Plugin ideas... add yours here

[JimmXinu]

@fidvo - Re: Empty text file on Add Empty Book, Kovid said:

I need some more motivation for why using a TXT file as opposed to a
custom column is preferable. If you or someone else wishes to add that
motivation, feel free to comment, until then I am closing this as
wontfix.

If you'd like to try to convince him, you can comment here.

[fidvo]

Originally Posted by JimmXinu

Copying the code that makes the empty epub to add a similar option to add an empty txt file is pretty straightforward.

I've submitted a bug report/patch to add it. We'll see if Kovid accepts it or not.

Actually, I was hoping for a plugin because my laptop runs WinXP and therefore upgrading to a new version is impossible for me. A plugin could be written in such a way that it still works with the old version of Calibre.

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@fidvo - another idea - create an empty book (ctrl/shift/e) and put notes in Comments, or in a long text custom column (#notes/Notes)

Then you can display in Book Details sidebar, you'll also have the benefit of some formatting - bold, underline etc

BR

I've tried putting notes in comments and custom fields, but they have two major drawbacks.

First, you're limited to Calibre's editor, which is great in some ways but becomes less useful the more text you want to put in it. I agree that if I just wanted a series description, putting it in the book comments would be fine. Admittedly, using Calibre to record detailed notes is a niche use, but in some cases I want to edit full screen.

Second, text files are easier to export. Just Save to Disk. Again, this is only useful if you're using Calibre to record detailed notes that you might want to share with another application or person.

I might try my hand at writing this plugin myself. It's been years since I worked with Python, but this might be a good way to get back into practice.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by fidvo

I've tried putting notes in comments and custom fields, but they have two major drawbacks.

First, you're limited to Calibre's editor, which is great in some ways but becomes less useful the more text you want to put in it. I agree that if I just wanted a series description, putting it in the book comments would be fine. Admittedly, using Calibre to record detailed notes is a niche use, but in some cases I want to edit full screen.

Second, text files are easier to export. Just Save to Disk. Again, this is only useful if you're using Calibre to record detailed notes that you might want to share with another application or person.

@fidvo - one of the reasons I mentioned a long text custom column is that you can edit it from the booklist in a free-standing resizable window.



But its not easily exported other than via cut and paste.

FWIW : I use Evernote (EN) for book and author notes - I use its copy note link feature; it puts one of these in the clipboard - evernote:///view/blah blah (I use local instance). I paste that into Comments or Author link. Its easy to share, and it's available (and update-able) on my phone and tablet.

Not sure if EN runs on XP.

BR

[truth1ness]

I think a neat plugin would be to add chapter summaries to the beginning of each chapter, like some school textbooks have to help with comprehension/retention. This is a huge asset with non-fiction books and something I do manually with my epubs/mobi using OSX's built in Summerizer Service (Kindle books have the "X-Ray" function which is also really nice).

There are a number of open source summarizer software libraries in the link below which take care of text summarization. It usually spits out a list of extracted sentences with the most meaning which is great for a whole book overview, the only problem is it's difficult to map each extracted blurb to a book location/chapter which would make it a lot more useful. This plugin would need to match the summary bits to the correct epub/mobi chapter they are from and append them either into a comment or directly at the beginning of the chapter.

http://blog.mashape.com/list-of-30-s...-and-software/

[ciepina]

Hello! Due to the fact that caliber has many languages, I want to translate (Russian / Latvian) certain plug-ins from Kiwidude (no e-mail). How they can be contacted in person to talk about this issue?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ciepina

Hello! Due to the fact that caliber has many languages, I want to translate (Russian / Latvian) certain plug-ins from Kiwidude (no e-mail). How they can be contacted in person to talk about this issue?

I would suggest sending him a PM. Unfortunately, he is not around much due to work. He is quite open to others helping out with the plugins, so should reply when he has a chance.

Alternatively, post in the thread for the plugin you want to translate. I can't remember if any of his plugins have the translation code in them. If they have, the translation is easy. If they haven't, there is some preparation work that needs to be done. It isn't hard, but can take a bit of time. A few of us have been doing some maintenance on kiwidudes plugins, so maybe someone will be willing to help with this.

[eschwartz]

I would think the best way is to post in the thread -- PMs leave no history, and no way for other people to become aware of things. The PM can vanish into a black hole, of course, and also no one else can be inspired to do likewise.

There is one plugin author who tries to get all his users to communicate solely via PM. It is a bit frustrating.

[theducks]

You got me thinking

Too bad there is not a way to flag the Index [Translatable] without breaking the PI Available Notice 'automation' already in place

Would using a (currently non existent for this forum) 'Prefix' break the automation?

(I chose 'Translatable' as there may not currently be other translations)

If you use the OS search, set to look into archives (zip), there seems to be a 'Translations' folder in some plugins (eg Windows XP: Search for filename:translations, Type: Folder, look in sub folders)

Plugins are stored in the Plugins folder inside the Calibre Configuration Folder

[eschwartz]

I don't see the problem -- if the forum administration wants to add a prefix, Kovid can always update the scraper in preparation.

[Dragons]

I'd like to be able to give two different series numbers to the same book when they are part of two different series by the same author, or is there a way to do this already?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Dragons

I'd like to be able to give two different series numbers to the same book when they are part of two different series by the same author, or is there a way to do this already?

