Author name format

philandjan · 08-16-2011, 02:07 PM

Somehow, without any real effort, I have managed to screw-up (is that the right technical term?) the format of Author name. I haven't altered any tweaks or plug-ins (or at least I don't think I have).

I used to have Fn Ln, e.g. Edwin A. Abbott
with sort name Ln, Fn e.g. Abbott, Edwin A.

Now, I have got

Author name Ln, Fn e.g. Abbott, Edwin A.
which sorts as A., Abbott, Edwin (which I assume takes "A." as being Ln and "Abbott, Edwin" as being Fn.

How do I get back to where I used to be?

philandjan · 08-16-2011, 02:11 PM

I think that I may have inadvertently "copied all author sort values to author" in the Manage Authors.

Manichean · 08-16-2011, 02:40 PM

Use bulk metadata edit in regular expression search & replace mode. Searching for

Code:

(.*?), (.*?)

in the author field and replacing that with

Code:

\2 \1

should work.

philandjan · 08-16-2011, 02:47 PM

Thanks, Manichean.
I am sure that what you suggest will work if only I understood it!

Bearing in mind that I am a doddery old git (which I didn't state upfront), would you please translate your wisdom into language for an idiot, i.e. step by step.

Thanks.

philandjan · 08-16-2011, 03:07 PM

Manchean,
I used my brain and did what you suggested (having selected all books and then entering bulk edit) but it has made no difference.

The first author now is "DeCandido, Keith R.A." (which is how I would like the sort name to look) and the sort name shows as "A., DeCandido, Keith R." (which means nothing).

Manichean · 08-16-2011, 05:00 PM

I just tested this:
Select the affected books. Enter the bulk metadata screen and open the search & replace tab. Make sure the search mode is set to regular expression. Select 'authors' as the search and destination fields. In the search text field, input

Code:

^(.*?), (.*?)$

and in the replace text field, input

Code:

\2 \1

Note the preview fields, which should show sensible author names now. Hit OK. Your author names should be fixed now. Check the author_sort values. If they aren't right, open up the manage authors dialog by right-clicking on the author category in the tag browser. Select to recalculate author sort values from author values. Now everything should be fixed.

philandjan · 08-16-2011, 05:13 PM

All sorted.
Thanks very much for your help Manichean.

Manichean · 08-16-2011, 05:37 PM

You're welcome.

08-16-2011, 02:07 PM	#1
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	Author name format Somehow, without any real effort, I have managed to screw-up (is that the right technical term?) the format of Author name. I haven't altered any tweaks or plug-ins (or at least I don't think I have). I used to have Fn Ln, e.g. Edwin A. Abbott with sort name Ln, Fn e.g. Abbott, Edwin A. Now, I have got Author name Ln, Fn e.g. Abbott, Edwin A. which sorts as A., Abbott, Edwin (which I assume takes "A." as being Ln and "Abbott, Edwin" as being Fn. How do I get back to where I used to be?

08-16-2011, 02:40 PM	#3
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	Use bulk metadata edit in regular expression search & replace mode. Searching for Code: (.?), (.?) in the author field and replacing that with Code: \2 \1 should work.

08-16-2011, 05:00 PM	#6
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	I just tested this: Select the affected books. Enter the bulk metadata screen and open the search & replace tab. Make sure the search mode is set to regular expression. Select 'authors' as the search and destination fields. In the search text field, input Code: ^(.?), (.?)$ and in the replace text field, input Code: \2 \1 Note the preview fields, which should show sensible author names now. Hit OK. Your author names should be fixed now. Check the author_sort values. If they aren't right, open up the manage authors dialog by right-clicking on the author category in the tag browser. Select to recalculate author sort values from author values. Now everything should be fixed.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Correct Format for Author Name In Calibre	cynicalgamer	Sony Reader	2	12-26-2010 07:44 PM
Get to Know-an Author with Noahan Author Interview series!	NoahMGillman	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	22	12-19-2010 09:45 PM
Just Curious: Format of Author Field	xari	Calibre	5	09-03-2010 03:25 PM
Author Sort format	jdh	Calibre	6	08-14-2009 07:09 AM
Gen3 Not display Author and Title in Mobi format	Stuart Young	Bookeen	10	12-20-2007 05:46 PM

08-16-2011, 02:11 PM	#2
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	I think that I may have inadvertently "copied all author sort values to author" in the Manage Authors.

08-16-2011, 02:47 PM	#4
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	Thanks, Manichean. I am sure that what you suggest will work if only I understood it! Bearing in mind that I am a doddery old git (which I didn't state upfront), would you please translate your wisdom into language for an idiot, i.e. step by step. Thanks.

08-16-2011, 03:07 PM	#5
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	Manchean, I used my brain and did what you suggested (having selected all books and then entering bulk edit) but it has made no difference. The first author now is "DeCandido, Keith R.A." (which is how I would like the sort name to look) and the sort name shows as "A., DeCandido, Keith R." (which means nothing).

08-16-2011, 05:13 PM	#7
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	All sorted. Thanks very much for your help Manichean.

08-16-2011, 05:37 PM	#8
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	You're welcome.

Advert

Advert