[GUI Plugin] QuerySmith

[iienderii]

QuerySmith - build Calibre searches by field, without typing the syntax

QuerySmith is a small, read-only Calibre plugin that filters your library by whether a field has a value or is empty - chosen from a menu, with no search syntax to type. Pick a field from the toolbar button, choose "Has value" or "Is empty," and it composes the matching Calibre search and drops it into the search bar for you. It only ever builds a search - it never changes your books.



Features

• Filter by fill-state - find books where a field has a value or is empty, in one click.
• No syntax, no memorizing - pick fields from a list; QuerySmith knows their lookup names so you don't have to. Built-in fields and custom columns alike.
• Combined filter - stack several conditions and join them with Match ALL (AND) or Match ANY (OR), with a live count of matching books as you build.
• Per-library presets - save a set of conditions and re-apply it from the toolbar; export and import them as JSON.
• Read-only and non-destructive - it composes a search and nothing more.

Installation
QuerySmith installs two ways:

• Manual - download the attached QuerySmith.zip (below), then in Calibre go to Preferences → Plugins → Load plugin from file and select it.
• From Calibre - Preferences → Plugins → Get new plugins, then search for "QuerySmith" (once it's listed in the plugin index).

Pick any field - built-in or custom - straight from the menu, then choose Has value or Is empty.




Stack several conditions with AND/OR - with a live count of matching books as you build.

Special Notes

• Requires Calibre 6.0 or newer (Qt6).

Version History

Spoiler:

0.5.0 (2026-06-22) - Initial public release.

Source & license
github.com/jameskhair-code/calibre-querysmith - source, documentation, and releases. Licensed GPL-3.0.

Why I built it
I maintain a heavily-customized library and, if I'm honest, enjoy perfecting the metadata about as much as reading the books. I've built a lot of custom columns over the years - many with long, underscore-heavy names I can never quite remember - so searching against them meant recalling exact names and typing them by hand. I wanted a way to do it with just the mouse. It's my first plugin, so feedback, bug reports, and suggestions are all very welcome.

Support
If you find QuerySmith useful, you're welcome to show your appreciation - it's entirely optional, and always appreciated.
Donate: Ko-fi