Plug-In Proposal: Phone/tablet barcode/isbn scanning

Philosopher · 02-06-2015, 07:00 PM

Here is a simple idea that would be very useful - at least it appears at first glance something that one with familiarity of the parts of this would see as fairly straightforward.

I would like to more "effeciently" begin to incorporate my "traditional" library into my Calbre database - meaning my "traditional" (hard/soft ie paper) books rather than those I specifically have in electronic format.

I'd like to see one major function for a plugin - with a second element as ideal (I'll make this simple and first - just a standard "format" for "print" just like for epub, PDF, etc).

But most importantly - with that built into it - what I would really love to see developed is a plug-in that I can scan the barcode/isbn of a print book using say my phone or tablet - and have it then automatically look up the book - and put all the data into a record, with the format being "print" (or something like that) - and so one could reasonably input a large number of traditional print books into the library in a fairly reasonable time.

I don't have the time or even more the expertise (if I had the time - perhaps I could gain the expertise - but I don't) to do this myself. But I wonder if others think this would be viable and valuable - and if a discussion could be begun to work towards or encourage this to be developed.

Philosopher · 02-06-2015, 07:14 PM

I guess - for the lesser issue of format - it would be ideal to have a "softcover" or "hardcover" - rather than what I first suggested ("print") format choice.

theducks · 02-06-2015, 07:22 PM

Add from ISBN is a built in feature (has been for a long time).

I have a real laser scanner (barcode wedge), but if you can have your phone save the values read to a text file, Add from ISBN can process the file if you paste (or type) the values into the box

(Add from ISBN is an option on the Add Books Icon)

Dopedangel · 02-06-2015, 08:56 PM

Get Book Catalogue from here
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...atalogue&hl=en

You can add books using the barcode it allows syncing with goodreads as does calibre. So you should be able to get all your books into calibre this way. I don't use calibre goodreads plugin so cant say how well it will work.

BetterRed · 02-06-2015, 09:07 PM

@Philosopher -IIRC someone at MR had their barcode reader write the ISBNs to a text file, then they edited the text file into something that could be used by the Import List PI. I assume the author and title were dummy values, which were overwritten when metadata was downloaded using the ISBN.

Might be in the Import List thread,

BR

Pr.BarnArt · 02-07-2015, 07:53 AM

Would be a nice project. I will think about it.
At the moment I am investigating ios - programming

ddjohn · 10-05-2015, 11:40 AM

Philosopher's plug-in proposal is a large part of what I would like to do also. Keep in mind that I am not a hi-tech engineer, so most of the replies so far talk about things I don't understand and use a lot of abbreviations that I'm not familiar with (yet). But if there were a simple way to add my hard copy and paperback materials to a Calibre library, that is step one. Then I need to export a list of titles and authors that I can carry about on my phone (Android) or iPad Mini. Too many times I'm buying books at the used book store, only to find out that I already own a copy of that book. I'd love to be able to check my owned books while out shopping (no internet access for using the Calibre server).

eschwartz · 10-07-2015, 04:12 AM

But this already exists, as mentioned in post #3.

You will need a barcode scanner (there is probably an app that will do

) and then simply scan all your paper books into calibre.

Calibre Companion is an Android app written by one of our members, which works with calibre to maintain a catalog of your ebooks. You can easily add a blank TXT format to each of the virtual (paper) book formats, from the Add books toolbar dropdown.

Sync to Calibre Companion (transferring the empty TXT files which don't take up much space) and ou can search in CC with most of the flexibility of calibre itself.

theducks · 10-07-2015, 11:40 AM

The scan eschwartz and I mentioned is a Barcode scan (like the stores use), Not a Page scan for OCR and pictures)

If your booklist already exists as a Text file, or better yet: Spreadsheet
Save it as CSV is 100% the way to go.
Just Use https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...05&postcount=1 with that CSV

