1timspalding
We've added three new identifers:
* ASIN ("Amazon Standard Identification Number"). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number — Most ASINs are just the ISBN, but not all, especially on ebooks.
* UPC ('Universal Product Code") https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Product_Code
* EAN (International Article Number \sic\) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Article_Number_(EAN)
You can add the fields to your catalog here: https://www.librarything.com/settings/styles
All three have been added to your data, mining the records you added as far as possible. Not every book has data here.
Here's what they look like in the catalog:
The goal is to use them to improve our cover coverage, allow better cataloging of non-book items and generally represent another aspect of book metadata.
You can sort them. At present these fields are not editable. We are in the process of considering the ramifications of making them so, especially on covers, since the three give us the potential to access covers for items we don't have covers on now. They are also not currently searchable, but will be so in the near future.
* ASIN ("Amazon Standard Identification Number"). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number — Most ASINs are just the ISBN, but not all, especially on ebooks.
* UPC ('Universal Product Code") https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Product_Code
* EAN (International Article Number \sic\) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Article_Number_(EAN)
You can add the fields to your catalog here: https://www.librarything.com/settings/styles
All three have been added to your data, mining the records you added as far as possible. Not every book has data here.
Here's what they look like in the catalog:
The goal is to use them to improve our cover coverage, allow better cataloging of non-book items and generally represent another aspect of book metadata.
You can sort them. At present these fields are not editable. We are in the process of considering the ramifications of making them so, especially on covers, since the three give us the potential to access covers for items we don't have covers on now. They are also not currently searchable, but will be so in the near future.
2bnielsen
Nice! Are they also to be found in the export formats anytime soon? (I haven't looked, but since you didn't mention it, my guess is that the export formats haven't been updated yet).
3divinenanny
Please do make them editable, that would be the only way I would be able to (manually) add my movie/music collection as about half of it is Dutch and older, and Amazon has never heard of it....
4lorax
Can you make them blankable, if not otherwise editable? DO NOT WANT Amazon-specific data in my catalog, even for the books I added via Amazon in the early days when I didn't know any better (or recently when I couldn't find a book elsewhere and was too lazy to add it manually.)
>3 divinenanny:
Um, what? This isn't about any new restrictions on how you can add books - something Amazon doesn't have just wouldn't have the ASIN data. If a library source has it, you can still add it, or add it manually.
>3 divinenanny:
Um, what? This isn't about any new restrictions on how you can add books - something Amazon doesn't have just wouldn't have the ASIN data. If a library source has it, you can still add it, or add it manually.
5Caramellunacy
It would be handy if we could make them editable, not least so that they could be searched by CueCat...(or amended if not findable by CueCat)
6Lyndatrue
Let me add my voice to the pleas to make them editable. It's data that, for the most part, I probably don't want, and would prefer to be able to blank them out. No thank you on UPC, or ASIN, please. The last thing you added got a knob so that I could choose to not participate.
I have a long list of things I'd rather see fixed. :-(
I have a long list of things I'd rather see fixed. :-(
7aulsmith
I'm for blankable. It's often been much easier to choose a record that doesn't match my book and then fix it. So, just because I loaded the Amazon book, doesn't mean that's the exact book I have.
8MarthaJeanne
>7 aulsmith: Ditto
10timspalding
A note:
EAN and UPC are not fully sourced back in history, so you won't necessarily find data for older books. We'll be adding that data back. We need the fields there now, though, to power coming improvements.
ASIN is populated as well as we can, and there for most Amazon books.
Please do make them editable, that would be the only way I would be able to (manually) add my movie/music collection as about half of it is Dutch and older, and Amazon has never heard of it....
We'll look into it. I need to get covers working off ASINs before I allow members to change their ASINs.
EAN and UPC are not fully sourced back in history, so you won't necessarily find data for older books. We'll be adding that data back. We need the fields there now, though, to power coming improvements.
ASIN is populated as well as we can, and there for most Amazon books.
Please do make them editable, that would be the only way I would be able to (manually) add my movie/music collection as about half of it is Dutch and older, and Amazon has never heard of it....
We'll look into it. I need to get covers working off ASINs before I allow members to change their ASINs.
