How to add sigil to main toolbar

[Capricorn]

Hi everyone,

I like to edit my ebooks using the calibre edit book tool AND sigil. So far I have the calibre edit book tool available in the main toolbar and I can open the ebook with sigil, using the right-click on the format epub in the "book details" window. I now would like to add sigil to the main toolbar instead of going through the book details as it would be less steps to do every time. Is this possible?

So far, looking at help, and searching in the forum with "add to main toolbar" did not seem to generate anything interesting.

I do not want to use the "open with" plugin because of one issue (see this thread and look at posts #26 to #30).

Any pointers and any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[kovidgoyal]

The only way you can add entries to the calibre toolbar is by writing a plugin. If the Open With plugin does not do the trick for you, then you will have to write your own.

Although I dont see what the extra steps are with the builtin open with functionality. In either case you need to make one click and then choose one entry from a popup menu. And you can even completely avoid all that, by simply assigning a keyboard shortcut to Open epub with Sigil in Preferences->Keyboard

[Capricorn]

Hi Kovid,

Writing a plugin is, I must say, way beyond my knowledge. I am already struggling enough with the enormous capabilities of Calibre, with HTML, CSS, Sigil, Regex, Epub, Conversion,....etc. ..etc. And as my brain only takes in things one small step at a time...
A keyboard shortcut is a very good idea. I am very much a GUI user and hence usually never think of using keyboard shortcuts.
Thank You for the pointer. And thank you for the marvelous program Calibre.

[cybmole]

Just set an open with... hotkey for sigil in the open with plugin. Or make sigil the default epub handler in Windows. I can highlight a book in calibre main listing then get to sigil by either a double click c k or my pressing R.

[BetterRed]

@Capricorn - IMO calibre's keyboard shortcuts facility is far and away the best-of-breed. I wish all software had similar flexibility and usability. My experience is that most aren't even in the same race, and the rest don't even come close.

Here are the shortcut defaults Keyboard Shortcuts

FWIW - my most often used kb shorts (much customised)

C - Convert (default),
A - Add format (default)
D - Word (Open DOCX format)
O - Onenote (Open ONE format)
S - Sigil (Open EPUB format)
E - Book Edit (Open EPUB/AZW3 format)
V - View Formats
W - Metadata Bulk Download
M - Metadata Edit
Alt/C - Count Pages plugin
Alt/M - Modify plugin
Alt/V - View EPUB in calibre viewer

Originally Posted by cybmole

Just set an open with... hotkey for sigil in the open with plugin. Or make sigil the default epub handler in Windows. I can highlight a book in calibre main listing then get to sigil by either a double click c k or my pressing R.

@cybmole - I have to respectfully disagree.

IMO there's no longer any need for the plugin - the new built-in Open With is much better. You might want to check it out. I have removed the OW PI. There may be some 'corner cases' where the PI is needed - but I haven't found one.

BR

[cybmole]

OK , maybe I am lagging. but I currently have set up , via some plug in or other, various unused letters to open in different programs e.g.
z = open in ADE
x = open in sony reader for PC ( no longer needed)
r = open with the copy of sigil which is installed in ram drive
( I added that to see if it worked any faster from that location - but the're no real difference )

you reckon I can now do all that without a plug-in ?

i also have sigil set to open epubs so a double click on any title will also open it for editing in sigil, direct from calibre library.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by cybmole

OK , maybe I am lagging. but I currently have set up , via some plug in or other, various unused letters to open in different programs e.g.
z = open in ADE
x = open in sony reader for PC ( no longer needed)
r = open with the copy of sigil which is installed in ram drive
( I added that to see if it worked any faster from that location - but the're no real difference )

you reckon I can now do all that without a plug-in ?

i also have sigil set to open epubs so a double click on any title will also open it for editing in sigil, direct from calibre library.

@cybmole - I would think so - except maybe for the double click on title. Double click it where -- book list, book details... ?

Right click a format in book details, or use the View Formats selector to configure calibre's built-in Open With. BTW if you open up Preferences->Keyboard I think you'll find Open with and Open With Ψ²

Oh, and they're not mutually exclusive - ie they can coexist.

BR

[cybmole]

the double click is windows, not calibre setting I think. doubel click anywhere on the book description line and if that format is not set to open with calibre internal viewer, then calibre uses windows to open with default program.

If I do that double click with a book that's in 2 formats: azw3 and epub, then it opens only in sigil, so calibre's sorted list of preferred formats must also contribute

if I double click a title that is azw3 only, then it opens in Kindle for PC...

so how do I get to the new built-in open with settigns, I tried a quick blunder around the preferences screens but managed not to bump into it ?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by cybmole

the double click is windows, not calibre setting I think. doubel click anywhere on the book description line and if that format is not set to open with calibre internal viewer, then calibre uses windows to open with default program.

I assume 'book description line' is a line in what I call the 'book list' and chaley calls the 'spreadsheet' I have the Book List behaviour tweaked such that it disables double click. So you'll just have to suck it and see. But it sounds like that won't change because IIRC the OW PI doesn't know about double click.

Originally Posted by cybmole

so how do I get to the new built-in open with settigns, I tried a quick blunder around the preferences screens but managed not to bump into it ?

At the risk of repeating myself see :

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Right click a format in book details, or use the View Formats [that's probably alt/V for you] selector to configure calibre's built-in Open With [select format, click button bottom left].

-- BR

[cybmole]

ok - missed that bit of the thread, but I am not seeing how that method will let me assocate 2 or programs with one format.?

so , as I posted before
this is what I have now as hotkeys - all defined for the same format - epub

z = open epub in ADE
x = open epub in sony reader
r = open epub with the copy of sigil which is installed in ram drive

(and there is also : t = open with calibre editor- built in )

I could be wrong, and could be I need to remove the plug in in order to configure the built in option, but it's looking like the built in option only supports linking one program per format ?
[ when I right click a format as suggested, I see my PI definitions.]

PS yes to this:I assume 'book description line' is a line in what I call the 'book list' and chaley calls the 'spreadsheet

[BetterRed]

@cybmole - you are wrong on both counts

For each format you can have many programs as you want:



As as I already said they can coexist - they can't use the same keyboard shortcuts, but what can.

There is one corner case where it won't work - it can't invoke shell extension DLLs, but then again I don't think the PI could either, so nothing lost or gained. Sometimes I need to rotate or mirror a cover image - I have a shell extension to do simple edits like that - but I don't need it often enough to bother KG, besides 'o' to Open book folder still works Or I can do it IrfanView

Oh, yes - I think it integrates with Windows Default programs or something - so if a proggie is in your Windows Open With then it will be in your calibre Open With automagically, sadly it does not feed the cat or make the coffee - KG is working on that

BR

[cybmole]

i must be having a bad brain day. I get a similar box to the t one in your attachment. but when I go to open with at the bottom it says choose a program to open epub - it suggests 2 & also offers for me to browse. but says nothing about multiple choices or about assigning keyboard shortcuts
see attachments. I get to that 2nd pciture via alt V then the bottom left open with box takes me to picture 1

[eschwartz]

Once you click OK the found programs should be saved. As always, you need to set the KB shortcuts in Preferences.

[cybmole]

So choose one, save , go out and in again, choose a different one.... then go somewhere else to set the hotkeys... I am wishing I never asked .... the PI method seems easier, or is that PI no longer maintained ?

[eschwartz]

The plugin contains a couple preconfigured options, and IIRC creating new ones is all manual as well.

Either way you have to create entries and set shortcuts manually.


You know, I'm noticing a trend towards you overexaggerating the difficulty of things. I shan't bother bothering you anymore.