Changing Book Name

[denmarks]

When I store a book series I add the series number as a prefix to the title. That keeps it in sequence in the reader. Many times I add the prefix to existing books and it seems that I must do a conversion to force the new title. Is there a quicker way to change the internal book title without going through the conversion? I just experimented and just changing the title in Calibre does not do it. I must change it and then convert again.

[Calibre26]

denmarks, I have just asked about the same issue in a slightly different way. I also just discovered the only way seems to be sending it to the library, converting it, sending it back to the device, then deleting the original incorrect one.
I have about 150 to do and don't relish doing them one by one.

[theducks]

IMHO you are misusing Calibre. Put the proper metadata where it belongs (and it leaves the Library copy pristine)
THEN
If you want the device to show a combination of fields (what a column is)
use a template when sending ELSEWHERE. (you can't change internal names and you will dig a deep hole you may not get out of if you try)
{series_index}-{title}

Some devices use FILENAMES (then use the Send to... templates)
Some use internal metadata (standard fields only) Use the PlugBoard to fudge extra data into the Devices copy (example is a Kindle. Just use the same template IN the PlugBoard to tweak the title field)

[Sirtel]

Metadata plugboard is your friend. It can make your title the combination of any columns you want. And it only changes the title on the device, not in the library.

[hobnail]

If you use calibre's metadata editor (select the book in the list and tap the e key) and change its title, then when you send it to your ereader using calibre, on your ereader it will use the name you specified/changed it to.

I do the opposite of what you do and remove the series information since I'm using a Kobo and Kobo handles series information correctly and smoothly.

But I tested with my kindle and it does what I said above on my kindle as well; gets the name I changed it to. Inside the book file, .azw3 for the kindle and .epub for the epub, the metadata still has the original name. But I've never had an instance where that mattered; what I see on my Kobo is the name I want.

[Calibre26]

Guys, I'm very grateful for you taking the time to reply so please don't take this the wrong way but having looked at the plugboard it may as well be in a foreign language. I wouldn't have a clue where to even start. I'm guessing it would also require more imputs than the way I'm doing. Thanks anyway. Very grateful.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Calibre26

Guys, I'm very grateful for you taking the time to reply so please don't take this the wrong way but having looked at the plugboard it may as well be in a foreign language. I wouldn't have a clue where to even start. I'm guessing it would also require more imputs than the way I'm doing. Thanks anyway. Very grateful.

A metadata plugboard requires only one input per type of device. I.e. you set up your plugboard once and you won't have to do it any more, unless you use several different devices and formats.

If you only use Kindles and you want to have the series name and number before the title, then setting up your plugboard goes as follows (that's only one of many possibilities, of course):

Add new plugboard: select any format and any device
Source template: {series:|| }{series_index:0>2s|[|] - }{title}
Destination field: title

And that's it. There's nothing more you need to do. Calibre does the rest automagically when you send your books to your Kindle.

[Calibre26]

Thanks Sirtel. First off, I love the word automagically.
Second, where you have written what to type under source template, how would your average user know to imput that code?
Finally, will entering those settings alter the stock settings it opens with in case I need to reset?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Calibre26

Thanks Sirtel. First off, I love the word automagically.
Second, where you have written what to type under source template, how would your average user know to imput that code?
Finally, will entering those settings alter the stock settings it opens with in case I need to reset?

I took the template from this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=100949

I don't quite understand your last question. The stock settings of Calibre or the Kindle? Calibre has no default plugboard settings, the fields are empty unless you fill them. As to the Kindle, it doesn't change any settings on the device. It just modifies the titles of the books you send to the device. Note that you must send the books from Calibre via USB for the plugboard to work. (It's possible the plugboard works with emailing as well, I haven't tried).

[theducks]

The Template Language is the same on used on the Send To.. setting dialog.
{field lookup name} (hover over any column header to see ITS lookup name)

These basic templates are used all over Calibre
as to specific devices: You need to know (ask) what IT wants (and where it needs to be placed) to give the desired results.
{series_index} - {title} -> {title} says put those 2 separated by space-space into the books {title}

[Calibre26]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I took the template from this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=100949

I don't quite understand your last question. The stock settings of Calibre or the Kindle? Calibre has no default plugboard settings, the fields are empty unless you fill them. As to the Kindle, it doesn't change any settings on the device. It just modifies the titles of the books you send to the device. Note that you must send the books from Calibre via USB for the plugboard to work. (It's possible the plugboard works with emailing as well, I haven't tried).

Sirtel, all I've ever done is open up Calibre on my laptop, add the book, connect my Kindle and click on Send to Device. I've never had to adjust any settings in all the years I've been using it. That's why I called them stock settings.
I have no knowledge of coding whatsoever so when you guys discuss it I politely say sorry, I don't understand.
With the greatest of respect I think you guys on here forget you're speaking another language to us mortals.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Calibre26

Sirtel, all I've ever done is open up Calibre on my laptop, add the book, connect my Kindle and click on Send to Device. I've never had to adjust any settings in all the years I've been using it. That's why I called them stock settings.
I have no knowledge of coding whatsoever so when you guys discuss it I politely say sorry, I don't understand.
With the greatest of respect I think you guys on here forget you're speaking another language to us mortals.

Eh, I have no knowledge about coding either. All that I know about Calibre and ereaders is what I've learned here during my years of being a MobileRead member. There are some very wise longtime members here, but I'm just an ordinary mortal like you say you are.