

There was a way of changing the . to a - when sending omnibus volumes to a Kobo ereader but that no longer seems to work with the newer firmware.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by DNSB

There was a way of changing the . to a - when sending omnibus volumes to a Kobo ereader but that no longer seems to work with the newer firmware.

Really? That's a pity. Both my Kobos are still on an older firmware version and the omnibus numbering still works on them.

[DNSB]

I think it broke on my Kobos between 4.38/45.23640 and 4.38/45.23649. The template tester still shows the series index converting from 5.08 to 5-8 but on the Kobo, the series index shows as 5.08.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I would use 1.04 to allow for volume numbers up to 99.

This is what I do.

I also use 2026.05 for magazines and such

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I think it broke on my Kobos between 4.38/45.23640 and 4.38/45.23649. The template tester still shows the series index converting from 5.08 to 5-8 but on the Kobo, the series index shows as 5.08.

This template works for me on fw 4.38.23684 - it turns 1.03 into 1-3 and 0 into unnumbered

program:
	if 
		'^omnibus$' inlist_field '#admintags' 	
		&& $series_index !=#0 
	then
		series_start = floor($series_index);
		fraction = fractional_part($series_index);
		if 
			fraction ==# 0 
		then
			result = series_start
		else
			series_end = floor(fraction*100);
		if 
			series_end >=# 0 
		then
				result = series_start & '-' & series_end
		fi
	fi

		elif 
			$series_index ==#0 
		then 
			result = ''
		else
			result = $series_index
		fi;
	result

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

This template works for me on fw 4.38.23684 - it turns 1.03 into 1-3 and 0 into unnumbered

Spoiler:

program:
	if 
		'^omnibus$' inlist_field '#admintags' 	
		&& $series_index !=#0 
	then
		series_start = floor($series_index);
		fraction = fractional_part($series_index);
		if 
			fraction ==# 0 
		then
			result = series_start
		else
			series_end = floor(fraction*100);
		if 
			series_end >=# 0 
		then
				result = series_start & '-' & series_end
		fi
	fi

		elif 
			$series_index ==#0 
		then 
			result = ''
		else
			result = $series_index
		fi;
	result

Sadly, my template code gives the same result as yours after I modified your code to check the omnibus column. However when I send it to my Kobo, the 1-5 does not survive.

Edit: Just for the heck of it, I checked and was told there were no substantial changes in the series handling code. I did a restart, resent the metadata and the series indexes changed to 1 - xxx format. We don't believe in miracles, we just depend on them.

[Sirtel]

Good to know it's still working.

[Phssthpok]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I would use 1.04 to allow for volume numbers up to 99.

OK, this seems to be the consensus. Many thanks to all who replied.

[Readirect]

First, I avoid omnibus books whenever I can because it's a lot easier to keep track of titles I have/don't have when they're not grouped ...

(But) When this is unavoidable then my approach is to consider each omnibus book as a single book in the series and if I have a void in the series I'll merge the missing books into the nearest omnibus (using Calibre's epub merge) as I add them. Single books also get merged in the nearest omnibus if I have a pre-existing mixed collection of single/omnibus within a series.

(And) When I do have an omnibus book then) I keep track of the individual titles within that omnibus in a Calibre column & record the book #'s in the omnibus book title.