Different settings for author_sort_copy_method for different libraries?

[Robin.K]

Sorry if i'm showing myself as a little idiot..

I have two libraries, one for books and one for magazines.
As Calibre is great for books but not so gorgeous for magazines, i use the author field for the magazine name.
I have set the author_sort_copy_method to:
author_sort_copy_method = 'copy'

But now I noticed, this applies also to my Book's library, on witch i was the setting to be 'comma'.

Is there a way to automate this change changing the Library or saving the Settings in the Library's Folder?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Robin.K

Sorry if i'm showing myself as a little idiot..

I have two libraries, one for books and one for magazines.
As Calibre is great for books but not so gorgeous for magazines, i use the author field for the magazine name.
I have set the author_sort_copy_method to:
author_sort_copy_method = 'copy'

But now I noticed, this applies also to my Book's library, on witch i was the setting to be 'comma'.

Is there a way to automate this change changing the Library or saving the Settings in the Library's Folder?

IIRC sort is a per user preference.
You could create a second Logon on your computer and keep one of libraries attached to that user (thus personal preferences apply)

[Robin.K]

Thanks a lot, even if this was not what i expected ;-) now i know why...
In my naivety i imagined all settings was stored in the library ;-)

I think it will be easier to change the settings or change the Author sort in Managing Authors depending on how many items i import.

Creating a new user causes subsequent problems p.ex. storage of the library files and the books itself, and the elements to be imported.

[BetterRed]

Robin.K - I have the same issue

Try the Quick Preferences plugin. When I tried using it it didn't work for me in a procedural sense, but that was a long time ago when I was a calibre neophyte - if I were to try it today it could well do what I want.

So my workaround is: I add 'books' to my Media library (where I want 'copy') via an installation of calibre portable. Portable has a separate configuration folder where the Tweak settings etc are held. I only use it when I am adding 'books' to that library.

BR

[Robin.K]

Thanks for this Workaround...

The Quick Preferences plugin works fine dealing with file names but not for the mentioned purpose...

btw, portable is not an option for me, i'm on a mac.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Robin.K

Thanks for this Workaround...

The Quick Preferences plugin works fine dealing with file names but not for the mentioned purpose...

Maybe that's why i gave up on it

Originally Posted by Robin.K

btw, portable is not an option for me, i'm on a mac.

Bummer.

Not sure if this is doable on a Mac, if its not then get rid of it

• Create two sets of configuration data, one (e.g. calibre/books_config) with the tweak set to 'comma' the other (e.g. calibre/magazines_config) with the tweak set to 'copy'.
• In a script that starts calibre pop a question, "Configure for Books or Magazines?"
• Set the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environment variable according to the response - to calibre/books_config if it's 'B' or calibre/magazines_config if it's 'M'. See Environment variables

I've considered doing this on Windows, but my Portable solution does the same thing without having to write and maintain an automation script - my motto is 'Less is better, but least is best'.

What we want is a plugin that sets the author_sort_copy_method tweak to a designated value when a specified library is opened at calibre start or a library switch - maybe someone will put their hand up to write one

BR

[Robin.K]

I first supposed Quick Preferences does exactly this job: Quick Change Preferences ;-) and not only Change the import settings ^^

The Idea with the start-script is not a bad one, thus, i prefer when it's in Calibre and not an own solution, because some very comfortable things won't work any more (p.ex. quick change of Libraries)

Maybe a doable way for all is allowing configuration also as a per library setting. If in the Library folder is a config file take this settings, else use (default) user settings...

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Robin.K

Maybe a doable way for all is allowing configuration also as a per library setting. If in the Library folder is a config file take this settings, else use (default) user settings...

The global configuration data is a set of nested directories, when flattened mine has ~150 files that are not icon overrides, and ~280 that are icon overrides.

One of the downsides to configuration swapping, is that one ends up with multiple sets of supposedly global settings. If you want a change available everywhere, such as a plugin update, you have to apply it in each configuration.

That's another reason I prefer to continue using portable (in this instance, self-contained would be a better label) for adding 'books' to my Media and Journals libraries. The only customisations are: the author_sort_copy_method tweak, plus the View Manager and GetFileName plugins.

I'd be lost without portable, if I want to test a calibre or plugin beta, or try doing something different, I just install a fresh portable and do it there. Much easier than messing with different user accounts or virtual machines.

Maybe a MAC guru could suggest how to create the equivalent of Windows portable (self contained) on OSX.

BR