how to sort Save to Disk by status and series?

[Rika24]

I've begun to confuse myself using multiple computers and multiple readers and two separate libraries on one computer. i believe i have made too many backups combined with inability to sort my backed up books because of way too many folders.

i want to simplify my backup process so my question is, how would i write the code/expression in preferences so that when i use save to disk my stories are sorted first by status, then series, then author (titles would retain the original format of author - title)

status is a custom column i made for my fanfiction collection (in progress and complete) and i have two libraries that are sorted via their status (so i can keep track on what is still updating).

i'm asking because i want to bring those two libraries over to one computer rather than going back and forth (one comp is an imac running Mountain Lion the other a pc running Vista). so the status is the best way to sort before series.

[davidfor]

Are you running calibre in both places? If so, make sure they have the same custom columns. Them save to disk in one place and add the books to calibre in the other.

If you are not using calibre on the second machine, are you trying to use a directory hierarchy, or putting all the details in the file name?

[Rika24]

both computers have calibre, the larger libraries are on the imac, but it's at home (i have a backup on my portable hard drive though as well as my flashdrive). i'm staying with my sister at the moment and she's letting me use her computer.

i think i'm using all the same columns, but i can't really double check until next week. i was just going to use save to disk to save everything as complete or in progress and then add them to my sister's computer, then when i go home for good (which won't be until next year) i'll update the libraries on my mac.

i just have a lot of fanfics and the backup files are all listed by author by default but i wanted to change it so they're ordered by status and series. this is currently what i have:

{series}/{authors}/{authors} - {title} and it works, i just don't know how to set the custom fields

[BookJunkieLI]

Custom fields are preceded by a #. So if your custom field is #status the template would be:

{#status}/{series}/{authors}/{authors} - {title}

The way to know for sure is to hover your mouse over the top of the custom column. It will give you the lookup name of the column.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Rika24

both computers have calibre, the larger libraries are on the imac, but it's at home (i have a backup on my portable hard drive though as well as my flashdrive). i'm staying with my sister at the moment and she's letting me use her computer.

i think i'm using all the same columns, but i can't really double check until next week. i was just going to use save to disk to save everything as complete or in progress and then add them to my sister's computer, then when i go home for good (which won't be until next year) i'll update the libraries on my mac.

So, the purpose of this is to allow you to make changes while away from your computer and not lose them when you get home?

If you have a backup of the library on the portable hard drive, just copy that complete to your sisters computer. Then point calibre at it and do your maintenance. When you are ready to leave (or your sister kicks you out - my sisters would be dropping hints after about a month), copy the library back to the hard drive and move it back to the main computer at home. If the starting copy was complete, you simply replace the one on your computer. If it isn't, then you need to sort out the differences. And as it's going to be a year, I think the library you have with you now is the one you should consider to be the primary library.

And yes, I'm telling you to procrastinate. "Never put off until tomorrow what you can delay to the day after".