need custom column built from other cols, behave like tags but with author-like separ

[masp]

Got it: thanks! I suppose there's no way to hard-code comma as the separator, but then allow for that to be replaced by ampersand if requested? Or to introduce a new type of list (ampersand-separated) so existing lists would be unaffected (still hard-coded to comma) but users could choose to create lists of the new (ampersand-separated) type if they wished? (Just clutching at straws!)

[chaley]

Originally Posted by masp

Got it: thanks! I suppose there's no way to hard-code comma as the separator, but then allow for that to be replaced by ampersand if requested? Or to introduce a new type of list (ampersand-separated) so existing lists would be unaffected (still hard-coded to comma) but users could choose to create lists of the new (ampersand-separated) type if they wished? (Just clutching at straws!)

Sure, it can be done. I just don't want to pay the price. Adding a new list type or adding a new column behavior parameter *will* break software, possibly calibre, possibly other programs that process the calibre database. For me, this cost is significantly higher than the benefit.

[masp]

OK, thanks for exploring the idea so thoroughly!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

The separator character is specified in the column description, and has been since custom columns were introduced.

I must be misunderstanding that

I defined this custom column (there's a semi colon in the description):



I entered val1; val2, val3 into a SemiTest cell, when I press Shift+F2 I see

val1; val2
val3

I was hoping I'd see

val1
val2, val3

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I must be misunderstanding that

I defined this custom column (there's a semi colon in the description):[...]

Adding the semicolon to the description has no effect on the choice of separator. The separator is a comma unless you check the "Contains Names" box, in which case it becomes an ampersand. What you see confirms this behavior.

[BetterRed]

But you wrote

The separator character is specified in the column description, and has been since custom columns were introduced.

Maybe you meant 'column definition'

I've often wished for something other than a comma or ampersand as a list separator. I was hoping your words were an Easter Egg feature

BR

[chaley]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

But you wrote



Maybe you meant 'column definition'

I've often wished for something other than a comma or ampersand as a list separator. I was hoping your words were an Easter Egg feature

BR

Ooops. I actually meant column description, but from the point of view of the calibre DB manager. That includes type, name, label, etc. I can't help it if the term is overloaded.

But ya know, words do have meaning...

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by chaley

Ooops. I actually meant column description, but from the point of view of the calibre DB manager. That includes type, name, label, etc. I can't help it if the term is overloaded.

But ya know, words do have meaning...

And far too often too many meanings, sometimes figuring out which is which is like playing tag on a roundabout

BR