Filter out my read books

[dengar]

I created a custom metadata called "Read?" with a Yes or No answer. I added the column and I can now click the drop down when I have completed the book. I now want to filter out the read books so I dont see them anymore. I tried messing with tags but I cant find it. Any idea? Thanks.

[CWatkinsNash]

I have a custom yes/no column as well, named read_status. First I use the following search in the search box to find unchecked books:

#read_status:"=false"

You would replace read_status with your column ID.

Then I save that search using the buttons at the far end of the search bar (type a name in the save box and hit the green + sign). After it is saved (as "unread books"), it's available to use as a restricted view (the drop down and buttons before the search bar).

Hope that made sense. I have a bit of a headache.

[meads]

Originally Posted by dengar

I created a custom metadata called "Read?" with a Yes or No answer. I added the column and I can now click the drop down when I have completed the book. I now want to filter out the read books so I dont see them anymore. I tried messing with tags but I cant find it. Any idea? Thanks.

If your metadata is in the Tag Browser on the left, you click the Read? tag that says Yes and you will see the books with Yes.

Now if you click the same tag (Yes) Again, this will show all the books withOUT the Yes tag. Cool? Give it a try.

You can see the above actions in the Calibre video tutorials.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I take a reverse approach. I have a custom column labeled "Unread" that uses the star rating setup to indicate which books haven't been read. Whenever I add a book I haven't read yet but will someday, I assign one star to it (I have 949 books in that category). A book that needs to be higher up on my to read list gets two stars (there are 58 books there). Books on my immediate to read list gets three stars (that list has 7 books). Typically, these are new releases or books in a series I'm working my way through. When I finish a book, I delete the stars. Besides being more flexible than a mere yes/no column, it is easier for me to read at a glance. I use the tag browser to display which category I want to view. I can sort the "Unread" column itself if I want to view all the books that are unread. Clicking it twice moves the read books to the bottom of the list.

Post Edit: I just started using a fourth star for the book I'm currently reading on my computer/TV screen. That way, to quickly reopen the book on my computer, all I have to do is click on Unread in the Tag Browser, click on the four star entry, then double click on the book that pops up. Saves having to type in a title in the search field to find the book.

[Asawi]

Lady Fitzgerald, you're a genius! I'm stealing your system! Kudos!!

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I have a custom yes/no column as well, named read_status. First I use the following search in the search box to find unchecked books:

#read_status:"=false"

You would replace read_status with your column ID.

Then I save that search using the buttons at the far end of the search bar (type a name in the save box and hit the green + sign). After it is saved (as "unread books"), it's available to use as a restricted view (the drop down and buttons before the search bar).

Hope that made sense. I have a bit of a headache.

Thank you! And thanks to dengar for asking the question; I've been wondering how to do this for a while now

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Thank you! And thanks to dengar for asking the question; I've been wondering how to do this for a while now

You're very welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful

[dengar]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I have a custom yes/no column as well, named read_status. First I use the following search in the search box to find unchecked books:

#read_status:"=false"

You would replace read_status with your column ID.

Then I save that search using the buttons at the far end of the search bar (type a name in the save box and hit the green + sign). After it is saved (as "unread books"), it's available to use as a restricted view (the drop down and buttons before the search bar).

Hope that made sense. I have a bit of a headache.

Thanks! This did the trick. I might look into the star system later but this works for now

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by dengar

Thanks! This did the trick. I might look into the star system later but this works for now

Timely response, as my solution is no longer working after 0.7.48 update. I was able to fix it by changing the search to:

not #read_status:"=Yes"

Different syntax for accomplishing the same thing. It kind of freaked me out at first - I spent a bit of time updating calibre, then installing it on the new computer and syncing the library between them, only to start it and see no books on either computer. Then I realized it was only that the restricted view was returning no results.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Timely response, as my solution is no longer working after 0.7.48 update. I was able to fix it by changing the search to:

not #read_status:"=Yes"

Different syntax for accomplishing the same thing. It kind of freaked me out at first - I spent a bit of time updating calibre, then installing it on the new computer and syncing the library between them, only to start it and see no books on either computer. Then I realized it was only that the restricted view was returning no results.

That search (not #read_status:"=Yes") won't work for a yes/no column. You must not use the equals sign. The quotes are unnecessary, but they don't hurt anything.

The search rules are:

1) booleans are tristate (the tweak is not changed)
a) You can look for empty values with any of:
#colname:empty (as translated)
#colname:blank (as translated)
#colname:_empty (not translated)
#colname:false (not translated)
b) You can look for 'false' values (red X) with any of:
#colname:no (as translated)
#colname:unchecked (as translated)
#colname:_no (not translated)
#colname:true (not translated)
c) You can look for 'true' values (green check) with any of:
#colname:yes (as translated)
#colname:checked (as translated)
#colname:_yes (not translated)
#colname:true (not translated)

Note that #colname:true finds both red X and green check. That is because a search for true means search for 'set to something'.

2) booleans are NOT tristate (the tweak has been changed)
a) You can look for 'false' values (red X) or empty values with any of:
#colname:no (as translated)
#colname:unchecked (as translated)
#colname:_no (not translated)
#colname:false (not translated)
b) You can look for 'true' values (green check) with any of:
#colname:yes (as translated)
#colname:checked (as translated)
#colname:_yes (not translated)
#colname:true (not translated)

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by chaley

That search (not #read_status:"=Yes") won't work for a yes/no column. You must not use the equals sign. The quotes are unnecessary, but they don't hurt anything.

The search rules are:

1) booleans are tristate (the tweak is not changed)
a) You can look for empty values with any of:
#colname:empty
#colname:blank
#colname:false
b) You can look for 'false' values (red X) with any of:
#colname:no
#colname:unchecked
#colname:true
c) You can look for 'true' values (green check) with any of:
#colname:yes
#colname:checked
#colname:true

Note that #colname:true finds both red X and green check. That is because a search for true means search for 'set to something'.

2) booleans are NOT tristate (the tweak has been changed)
a) You can look for 'false' values (red X) or empty values with any of:
#colname:no
#colname:unchecked
#colname:false
b) You can look for 'true' values (green check) with any of:
#colname:yes
#colname:checked
#colname:true

Thanks for the info. I didn't notice that it wouldn't work that way because I modified the column type to text with fixed values (so I could include a "finish later" option). Because I was playing with it, I missed the fact that it started working only after I changed the column type. I'm not an effective troubleshooter on Sunday mornings.