Displaying "author_sort"

[dkperez]

In my calibre display, I have Authors, which shows the authors as first name last name even though it's sorted by last name...

I'd like to have the Authors column DISPLAY as last name, first name - which is THINK is how it's sorted in author_sort...

So, can I have author_sort show up as the Author? Or some other thing that'll display with the last name first, as the author column is sorted...

[Synamon]

You can manipulate author names using the Tag Browser and Tweaks: http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq....es-and-sorting

[chaley]

Originally Posted by dkperez

I'd like to have the Authors column DISPLAY as last name, first name - which is THINK is how it's sorted in author_sort...

The authors field displays what is in the authors box. If you want it to display LN, FN, then you need to enter the authors as LN, FN.

See the calibre manual section How does calibre manage author names and sorting for more information.

[dkperez]

Yup, I'd read both those sections before I asked... Apparently, I"m not getting something because as I read it, this

You can control whether the Tag Browser display authors using their names or their sort values by setting the categories_use_field_for_author_name tweak in Preferences->Tweaks

should have displayed the values from author_sort once I changed the categories_use_field_for_author_name to "author_sort"...

But it didn't change.

I'm happy with entering them as first name last name, but I'd like to display last name, first name.

What am I missing?

[chaley]

Originally Posted by dkperez

You can control whether the Tag Browser display authors using their names or their sort values by setting the categories_use_field_for_author_name tweak in Preferences->Tweaks

should have displayed the values from author_sort once I changed the categories_use_field_for_author_name to "author_sort"...

That tweak changes what is shown in the tag browser, not on the main spreadsheet.

There is no way to change what is shown in the authors column on the main spreadsheet other than by changing what is in the author field for each book.

[Synamon]

This is apparently frowned upon by the developers, but I created a custom column for author_sort to display LN, FN in the library view.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Synamon

This is apparently frowned upon by the developers, but I created a custom column for author_sort to display LN, FN in the library view.

Not frowned upon. If that solves a problem for you, then do it.

The danger is that when looking at the book's author_sort column, one thinks that it is what is in the author column. This can cause no end of confusion when sending to device, editing metadata, or using the tag browser. It can also create problems if for some reason the author_sort differs substantially from the author, as can happen when dealing with LNs starting with von, van, de, du, della, etc. If someone wants to work with authors in LN, FN format (as I do), then it is much better to enter all the authors in that format. There will be many fewer surprises.