Comments field overwrite - is it a 'must'?

travger · 09-08-2011, 03:57 AM

Is there a way to not lose things in the 'comments' field when I download metadata? I know I can untick comments download, but usually I want to preserve bits of both existing and new data.

Now I have to jump through some convoluted hoops.
1. one-book-at-a-time download
2. copy previous info in 'comments' before hitting ok
3. if I hit cancel, then I don't get series or publication info
4. I must copy text from download window, paste it, compare/merge it with existing text, copy, download again, paste text back to comments.

It has become so that I find it preferable to fill all fields by hand rather than losing my comments.

Would be much easier just to tack new text to the end of previous one (seems to me that once upon a time it even was the case, but I may be mistaken).

kovidgoyal · 09-08-2011, 11:04 AM

comments are stored as HTML, merging HTML is sufficiently painful that I lack the motivation to do this. But I wont refuse a patch that adds an option to implement it.

travger · 09-08-2011, 12:37 PM

patch, please, somebody!

eternal thanks from all tired users will rise...

09-08-2011, 03:57 AM	#1
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	Comments field overwrite - is it a 'must'? Is there a way to not lose things in the 'comments' field when I download metadata? I know I can untick comments download, but usually I want to preserve bits of both existing and new data. Now I have to jump through some convoluted hoops. 1. one-book-at-a-time download 2. copy previous info in 'comments' before hitting ok 3. if I hit cancel, then I don't get series or publication info 4. I must copy text from download window, paste it, compare/merge it with existing text, copy, download again, paste text back to comments. It has become so that I find it preferable to fill all fields by hand rather than losing my comments. Would be much easier just to tack new text to the end of previous one (seems to me that once upon a time it even was the case, but I may be mistaken).

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Is Comments field XHTML compliant?	itimpi	Development	4	08-24-2011 12:52 PM
Option to overwrite comments on import?	zed88	Calibre	6	05-05-2011 01:29 PM
Comments field	emeybee	Calibre	1	05-27-2010 02:01 PM
Comments field	banjomike	Calibre	7	04-08-2010 02:18 PM
Comments field	hyperact	Calibre	3	12-28-2008 01:38 PM

09-08-2011, 11:04 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,211 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	comments are stored as HTML, merging HTML is sufficiently painful that I lack the motivation to do this. But I wont refuse a patch that adds an option to implement it.

09-08-2011, 12:37 PM	#3
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	patch, please, somebody! eternal thanks from all tired users will rise...

Advert