Batch jobs

[anthony.burton4]

Is there a way to create scripted batch jobs?

i.e. Let's say that I want to perform some meta-data modifications - search and replace for various things and it's something I do periodically, always using the same methods.

e.g.
1) Replace "(epub)" with ""
2) Replace "(zip)" with ""
3) Reverse author name
4) Do another operation
5) etc

Is there any way of doing this in calibre?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by anthony.burton4

Is there a way to create scripted batch jobs?

i.e. Let's say that I want to perform some meta-data modifications - search and replace for various things and it's something I do periodically, always using the same methods.

e.g.
1) Replace "(epub)" with ""
2) Replace "(zip)" with ""
3) Reverse author name
4) Do another operation
5) etc

Is there any way of doing this in calibre?

Search and replace has a 'Save' and 'Use Saved' near the top

[anthony.burton4]

That can only record a single operation - a single change to the meta-data.

I asked if there was a means of creating batch jobs - i.e. multiple changes to the meta-data that could be applied to single or multiple books.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by anthony.burton4

That can only record a single operation - a single change to the meta-data.

I asked if there was a means of creating batch jobs - i.e. multiple changes to the meta-data that could be applied to single or multiple books.

You need to go back and look Bulk Metadata editing again

If I select 1000 books: fill out the form (forms if you have User columns), and Apply or OK, that applied those changes (Add or Remove) to all those books.

OR

If I use the last Tab (S&R) (This is the one with a save for later use option)
The change will be applied to ALL selected books THAT MATCH the Search

(I just completed a 1000 book (simple) S&R. it took 1 minute tops . The metadata backup ran in background for lots longer )
IT is true that S&R does not provide for a chained set of replaces, if you use a leading number when you save, you should easily click and APPLY in a sequence on the selected group of books

[anthony.burton4]

I couldn't make it clearer that I am trying to apply multiple meta-data changes concurrently to a book or books.

You are answering about applying a SINGLE change to multiple books - which I am well aware of how to do.

And yes - you can edit multiple fields using the batch update tabs 1 & 2, but all of the changes I am referring to are 3rd tab changes - I use a lot of regular expression edits, and these seem to only be able to apply one at a time.

I am aware that there are various mechanisms that do not make it to the UI that can be used with calibre, so I am hoping one of these can provide a way.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by anthony.burton4

I couldn't make it clearer that I am trying to apply multiple meta-data changes concurrently to a book or books.

You are answering about applying a SINGLE change to multiple books - which I am well aware of how to do.

And yes - you can edit multiple fields using the batch update tabs 1 & 2, but all of the changes I am referring to are 3rd tab changes - I use a lot of regular expression edits, and these seem to only be able to apply one at a time.

I am aware that there are various mechanisms that do not make it to the UI that can be used with calibre, so I am hoping one of these can provide a way.

You will need to use the CLI. (see the Help pages)
for that, you will probably need the book Id(s) to control what books get applied.

Sorry, I am having problems wrapping my head around why you would need to do this so many times, that the various features can't be used.

In the Tags browser, there is 'Manage...' which allows renaming, deletion of tags,publishers,series that affects the whole library. (IMHO very useful for normalizing your data)

[Adoby]

Originally Posted by anthony.burton4

Is there a way to create scripted batch jobs?

Yes, but not IN calibre. It is possible to write fully automated scripts to change metadata, convert, change cover or do other things, using the shell of your operating system, or in some programming language of your choice that supports regular expressions, with the help of the command line tools that comes with calibre.

It is usually MUCH more convenient to directly use the gui in calibre.

http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cli/cli-index.html