How to mark currently reading books easily?

[pavelh]

Hi!
I am trying to figure out a way to mark certain books in my library (not that it matters, but simply those I am currently reading). I would like to be able to switch this mark on/off quickly, but I have more or less given up on this. Mostly I want a quick access to these books when I open Calibre so I think having them available in one of the "folders" in the left side menu (I don't think it has a name, so I marked it with red color on the attached jpg) might be the best. Although I can add a category there, I cannot add books into it and I don't know if that is even the best way to go about what I need.

If there's anyone with a nice idea about how to achieve anything like this, pls, let me know.

Many thank in advance for any kind help!

Best regards,
P

P.S.
I admit as much as I love the basic functionality of Calibre, I am frustrated with its complexity and some of it's UI logic. There is so much I need to research in my life to get things done at work, frustrating buggy software I need to work around and more and having to spend even more of the same time and effort on a book database... I just can't mentally go further there. But I wanted to admit I have not studied and understood the complexities of Calibre and I cannot at this point.

[Lukusaukko]

You could set up a custom column that had values like "Currently reading, finished" and so on, and then set up a virtual library that searches for that information. Then you would just mark any book in your library with that information, and it would show up in the virtual library.

For example, I have a custom column Status (lookup name: "status" type: "Text, with fixed set of permitted values") that I use to mark books that I have already finished, that are in my to-be-read queue, or that need to be fixed to my liking. Then I have a virtual library called READ with a search expression "#status:"=Finished" to filter any books I have already finished.

[Lukusaukko]

Come to think of it, virtual library is not even necessary: custom columns show up in the tag browser, and you can drag & drop books into them, so it would be very easy to do what you want by just setting up a custom column.

[pavelh]

Thank you! I will try that. I've learned how to do the columns, but never used them for anything.

P

[pavelh]

Originally Posted by Lukusaukko

You could set up a custom column that had values like "Currently reading, finished" and so on, and then set up a virtual library that searches for that information. Then you would just mark any book in your library with that information, and it would show up in the virtual library.

For example, I have a custom column Status (lookup name: "status" type: "Text, with fixed set of permitted values") that I use to mark books that I have already finished, that are in my to-be-read queue, or that need to be fixed to my liking. Then I have a virtual library called READ with a search expression "#status:"=Finished" to filter any books I have already finished.

Following your example, the best I seem to be able to do, is to get a custom column in the Tag browser with a child item which is its value and a number of titles that have this value. To get the book there, I need to select the book then start editing metadata, go to user metadata tab and set the user column value there.
Well, didn't expect to be able to drag&drop books, but it would be nice.
So this is the best we can get?


P

[pavelh]

BTW is my karma number realistic? Or does the 666 at the end mean something nasty? LOL
I don't think I was that helpful, but who knows...

[Lukusaukko]

I'm able to drag & drop books into my custom Status category, so it should work - though Calibre is sometimes a bit picky about how you do it, because depending a bit on how you click the book, it can start editing the entry or selecting many. But drag and drop definitively works.



I would suggest you do something like this, and set up the column with values like "reading, abandoned,finished" so you can easily drag a book to "reading" and then when done with it, either to "abandoned" or "finished".

[theducks]

You have a KOBO

The Kobo Utilities can read the Reading status on your device and update a custom column.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=215339

Note: this is not Cross brands compatible (not that many brands even support similar Calibre ACCESSIBLE status

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by theducks

You have a KOBO

The Kobo Utilities can read the Reading status on your device and update a custom column.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=215339

Note: this is not Cross brands compatible (not that many brands even support similar Calibre ACCESSIBLE status

It does work well also to set up a new Kobo ereader, even a different model with unread, reading (and position) and finished.
The Bookmarks option in Kobo Utilities and the Update Metadata in it both do more that expected.

Calibre should be updated from your Kobo before you sign out, or sign in or factory reset etc.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by theducks

You have a KOBO

The Kobo Utilities can read the Reading status on your device and update a custom column.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=215339

Note: this is not Cross brands compatible (not that many brands even support similar Calibre ACCESSIBLE status

Originally Posted by Quoth

It does work well also to set up a new Kobo ereader, even a different model with unread, reading (and position) and finished.
The Bookmarks option in Kobo Utilities and the Update Metadata in it both do more that expected.

Calibre should be updated from your Kobo before you sign out, or sign in or factory reset etc.

I have a stored template, readstatus(), which pulls from a Kobo Utilities #percentread column and a Reading list #readinglist column.

program:

	if $$#percentread >=#1 && $$#percentread <=#99
	then 'currentlyreading' 

	elif "To Be Read" in $#readinglist && $$#percentread ==#0
	then 'toberead' 

	elif $$#percentread >=#100
	then 'read' 

	elif $$#percentread == 'None'
	then 'undefined' 

	elif $$#percentread >=#0
	then 'unread' 

	fi

I use it mainly for template checks and the like. Then I realized I could also have them appear in the tag browser.



Putting the template directly into the composite column also works and is simpler for most people.

[Bookstooge]

I just add a "Currently Reading" tag to any books I am currently reading and then have a virtual library set to the tag. Then I have set my virtual libraries as tabs so all I have to do is hit the "Currently Reading" tab.
https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/virtual_libraries.html

[Tarana]

You can just use the tag CURRENTLY. Then go to TAGS, scroll to C, select CURRENTLY and all the books with that tag will appear. When you are done, delete the tag.

I use this for tracking what I have loaded on my Mom's ereader so that when she is done, I can mark them all read (Mom in my 'read' column) and load another bunch of books on for her.

[Lukusaukko]

It slipped my mind to mention that in order for the drag and drop to work, you need at least one book in each category so that the category will appear in the sidebar. Since I usually have multiple books at various stages, I didn't think of it. The same applies whether it's a tag, a custom column or whatever - at least one book needs to have that data because the sidebar is basically just filters for the library view. Sorry for the confusion.

Others have mentioned KoboUtilities, which is good if your usage pattern fits - it needs a connection to Calibre, so if you are like me and connect only every now and then to upload a bunch of books at a time and then only after a long while, it doesn't work that well because it can't sync (and at least in my case, KoboUtilities doesn't sync the status when connecting to Calibre via Koreader's wifi plugin, which is what I usually do).

[pavelh]

[QUOTE=Lukusaukko;4303248]I'm able to drag & drop books into my custom Status category, so it should work - though Calibre is sometimes a bit picky about how you do it, because depending a bit on how you click the book, it can start editing the entry or selecting many. But drag and drop definitively works.

Thank you for your time and helpful advice, @Lukusaukko! I have updated Calibre and in the latest version the drag and drop works. Much better than before. I would prefer a different workflow, but this will do.
many thanks!

P

[pavelh]

Originally Posted by theducks

You have a KOBO

The Kobo Utilities can read the Reading status on your device and update a custom column.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=215339

Note: this is not Cross brands compatible (not that many brands even support similar Calibre ACCESSIBLE status

Thanks for the tip! I don't want to sync reading between Calibre and my Kobos this way though. Still, I will try to check the plugin when I have some time.

P