Use Custom (series type) Column

You might also customize Pre3ferences: Searching: (the sections at the bottom)

[Philosopher]

First - thanks for the recent help in pointing out to me the recent "embed metadata" addition to the program itself. It is working wonderfully - particularly with PDFs. I have to take a closer look still as I use it - with other formats.

But I have several ideas that go through my head - one of these I have mentioned elsewhere before - but think perhaps this may be a good place to raise it. It - and the second idea - would be equally applicable as either plug-in discussions or as new features functions. So I hope I am not overstating my case if I have discussed aspects elsewhere.

BUT HERE WE GO:

1) This would be an EXTENSION TO an existing feature - perhaps - the COMPARE LIBRARIES function.

What I am envisioning is certainly not a SIMPLE (at least in terms of LENGTH of programming needed) - but it is a "simple" or "natural" idea and extension of what is now a standard and highly useful feature.

But what I envision is - in doing a COMPARE LIBRARIES (looking for duplicates - and thus this is equally applicable as a possible feature within ONE library's duplicates) - is to have a NEW SCREEN pop-up - which will have a DUAL COLUMN browser - one for each Book entry that is "identical".

Currently - it tells me if I have identical title-author OR more useful to me by far - identical "file" (because I often have more than one file - of the same title). And thus I can very easily merge libraries without duplicating files - and thus reducing disk usage, etc. (If I am using some libraries as temporary holders - rather than as permanent stand-alone libraries). And can delete SECOND duplicate copy.

BUT - what it does not easily allow me to do - which is what I am getting at in this suggestion - is to SEE THE FULL CALIBRE DATABASE ENTRY for both of the books. One of the two may have a better set of metadata and comments, etc than the other - and that is the one I would PREFER to retain. Thus this SIDE-BY-SIDE view - would enable that decision to be made easily.

FURTHER - however - it may be the case that rather than merely choosing one and deleting the other - I MAY want to COMBINE parts of the data/metadata in the Calibre database from one to the other. And this would then be NECESSARY to really make that viable.

But I think that would be an EXCELLENT new tool and feature if someone could tackle it. It seems fairly straightforward - and thus not difficult on that aspect - but clearly more labor intensive than a more simple plug-in.

IDEA #2: I have been trying to articulate this idea in other posts in other forums. Not sure people have "gotten" what I have been seeking.

And this is probably more a new PLUG-IN capacity/feature - than a plug-in itself.

Essentially what I would like to see - is when in the EDIT METADATA WINDOW (where the main and secondary menu bars - and all other menus - are not accessible - without exiting that screen) - the ability to have an optional MENU BAR for PLUG-INS and FEATURES there too.

It could thus be used for many plug-ins - not necessarily restricted to that which brings this to my mind. But to explain the idea better - let me be more specific to the project as I first envisioned it.

One of the greatest time-saving plug-ins to have been created - for me - has been the "Get ISBN" plug-in. Being able to have it search and try and find such - and auto-enter it - saves an immense amount of time no longer having to manually look up and then enter the ISBN per book.

BUT - where it falls short - right now, for me, is when I am in the EDIT METADATA process (and thus have that window open - and am usually doing this for a whole series of books (rather than just one).

So - for example - as I go through my newly input books without full metadata, and update each record, and then click NEXT - I will often then encounter that next book entry - as WITHOUT an ISBN having been input. And it may be that I have not even attempted the auto search and entry via the plug-in.

Right now - to do this - I would have to exit the EDIT window - and go back to the main screen. Use the plug-in for that book - then RE-OPEN the EDIT menu and start back down that path (till the next time I encounter an entry where there is no ISBN already set.

THUS - what I am PROPOSING/ENVISIONING is that THIS PLUG-IN (but again - if it is done via a MENUBAR on that window - where plug-ins and functions can be placed as on the home screen - eliminating that multi-step EXIT, USE PLUG-IN/FUNCTION, RE-ENTER EDIT ...).

So without leaving the EDIT METADATA window and process - the GET ISBN (or other) plug-in/function would be readily available from that very window - I click it, it finds and enters it, and then I hit DOWNLOAD METADATA. All without those several extra steps it now takes.

(I hope in trying to be precise and complete - I have not confused this in how I presented it).

Thanks

[yonkyunior]

i dont know if this has been exist or not, i had read the first page.. :V

i just have an idea,
every book recommends book of their best list for each genre or book that must read.

for example, goodreads listopia..
i could grab the list to import to csv.
and i want plugin that grab the list and linked the owned ebooks, so when i have the list and want to read it, i am just click the linked title on the list i grabbed.

and i hope this list grabber can be used in any site.

its rather similar to the myreading list plugin, but the different is we can import list from other site.. or we input the list in a csv.

hope it helps the ideas.

[davidfor]

@yonkyunior: Have a look at the Import List plugin.

[JimmXinu]

Originally Posted by JimmXinu

@fidvo - Re: Empty text file on Add Empty Book, Kovid said:

...

If you'd like to try to convince him, you can comment here.

@fidvo: FYI, chaley convinced Kovid and was kind enough to write some better code for it. The first new feature listed for v2.23 is empty files in new empty books.