Want downloaded author metadata to go from, say, C. S. Lew to CS Lew

[droopy]

I'd like downloaded author metadata to remove the spaces and dots in the initials of author names.

For example, "C. S. Lewis" should automagically appear as "CS Lewis".

"John Q. Smith" should autoconvert to "John Q Smith"

I select a row, press Control-D, choose "Configure Download", click "Create Rules to transform author names", click "Add rule". But now I'm stuck. I'm guessing I should choose "matches regex pattern". But I don't know what to put in the next two blanks.

Can someone please tell me what I should have in these blanks?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by droopy

I'd like downloaded author metadata to remove the spaces and dots in the initials of author names.

For example, "C. S. Lewis" should automagically appear as "CS Lewis".

"John Q. Smith" should autoconvert to "John Q Smith"

I select a row, press Control-D, choose "Configure Download", click "Create Rules to transform author names", click "Add rule". But now I'm stuck. I'm guessing I should choose "matches regex pattern". But I don't know what to put in the next two blanks.

Can someone please tell me what I should have in these blanks?

You could use the Quality Check plugin to reformat author initials. Customize the plugin to say author initials should be AB which will remove spaces and periods.

BTW, C. S. Lewis used both spaces and periods in his signature as in the one from a scan of one of his letters.

[droopy]

DNSB, yes, I have the QualityCheck plugin. And I already do what you're suggesting. But that works after a book is imported. I'd rather get the initials formatted according to my preference before they become part of the library. This is why I ask about configuring names in the Configure Metadata section.

[DNSB]

You might want to check the Regex Search in Advanced Search Box thread in this forum.

You'll to modify the regex since he was looking to change, for example, C S Lewis to C. S. Lewis.

[kovidgoyal]

Preferences->Metadata download->Create rules to transform author names

[droopy]

Originally Posted by droopy

I'd like downloaded author metadata to remove the spaces and dots in the initials of author names.

For example, "C. S. Lewis" should automagically appear as "CS Lewis".

"John Q. Smith" should autoconvert to "John Q Smith"

I select a row, press Control-D, choose "Configure Download", click "Create Rules to transform author names", click "Add rule". But now I'm stuck. I'm guessing I should choose "matches regex pattern". But I don't know what to put in the next two blanks.

Can someone please tell me what I should have in these blanks?

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Preferences->Metadata download->Create rules to transform author names

Hi Kovid. I'm aware of that. I just don't know how to do regex.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by droopy

Hi Kovid. I'm aware of that. I just don't know how to do regex.

You don't need regex if the cases are the same. You can change C.S. Lewis into CS Lewis and C. S. Lewis into CS Lewis without regex.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You don't need regex if the cases are the same. You can change C.S. Lewis into CS Lewis and C. S. Lewis into CS Lewis without regex.

Uhhhh... How? I don't see any way in those rules to change the "spelling" of an author other than with regex.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by chaley

Uhhhh... How? I don't see any way in those rules to change the "spelling" of an author other than with regex.

Me neither stripping dot and or optional spaces

Search <<<Not tested
([A-Z])\.*\s*([A-Z])\.*\s*(.+)

Replace
\1\2 \3

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by chaley

Uhhhh... How? I don't see any way in those rules to change the "spelling" of an author other than with regex.

Here one way to do it without regex.

[JSWolf]

The best way to do it does use regex.

[georgemk]

@JSWolf
The OP was asking for a general way to change any author. The CS Lewis change was an example of what they wish to change. Why are you fixated on one name when the post title points to a general change of name?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by georgemk

@JSWolf
The OP was asking for a general way to change any author. The CS Lewis change was an example of what they wish to change. Why are you fixated on one name when the post title points to a general change of name?

There is no general way to deal with different author names. You have to have a separate entry for each author.

[BetterRed]

The reason I settled on getting the Author(s) and Title from the file name was that I find it easier to get the values I want using my file manager's simple UI and 3rd party renamers etc. And they are the same tools I use to create a file name for everything else.

If I get the author and title right and I can extract the ISBN I can download the rest or type it into the Book List cells.

BR

[droopy]

Originally Posted by georgemk

@JSWolf
The OP was asking for a general way to change any author. The CS Lewis change was an example of what they wish to change. Why are you fixated on one name when the post title points to a general change of name?

GeorgeMK is correct. The CS Lewis name was just one example.

Are you folks sure Regex can't automate this?