Share your best library management tips, ideas, or resources!

Keeping track of multiple (re)read dates?

- The original poster (Groupie) wants to track multiple re-read dates for books. They currently have a column showing percentage read (#kobopourcent) and last read date (#kobodernirelecture) from Kobo data, but want a way to append multiple 100% read dates into a "re-read dates" column, separated by commas or semicolons, adding each new date without overwriting previous ones.

- A key contribution is from ownedbycats who shared an "Action Chain" plugin approach:
- When marking a book as read, the chain:

  1. Sets #last_read (datetime) to current datetime.
  2. Sets #percent_read (integer) to 100.
  3. Increments #times_read (integer) by one.
  4. Prompts to set #rating (rating).
  5. Copies the date from #last_read to #read_dates (taglike)

- This approach allows automated appending of multiple re-read dates to a taglike field in Calibre.
- Users report some errors with the Refresh View action in the chain, which can be fixed by removing that step.
- The date format can be customized.
- Users are encouraged to change column names to match their Kobo plugin column names.

As I often re-read books, I like to store all my completion dates in a taglike column (e.g. 2021-03-13, 2022-04-21, 2023-04-17, 2024-05-29). I use this composite column to group them by month in the tag browser:

source

Code:

program:

	new_dates = '';

	for dates in '#dates_read':
		converted = format_date(dates, 'yyyy.MM (MMMM)');
		new_dates = list_union(new_dates, converted, ',')
	rof

Then you set it to hierarchical in the `Look & Feel > Tag Browser` settings.

Stay Informed

Get the best articles every day for FREE. Cancel anytime.