Announcing Bookshelves - Free Web App at Online Book Club!

[Scott]

Perhaps a 'bump to top' option on one's own 'want to read' shelf would be helpful. It could be sorted by default such that the oldest added books are at the top, and the newest added books are at the bottom (i.e. listed in the order they were put on there), but that one can bump any book to the top if they are interested in reading it sooner rather than later.

[gali]

A 'bump to top' would be a great option!

[Ryan]

A 'bump to top' would be a great option!

Agreed!

[Scott]

Indeed, it could allow one to use the 'want to read' list as an ordered list of what they want to read when.

[gali]

Indeed, it could allow one to use the 'want to read' list as an ordered list of what they want to read when.

[PashaRu]

That sounds like a good idea!

[Scott]

I have added a new feature to Bookshelves. I call it a "Mass Adder". It lets a member add multiple books at once by typing them in or copying and pasting them from a text list somewhere. Click here to use it.

Try it out and let me know how it works.

Please also let me know if the instructions seem clear.

[gali]

I have added a new feature to Bookshelves. I call it a "Mass Adder". It lets a member add multiple books at once by typing them in or copying and pasting them from a text list somewhere. Click here to use it.

Try it out and let me know how it works.

Please also let me know if the instructions seem clear.

I tried it and it works fine!

-- February 8th, 2015, 6:38 am --

A suggestion; when we use the Mass Adder, can you add the option to enter the genre as well?

[Ryan]

Good idea, gali. That would only work if they're all the same genre, though. Otherwise, you'd have to do them all individually.

I also tried the mass adder and it works very well. Great idea, Scott!

[gali]

Good idea, gali. That would only work if they're all the same genre, though. Otherwise, you'd have to do them all individually.

Of course

[Scott]

I am sure I can do something for that.

The problem is that even though the member is typing a list of books, I programmed the software to cross-check the database for each book to connect it to a book that is already in the database if it is already on the site or add it if it is not. Since genre is not necessarily absolute, it may have already been set for any given book.

The solution might be to ignore the genre field if the book is already on the site with a different genre. Alternatively, I could program the software to generate an automatic report of the genre so a moderator could verify which genre best describes the book.

-- 08 Feb 2015 02:58 pm --

Well do you usually find you already have the books sorted by genre before you submit them, such that you want to choose a genre and 'mass add' a bunch of books only from that genre? Or are you looking to add them one-by-one but on a single screen rather than having to navigate to each book's page?

If the latter, what might be even more helpful than changing the mass-adder would be to create a new page for mass-adding genres to books. I am thinking of a page that would on one single page list all the books from one's own shelves that do not have a genre with a selection box to select the genre for each and then submit the form. In fact, the same thing could be done with release year.

This re-raises the issue of whether or not there is other important meta-data besides genre and release date that members might like included not only on the individual pages for books but also for sorting and searching purposes. Adding in any other meta data if desired now would ensure it is properly included in these other new tools.

[Ryan]

Perhaps we could create a search system which would allow users to look for specific themes and subjects within books? For example, if a user attaches keywords to a particular book -- let's say Romeo and Juliet, using the words "tragedy", "love" and "suicide" -- then a user could use those terms to narrow down their search. This would also create opportunities for members to search for something different to read but within a particular set of interests and may be useful now that the volume of books added to the database is quickly increasing. This may need some tweaks but it might prove useful for some members, especially in conjunction with the other new features

[Gravy]

Perhaps we could create a search system which would allow users to look for specific themes and subjects within books? For example, if a user attaches keywords to a particular book -- let's say Romeo and Juliet, using the words "tragedy", "love" and "suicide" -- then a user could use those terms to narrow down their search. This would also create opportunities for members to search for something different to read but within a particular set of interests and may be useful now that the volume of books added to the database is quickly increasing. This may need some tweaks but it might prove useful for some members, especially in conjunction with the other new features

Key-words would be an interesting addition

[Ryan]

A small box to affix "BC" or "AD" to publication dates would be very useful. They might also be utilized as search criteria

[gali]

-- 08 Feb 2015 02:58 pm --

Well do you usually find you already have the books sorted by genre before you submit them, such that you want to choose a genre and 'mass add' a bunch of books only from that genre? Or are you looking to add them one-by-one but on a single screen If the latter, what might be even more helpful than changing the mass-adder would be to create a new page for mass-adding genres to books. I am thinking of a page that would on one single page list all the books from one's own shelves that do not have a genre with a selection box to select the genre for each and then submit the form. In fact, the same thing could be done with release year.

This re-raises the issue of whether or not there is other important meta-data besides genre and release date that rather than having to navigate to each book's page?

members might like included not only on the individual pages for books but also for sorting and searching purposes. Adding in any other meta data if desired now would ensure it is properly included in these other new tools.

When I use the "mass add", I add books by the same genre.

I like your second idea, adding books one-by-one on a single screen rather than having to navigate to each book's page.
It will make it easier to add many books at once and less tiresome.