Alter TagBrowser count

[FandomWitch]

Is it possible to use a plugin to alter the count of books in the tag browser based on the selected tags? For example, if I selected Romance the rest of the tags in the browser would update to show the count of those with the Romance tag. Basically, I like the way Archive of Our Own's filtering system updates with the counts and was wondering if it was possible to replicate it in Calibre.

[kovidgoyal]

Create a vritual library with the expression tags:=romance

then when you apply the virtual library, the tag browser will show data only from books in that virtual library

[FandomWitch]

I have done this for the biggest searches, but if I do that with all the searches that would be A LOT of VLs. Also, I thought this would be a fun project to work on. If not possible just let me know.

[kovidgoyal]

plugins dont have any way to hook into clicks on the tag browser (without major hackery) so no, its not possible from a plugin.

[FandomWitch]

okay thank you for letting me know

[chaley]

You might get close to what you want using calibre's "Additional restrictions". These create an unnamed VL based on the current search or a saved search. For example:

• Search for tags:=whatever
• Click the Virtual library button
• Click "Additional restriction"
• Choose "Current search"

The tag browser will show the information for the books matched by the search.

Change it to "None" to reset it back.

EDIT: a plugin can set the additional restriction. The View manager plugin does it. For example, a plugin could offer keyboard shortcuts to set it to current search or to clear it, saving a few clicks.

EDIT2: you could also do this with the Action chains plugin, with an action that runs Python code to set/clear the additional restriction.

[chaley]

Edit 3: but as a new post. The virtual library button has a menu item that creates a "real" unnamed VL without using the additional restriction. It shows the search string in the "All Books" tab. Creating the unnamed VL has a shortcut: Ctrl + *.

One problem: the shortcut doesn't clear the unnamed VL if the search box is empty. I will fix that.

[ownedbycats]

If you don't need it to be permanent, marked:true VL may work. Then mark the books you want to separate off. They'll reset upon a restart though.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I use a marked:true VL and mark books instead of constantly creating and deleting VLs based on searches.

The technique I suggested doesn't require creating and deleting VLs. Instead the books of interest (the search) create an unnamed VL. With the change I made (and @kovid accepted), creating an unnamed VL with the search box empty removed that VL.

That said, your solution works. As long as nothing else such as find duplicates is marking books.