Rename template for "number of pages"

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by r728626

For me it's not practical, for the amount of time wasted and CPU usage. While Windows can perform this on 5 seconds, for a 1000 page .pdf of 100mb.

You have raised this in your own thread, but, are you only counting the pages? Do you have any other option configured such as calculating a word count? If a word count is being done as well as the page count, the plugin will take a lot longer.

And what page count algorithm are you using? There is possibly an error in the plugin if you have selected the ADE algorithm. But, if you had, you should get an error unless you also have an epub version of the book in the library. And if you do have the epub version, then the page count is done on the epub, not the PDF. That probably takes more time than just the PDF version.

[BetterRed]

Ah, of course

That Android for Dummies has a small EPUB as well as the PDF, and I have the Use preferred output format if available option checked, and my Preferred output is EPUB -- now you know why i have books for Dummies

I used the calibre counting method. But if the Use preferred output if available option is checked, and Behaviour->Preferred Output is set to PDF, and there is a PDF, the method is irrelevant because 'get it from the book' is implicit.

To be honest I'd rather see something explicit - like a Preferred Format in the Count Pages preferences. The one in Behaviour is about Conversions. Piggy backing CP on the back of it has always gone against the grain with me.

So the OP should make sure the settings are as described and do the counts - I just tried it on the A 4 D book and it got 320.

However, I do think the OP has a a point regarding speed. It took CP longer to extract the count from a PDF than it took me to open a PDF, and press Ctrl+D to open the Document Properties - and that included starting PDF Xchange.

If I was faced with the issue on a large PDF library - I would look to getting a directory listing of the PDFs in my library, with the Page Counts, from xplorer²; then wrangle that into a CSV suitable for the Import List PI to populate the Pages column.

If you can update custom columns from the command line you could wrangle the directory list with page counts into a script. I'm not sure about that, you can list custom columns from the cmd line, but can you update them ?.

BR

[BetterRed]

Moderator Notice

I merged two posts in the CP thread into here, we don't like having the same issue being discussed in two places - especially by the same members - it's the sort of thing politicians do

BR

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by r728626

I can't understand why this community is so unable to accept negative points in calibre, specially when it's about .pdf format.

I find myself having to disagree with you. You are posting on MobileRead. A format designed to be reflowable such as epub, azw3, fb3, etc. is a lot more enjoyable to read on the average mobile device than a page oriented format such as pdf. Unless you are into reading tech manuals (and quite a few of those are now available in epub/mobi/etc.), I find few reasons to suffer the limitations of pdf on a small screen.

As for being unable to accept negative points in calibre? I've noticed quite a few people who have asked for a feature or change in a feature in calibre. Sometimes the change has been made, other times an explanation as to why the change will not be made is supplied. Complaints about bugs in calibre tend to be split into "yes, it's a bug and will be fixed" and "that's not a bug, it's by design". Bugs get a rapid response, design decisions are not up for discussion. If you don't like it, feel free to modify the calibre source and compile your own fork.

Originally Posted by r728626

Many .epubs are just trash .txt files.

Your prejudices are showing again. Over the years, I've seen a lot of PDF files that were garbage supplied by various corporations. PDFs that were a mass of poorly scanned images, PDfs that were great examples of how not to OCR, files that were formatted to be displayed on an A3/ledger sized display, etc. And please note, I am not looking at a pirate pdf produced by someone working out of their parents' basement but pdfs supplied by corporate sources whom one would assume care about producing a decent product.

[BetterRed]

@DNSB - Most PDFs are far more readable on a 13" iPad Pro than they are on a personal computer, surely you are not suggesting an iPad isn't a mobile device.

The calibre library manager does not run on mobile device operating systems it runs on personal computer operating systems, surely you're not suggesting it has no place at MobileRead.

PDF is a widely used (most ??) format for Fixed Layout books/documents/reports.

BR

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@DNSB - Most PDFs are far more readable on a 13" iPad Pro than they are on a personal computer, surely you are not suggesting an iPad isn't a mobile device.

I'll pick reading a PDF on my Lenovo laptop than on my iPad Pro (10.5" version). Larger screen though lower pixel count but the CPU and RAM size smoke my iPad Pro and the keyboard is a heck of a lot nicer to use. Plug it into the docking station with two 24" UHD monitors and just no comparison. Add in that CC6 gives me Adobe Acrobat just in case I feel up to editing a PDF. I admit the laptop is heavier but at 469 grams, my iPad Pro is not comfortable for me to hold for hours even without adding the weight of the keyboard/cover.

They are both devices which live in the same bag so I'll call both mobile devices. Just like putting a handle on top of a TV used to qualify it as a portable.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

The calibre library manager does not run on mobile device operating systems it runs on personal computer operating systems, surely you're not suggesting it has no place at MobileRead.

PDF is a widely used (most ??) format for Fixed Layout books/documents/reports.

Calibre is one of the best—if not the best—tools for managing my books both on my computer and on my mobile device. It even lets me add metadata, series information and better cover images to those trash replica .txt files I'm addicted to using. Most of the ebook software and ebook format forums are of use to me either for use or curiosity.

As I said in my original comment, a reflowable format is more suited for the small displays of the average ereader.

I use PDF quite often though more often than not, we now (corporately speaking) use FLO epubs and Amazon Print Replica (PDF in a wrapper) in addition to PDF (the print shop doesn't just have their own drummer, they went for their own big band ). For the corporate website, PDF is the goto format for documents since very few devices are not capable of opening a .PDF file. Viewing those on my phone let me revisit the joy of zooming and scrolling.

If you ain't reading XPS, you're reading trash.