How to add edition information to metadata

[davidhcje]

Some books have multiple editions. I don't know how to add edition information to their metadata. Anyone help?

[Karellen]

What sort of information do you want to add? Just the ISBN? Something else?

[ownedbycats]

Separate book records for separate editions?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Separate book records for separate editions?

Yes, they will not be the same content, unless it's just different paper sizes (which must have different ISBN).
A paper edition ISBN isn't the ebook either. An ebook doesn't need an ISBN, but if it has one it must be unique to that ebook.

ISBNs are mainly for retail physical book shops to order, and secondarily for libraries of physical books to indicate edition. A library using barcodes doesn't use the ISBN as it may have more than one copy of the same edition. The library management barcode (being replaced by RFIDs) tracks a particular copy.

[theducks]

Even a cover change SHOULD cause a new ISBN to be used.
It is not just paper size.
Almost any Change (except typo fixes) and reprinting using the exact same layout (plates): 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (you have all seen this pattern on the copyright page )

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by theducks

Almost any Change (except typo fixes) and reprinting using the exact same layout (plates): 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (you have all seen this pattern on the copyright page )

Oh, so that's what those numbers are for! I thought it was some testing thing.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by theducks

Even a cover change SHOULD cause a new ISBN to be used.
It is not just paper size.
Almost any Change (except typo fixes) and reprinting using the exact same layout (plates): 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (you have all seen this pattern on the copyright page )

Yes.
So I don't care about ISBNs in Calibre. If I ever catalogue my paper library I'll use an ISBN (if there is one, maybe 1/4 books are pre-ISBN) with a scanner on the computer just once to save typing in the title. I'll save the ISBN anyway and either program an RFID or print a serial number ID barcode not using EAN/UPC/ISBN.

I've been meaning to do it for over 25 years, so likely I won't bother. More concerned about finding new homes for them (3000+) than re-reading. Some are over 100 yo good condition HB. A pristine set of Rudyard Kipling published before he wrote Puck of Pook's Hill. A pre-1930s "Alice" is very poor. Illustrated by Dudley Jarrett, who IMO is not as good as earlier illustrators. Though it was maybe bought in mid 1930s. No dates in it. It has my mum's name in pencil on the rear inside cover, but it could have belonged to someone else of the same name, such as my dad's step-mother.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Yes.
So I don't care about ISBNs in Calibre. If I ever catalogue my paper library I'll use an ISBN (if there is one, maybe 1/4 books are pre-ISBN) with a scanner on the computer just once to save typing in the title. I'll save the ISBN anyway and either program an RFID or print a serial number ID barcode not using EAN/UPC/ISBN.

Alfa ISBN Scanner is an option if you use a smartphone with Android.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by davidhcje

Some books have multiple editions. I don't know how to add edition information to their metadata. Anyone help?

If you mean different editions of something like the Chicago Manual of Style, I append the edition numbers to the title, and link the books with calibre://book-details URLs in a Links/#links custom column.

BR

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Alfa ISBN Scanner is an option if you use a smartphone with Android.

Not much use for a barcode scanner plugged into a laptop or desktop PC. I was showing someone last week why their Android phone's barcode scanner (on its own) was no use for stock control.

Thanks.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If you mean different editions of something like the Chicago Manual of Style, I append the edition numbers to the title, and link the books with calibre://book-details URLs in a Links/#links custom column.

BR

Yes, anything like that is a good plan. Really different editions need a separate Calibre record.

[davidhcje]

Thanks everyone. From the conversation, It seems Calibre doesn't have a dedicated record for edition yet. I'd post a feature request then.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by davidhcje

Thanks everyone. From the conversation, It seems Calibre doesn't have a dedicated record for edition yet. I'd post a feature request then.

You could create a column for the version or you could put the edition/volume in the title.

[theducks]

The Title (2nd ed) <<-- does not mess up the sort
Title, The <<-- Notice ! anything in ( ) is ignored FOR TITLE SORT ONLY

I discovered this feature when I collected the free-library edition (I had the paper version) of a classic SF book re-edited by Eric Flint

I just looked at my Calibre listing...
It is scary how many times Jim Baen got my money... even back in my paperback days.

[davidhcje]

Originally Posted by theducks

The Title (2nd ed) <<-- does not mess up the sort
Title, The <<-- Notice ! anything in ( ) is ignored FOR TITLE SORT ONLY

I discovered this feature when I collected the free-library edition (I had the paper version) of a classic SF book re-edited by Eric Flint

I just looked at my Calibre listing...
It is scary how many times Jim Baen got my money... even back in my paperback days.

Thank you! That's a clear explanation.