02-06-2015, 07:00 PM	#1
Philosopher Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kindle	Plug-In Proposal: Phone/tablet barcode/isbn scanning Here is a simple idea that would be very useful - at least it appears at first glance something that one with familiarity of the parts of this would see as fairly straightforward. I would like to more "effeciently" begin to incorporate my "traditional" library into my Calbre database - meaning my "traditional" (hard/soft ie paper) books rather than those I specifically have in electronic format. I'd like to see one major function for a plugin - with a second element as ideal (I'll make this simple and first - just a standard "format" for "print" just like for epub, PDF, etc). But most importantly - with that built into it - what I would really love to see developed is a plug-in that I can scan the barcode/isbn of a print book using say my phone or tablet - and have it then automatically look up the book - and put all the data into a record, with the format being "print" (or something like that) - and so one could reasonably input a large number of traditional print books into the library in a fairly reasonable time. I don't have the time or even more the expertise (if I had the time - perhaps I could gain the expertise - but I don't) to do this myself. But I wonder if others think this would be viable and valuable - and if a discussion could be begun to work towards or encourage this to be developed.

02-06-2015, 09:07 PM	#5
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,550 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@Philosopher -IIRC someone at MR had their barcode reader write the ISBNs to a text file, then they edited the text file into something that could be used by the Import List PI. I assume the author and title were dummy values, which were overwritten when metadata was downloaded using the ISBN. Might be in the Import List thread, BR Last edited by BetterRed; 02-06-2015 at 09:10 PM.

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02-06-2015, 07:14 PM	#2
Philosopher Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kindle	I guess - for the lesser issue of format - it would be ideal to have a "softcover" or "hardcover" - rather than what I first suggested ("print") format choice.

02-06-2015, 07:22 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,778 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Add from ISBN is a built in feature (has been for a long time). I have a real laser scanner (barcode wedge), but if you can have your phone save the values read to a text file, Add from ISBN can process the file if you paste (or type) the values into the box (Add from ISBN is an option on the Add Books Icon)

02-06-2015, 08:56 PM	#4
Dopedangel Wizard Posts: 1,759 Karma: 30063305 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Device: Boyue	Get Book Catalogue from here https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...atalogue&hl=en You can add books using the barcode it allows syncing with goodreads as does calibre. So you should be able to get all your books into calibre this way. I don't use calibre goodreads plugin so cant say how well it will work.

02-07-2015, 07:53 AM	#6
Pr.BarnArt Addict Posts: 381 Karma: 401800 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Pocketbook 902 / Ipad air/ kindle paperwhite	Would be a nice project. I will think about it. At the moment I am investigating ios - programming

10-05-2015, 11:40 AM	#7
ddjohn Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Palm TX; Pandigital-7W	Philosopher's plug-in proposal is a large part of what I would like to do also. Keep in mind that I am not a hi-tech engineer, so most of the replies so far talk about things I don't understand and use a lot of abbreviations that I'm not familiar with (yet). But if there were a simple way to add my hard copy and paperback materials to a Calibre library, that is step one. Then I need to export a list of titles and authors that I can carry about on my phone (Android) or iPad Mini. Too many times I'm buying books at the used book store, only to find out that I already own a copy of that book. I'd love to be able to check my owned books while out shopping (no internet access for using the Calibre server).

10-07-2015, 04:12 AM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	But this already exists, as mentioned in post #3. You will need a barcode scanner (there is probably an app that will do ) and then simply scan all your paper books into calibre. Calibre Companion is an Android app written by one of our members, which works with calibre to maintain a catalog of your ebooks. You can easily add a blank TXT format to each of the virtual (paper) book formats, from the Add books toolbar dropdown. Sync to Calibre Companion (transferring the empty TXT files which don't take up much space) and ou can search in CC with most of the flexibility of calibre itself.

10-07-2015, 11:40 AM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,778 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The scan eschwartz and I mentioned is a Barcode scan (like the stores use), Not a Page scan for OCR and pictures) If your booklist already exists as a Text file, or better yet: Spreadsheet Save it as CSV is 100% the way to go. Just Use https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...05&postcount=1 with that CSV