Order of custom fields in "Edit Metadata" form

[barlowrm]

Dear all,

I have added some custom fields to my library. They all show up in the "custom Metadata" tab of the "Edit Metadata" window, which is fine.

AFAICT, however, they appear in alphabetical order, according to their header (not the lookup name).

Is there a way to alter that order? I know I could just prepend to all headers a number, so that "01 zzz" would come before "02 aaa", but I was hoping in something less invasive.

On a similar note: is there a way to split the "Custom metadata" tab into different tabs, maybe with custom names, and decide where the custom fields must be displayed?

Thanks for your help,

Andrea.

[BetterRed]

@barlowrm - There are 3 basic options in Preferences->Behaviour->Edit metadata (single) layout. And there are two tweaks that provide further control over the custom column edit panels - 'Number of columns for custom metadata in the edit metadata dialog' and 'Order of custom column(s) in edit metadata'

I find it easier to enter, and change metadata in the book list. I have a couple of Views (via the View Manager optional PI) with different column layouts, and one can drag columns around for one off situations.

Originally Posted by barlowrm

On a similar note: is there a way to split the "Custom metadata" tab into different tabs, maybe with custom names, and decide where the custom fields must be displayed?

No there's no way to do that, short of diving into the code.

BR

[barlowrm]

Thanks @BetterRed,

this is very helpful.

Cheers,

Andrea.

[DaltonST]

@barlowrm:

On a similar note: is there a way to split the "Custom metadata" tab into different tabs

Yes. The way to create Virtual Tabs in Edit Metadata is by using the Job Spy Plus plug-in's GUI Tool named "Protect/Unprotect a Custom Column from the 'Edit Metadata' dialogs (excluding the 'S&R' tab within Bulk Edit)".

Of course, you absolutely do not have to use the Favorites plug-in to use this GUI Tool, but many people do.

See the attached image, plus the related images in the Original Post of JS+:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=269911


DaltonST

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@barlowrm - There are 3 basic options in Preferences->Behaviour->Edit metadata (single) layout. And there are two tweaks that provide further control over the custom column edit panels - 'Number of columns for custom metadata in the edit metadata dialog' and 'Order of custom column(s) in edit metadata'

BR

I'm probably missing the obvious, but which of the 3 basic options should I use in Preferences->Behaviour->Edit metadata (single) layout? No matter which I select, there doesn't appear to be any difference in the actual custom metadata screen.

Also, I can't find 'Number of columns for custom metadata in the edit metadata dialog' and 'Order of custom column(s) in edit metadata' in Edit metadata (single) layout.

What I'd really like is not to show the subseries stuff.

Thanks for any help.

[DaltonST]

@peaceridge:

What I'd really like is not to show the subseries stuff.

Easy.

The JS+ GUI Tool "Protect/Unprotect a Custom Column from the 'Edit Metadata' dialogs (excluding the 'S&R' tab within Bulk Edit)." was designed exactly for that purpose.

See the image attached below for an example.

JS+ OP: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=269911


DaltonST

[peaceridge]

DaltonST Thanks so much! Seems to be working just great and is exactly what I wanted. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=269911 has been a great help. However, clicking the eye icon doesn't do anything - do I need to set something so it shows the last defaults?

[DaltonST]

The icon itself is used only to invoke the Job Spy job dialog tool itself. You have to have run a job for it to show anything. The OP explains it. Configure your personal N via customization per the JS+ menu.

DaltonST

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

I'm probably missing the obvious, but which of the 3 basic options should I use in Preferences->Behaviour->Edit metadata (single) layout? No matter which I select, there doesn't appear to be any difference in the actual custom metadata screen.

Also, I can't find 'Number of columns for custom metadata in the edit metadata dialog' and 'Order of custom column(s) in edit metadata' in Edit metadata (single) layout.

They are in Preferences->Tweaks, type 'metadata' in the Find box and click Next until you find them.

BR

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

They are in Preferences->Tweaks, type 'metadata' in the Find box and click Next until you find them.

BR

Thanks, this is also a great way to get what I want.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Thanks, this is also a great way to get what I want.

Safer too - a) you're not dependent on a plugin, b) or the exploitation of undocumented features. As in all things - less is better, least is best

BR

[peaceridge]

BetterRed Trying your method -
What is wrong with my syntax?

content_server_will_display = ['*']
content_server_wont_display = [‘#subseries’,‘#read’,‘#toarch’,‘#notes’,‘#dateread ’,‘#pages’]

calibre, version 2.72.0
ERROR: Failed: There was a syntax error in your tweak. Click the show details button for details.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\preferences\tweaks.py", line 505, in apply_tweak
File "<string>", line 5
content_server_wont_display = [‘#subseries’,‘#read’,‘#toarch’,‘#notes’,‘#dateread ’,‘#pages’]
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

[chaley]

@peaceridge: don't use forward (’) and reverse single quotes (‘). Use only straight quotes (') as shown in the examples.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by chaley

@peaceridge: don't use forward (’) and reverse single quotes (‘). Use only straight quotes (') as shown in the examples.

Thanks so much, guess I'll copy and paste as my keyboard doesn't have the straight ones!

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Thanks so much, guess I'll copy and paste as my keyboard doesn't have the straight ones!

If you're using Windows check your language Input Method setting, I sometimes switch to EN English (United Kingdom), IIRC its default IM produces angled single quotes so I swapped it to US International. There's an option to reset settings to default try that first.

BR