Adding paper format books

srv181 · 08-08-2024, 01:03 PM

I have many books in the old-fashioned paper format. I add them using the isbns to my library. It would be really great to have a format called "PAPER" fot these books.
Is there some way to add that format type to CalibrI apologize ahead of time if the question is stupid.
Thanks

Quoth · 08-08-2024, 02:02 PM

Format is for files, so logically paper only would have no formats. Though I use that for wish-list items. I'm too lazy to add the paper books. I even used to sell barcode & library software and could have set up the paper books 25+ years ago.

kovidgoyal · 08-08-2024, 02:15 PM

Just make an empty book record with no files, you can do so by right clicking the add books button

Karellen · 08-08-2024, 04:24 PM

I use a custom column that distinguishes between ebook, pbook and stub entries...

jhowell · 08-08-2024, 05:03 PM

You can produce your own custom format names by creating an empty file of any name with the format name as the extension.

I use a file named book.print and add that to entries in my calibre library that correspond to books I own as paper copies. When I look at the formats for those books in calibre I see PRINT along with whatever e-book formats I have for each book.

Quoth · 08-08-2024, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Just make an empty book record with no files, you can do so by right clicking the add books button

I use that for my "wish list", like missing titles in a series.

ownedbycats · 08-08-2024, 08:37 PM

The attached zip file contains 0-byte dummy.paperbook and dummy.overdrive files.

JohnnyBook · 08-10-2024, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

You can produce your own custom format names by creating an empty file of any name with the format name as the extension.

I use a file named book.print and add that to entries in my calibre library that correspond to books I own as paper copies. When I look at the formats for those books in calibre I see PRINT along with whatever e-book formats I have for each book.

Wow, I like that idea. So if the OP wants to show "PAPER" for real books just make a dummy file called "book.paper" or book.hb / book.pb or book.zine for Hardback/Paperback/Magazine.

Excellent!

Karellen · 08-10-2024, 05:38 AM

What is the advantage of adding a dummy format -v- just having an empty book with no format?

I can't think of a reason why you would need to add dummy formats.

ownedbycats · 08-10-2024, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

What is the advantage of adding a dummy format -v- just having an empty book with no format?

I can't think of a reason why you would need to add dummy formats.

Some books I have both paper and eBook formats. Using formats:false would fail for these.

Karellen · 08-10-2024, 06:08 AM

Sure, I have those also, and I use a custom column and add a tag- ebook, pbook or both as in my previous image.
I still don't see how a dummy format helps anything, including your example.
I guess I am not imaginative enough...

ownedbycats · 08-10-2024, 06:18 AM

You can only see a tag when you have Calibre open. I often use Everything to search the title of a book to see if it exists as eBook or paperbook.

Karellen · 08-10-2024, 07:15 AM

Oh, ok.
All my ebook/library activity is through Calibre, so I have no need to search for books outside of it.

srv181 · 08-10-2024, 12:40 PM

Thank you all for your replies, and special thanks for the tip with the"book.paper" format.

The reason I need this is that:
a) I have many books in both paper and ebook format and
b) before buying a book, I always check Calibre, to see if I already have it.

For certain subjects, I like to have both formats. Which is why I want to see if I have a book in paper as well as electonically.

So, again, my thanks for all of your ideas and help.
Susanne

theducks · 08-10-2024, 12:48 PM

Checks for EPUB also

Code:

tags:"=<In Paper Library>" and formats:EPUB

Here is the Need to buy version

Code:

not formats:yes and tags:"=<In Paper Library>"

<In Paper Library> is my Tag

08-08-2024, 01:03 PM	#1
srv181 Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Galaxy Note 8	Adding paper format books I have many books in the old-fashioned paper format. I add them using the isbns to my library. It would be really great to have a format called "PAPER" fot these books. Is there some way to add that format type to CalibrI apologize ahead of time if the question is stupid. Thanks

08-08-2024, 04:24 PM	#4
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,401 Karma: 7000000 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	I use a custom column that distinguishes between ebook, pbook and stub entries... Attached Thumbnails

08-10-2024, 12:40 PM	#14
srv181 Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Galaxy Note 8	Paper format Thank you all for your replies, and special thanks for the tip with the"book.paper" format. The reason I need this is that: a) I have many books in both paper and ebook format and b) before buying a book, I always check Calibre, to see if I already have it. For certain subjects, I like to have both formats. Which is why I want to see if I have a book in paper as well as electonically. So, again, my thanks for all of your ideas and help. Susanne

08-10-2024, 12:48 PM	#15
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,503 Karma: 58055868 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Checks for EPUB also Code: tags:"=<In Paper Library>" and formats:EPUB Here is the Need to buy version Code: not formats:yes and tags:"=<In Paper Library>" <In Paper Library> is my Tag

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08-08-2024, 02:02 PM	#2
Quoth Reading till the spring Posts: 12,512 Karma: 94058919 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Format is for files, so logically paper only would have no formats. Though I use that for wish-list items. I'm too lazy to add the paper books. I even used to sell barcode & library software and could have set up the paper books 25+ years ago.

08-08-2024, 02:15 PM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,648 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Just make an empty book record with no files, you can do so by right clicking the add books button

08-08-2024, 05:03 PM	#5
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,779 Karma: 87135717 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	You can produce your own custom format names by creating an empty file of any name with the format name as the extension. I use a file named book.print and add that to entries in my calibre library that correspond to books I own as paper copies. When I look at the formats for those books in calibre I see PRINT along with whatever e-book formats I have for each book.

08-10-2024, 05:38 AM	#9
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,401 Karma: 7000000 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	What is the advantage of adding a dummy format -v- just having an empty book with no format? I can't think of a reason why you would need to add dummy formats.

08-10-2024, 06:08 AM	#11
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,401 Karma: 7000000 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Sure, I have those also, and I use a custom column and add a tag- ebook, pbook or both as in my previous image. I still don't see how a dummy format helps anything, including your example. I guess I am not imaginative enough...

08-10-2024, 06:18 AM	#12
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 9,756 Karma: 68326525 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	You can only see a tag when you have Calibre open. I often use Everything to search the title of a book to see if it exists as eBook or paperbook.

08-10-2024, 07:15 AM	#13
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,401 Karma: 7000000 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Oh, ok. All my ebook/library activity is through Calibre, so I have no need to search for books outside of it.