Pick a random book?

[foosion]

Originally Posted by chaley

Which one of those two? They are implemented very differently.

Is there documentation which shows these functions (these two and the ones in the function you posted)? Or do I need to browse the source code?

It would be good to learn how to write things myself.

In the meanwhile, whichever is easier.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by foosion

Is there documentation which shows these functions (these two and the ones in the function you posted)? Or do I need to browse the source code?

It would be good to learn how to write things myself.

Some of the API is documented in https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/dev...rts-of-calibre.

However, for the kinds of things you are trying to do it is usually best to look at existing code that does something similar.

In the meanwhile, whichever is easier.

Here is code to do both. The bit you want replaces the two "view_action" lines.

		# select the random row in the booklist
		view = gui.current_view()
		view.select_rows(set((random_id,)))

		# display a dialog
		mi = db.new_api.get_proxy_metadata(random_id)
		from calibre.gui2 import info_dialog
		data_to_show = (
			f"Series: {mi.format_field('series')[1]}",
			f"Tags: {mi.format_field('tags')[1]}",
			f"My Bool: {mi.format_field('#mybool')[1]}"
		)
		msg = '<br>'.join(data_to_show)
		info_dialog(gui, f"Random book: {mi.get('title')}", msg, show=True)

You can use the template tester in python mode to play, which is easier and faster than creating template actions or altering calibre source. For example, here is the code from above usable as a python template. It is only the rist few lines that are different.

python:
def evaluate(book, context):
	db = context.db
	from calibre.gui2.ui import get_gui
	gui = get_gui()
	db = gui.current_db
	ids = list(db.new_api.search('#mybool:true and formats:epub'))
	if ids:
		import random
		random_id = random.choice(ids)
#		view_action = gui.iactions['View']
#		view_action.view_format_by_id(random_id, 'EPUB', open_at=None)

		# select the random row.
		view = gui.current_view()
		view.select_rows(set((random_id,)))

		# display a dialog
		mi = db.new_api.get_proxy_metadata(random_id)
		from calibre.gui2 import info_dialog
		data_to_show = (
			f"Series: {mi.format_field('series')[1]}",
			f"Tags: {mi.format_field('tags')[1]}",
			f"My Book: {mi.format_field('#mybool')[1]}"
		)
		msg = '<br>'.join(data_to_show)
		info_dialog(gui, f"Random book: {mi.get('title')} ({str(random_id)})", msg, show=True)		
	return 'a string'

[chaley]

Another bit of important documentation: the book Metadata object api: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/gen...tadata-objects

[jackm8]

I don't bother randomising things. I just pick something and go with it. It's like browsing for books in a library or bookstore. I love reading random books, the less I know about them the better. I'll often go and read something that's mentioned in one book, or the other, I avoid descriptions and reviews and just read it blindly. White Mischief was one of those. I can't even remember why I had it on my device, probably it was in some way mentioned in connection with Black Mischief. I had it untouched at least for a year. I only had phone at hand, and I randomly took it up while waiting for something, and it soon supplanted whatever I was reading then, and it was a blast.

[Sirtel]

I never read something randomly. I don't read reviews or recommendations, but I do read the synopsis and choose my next read based on that, and on my mood. As I only read certain genres and am not interested in many others, picking a book not knowing what it is about is out of the question for me. There are too many genres and themes I just haven't the slightest interest in.

[foosion]

Originally Posted by jackm8

I don't bother randomising things. I just pick something and go with it. It's like browsing for books in a library or bookstore. I love reading random books, the less I know about them the better. I'll often go and read something that's mentioned in one book, or the other, I avoid descriptions and reviews and just read it blindly. White Mischief was one of those. I can't even remember why I had it on my device, probably it was in some way mentioned in connection with Black Mischief. I had it untouched at least for a year. I only had phone at hand, and I randomly took it up while waiting for something, and it soon supplanted whatever I was reading then, and it was a blast.

I may or may not ever actually use this, but I was curious how I'd implement the thought. It's more of an educational project.

[foosion]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I never read something randomly. I don't read reviews or recommendations, but I do read the synopsis and choose my next read based on that, and on my mood. As I only read certain genres and am not interested in many others, picking a book not knowing what it is about is out of the question for me. There are too many genres and themes I just haven't the slightest interest in.

I'm not choosing a random book from the set of all books; I'm choosing a random book from the set of books I chose to put in my Calibre library and then the subset that I chose to put on my Kobo. I have entirely too many unread books in my Calibre library.

I'd only use it if I couldn't otherwise choose what to read next. Hasn't happened yet.