11lorax
I noticed they're not in the export. While I don't care about them myself and in the case of ASIN would prefer to be able to blank them out - I didn't buy my books from Amazon and don't really want to have connections I don't need there - since you have them you may as well add them to the export for completeness.
12divinenanny
>4 lorax: Calm down. I know, it doesn't even have to do with adding books. This is so we can add movies/music. All I am saying that in the light of that feature, I'd like to be able to manually add items that do not appear in a source, and that would mean these fields need to be editable.
>10 timspalding: Thanks for keeping the option open. For me personally I would only need to change the EAN/UPC, as Amazon is not a source I'd ever use, or which would have my stuff.
>10 timspalding: Thanks for keeping the option open. For me personally I would only need to change the EAN/UPC, as Amazon is not a source I'd ever use, or which would have my stuff.
13lorax
>12 divinenanny:
Oh, you just mean you want to be able to populate those fields when you manually add something? Gotcha.
(Also, I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but there are a lot of people who react very, very badly to being told "Calm down", especially when they were calm to begin with. I happen to be one of them.)
Oh, you just mean you want to be able to populate those fields when you manually add something? Gotcha.
(Also, I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but there are a lot of people who react very, very badly to being told "Calm down", especially when they were calm to begin with. I happen to be one of them.)
14divinenanny
>13 lorax:. Sorry, but "Um, what?" did not sound calm to me. (not dragging this out, just saying where I was coming from. Blame the hormones, I'm very very very pregnant here).
And yeah, that's all I want. I'm all about manually adding anyway, got have the exact right entry :D
And yeah, that's all I want. I'm all about manually adding anyway, got have the exact right entry :D
15macsbrains
I attempted to throw all the new fields into one of my styles just to see rows and rows of pretty numeric data, but I can't find where the 'barcode' field is hiding in the styles. I have looked and looked. Am I blind (highly likely) or is it not available?
16AnnaClaire
>15 macsbrains:
I couldn't find it in the available columns, either.
I couldn't find it in the available columns, either.
17Crypto-Willobie
re "blanking" them -- all one has to do is not add them to ones style line-ups, no? then they remain hidden.
And fwiw, I notice that in my catalogue I have far far more EANs (c.4000) than UPCs or ASINs (few hundred each).
And fwiw, I notice that in my catalogue I have far far more EANs (c.4000) than UPCs or ASINs (few hundred each).
18timspalding
re "blanking" them -- all one has to do is not add them to ones style line-ups, no? then they remain hidden.
Say that again?
Say that again?
19lorax
>17 Crypto-Willobie:
Huh?
I don't have them in any of my view styles, but they're still present in the data if I look at "Edit Book", and if someone else who does choose to use them views my library using a style that shows them they'd be present. I don't use Date Acquired either, but the site doesn't insist on un-editably filling it in based on the date when I add the book. It's a minor thing, and I can see that general editability could be problematic, but blankability would be nice to have.
Huh?
I don't have them in any of my view styles, but they're still present in the data if I look at "Edit Book", and if someone else who does choose to use them views my library using a style that shows them they'd be present. I don't use Date Acquired either, but the site doesn't insist on un-editably filling it in based on the date when I add the book. It's a minor thing, and I can see that general editability could be problematic, but blankability would be nice to have.
20Crypto-Willobie
>18 timspalding: >19 lorax:
I meant in Your Library view (notice my reference to 'style'?).
I hadn't thought about them appearing on the Edit page. So blank away.
I meant in Your Library view (notice my reference to 'style'?).
I hadn't thought about them appearing on the Edit page. So blank away.
21timspalding
Ah, I see.
22abbottthomas
How about a field for ISSN? I can't be the only person who catalogues periodicals.
25wifilibrarian
Thanks for adding this feature. As an Amazon customer this should make my librarything life easier. And not that this is why you did it but syncing between booksites will be easier (shelfari especially). I look forward to them being searchable.
Can we have multiple ASIN fields? Amazon owns Audible, and they annoyingly give two ASINs to their audio books, one entry on the book's Amazon page and one entry on the Audible page. I usually enter this in the comments of my edition, along with hours and minutes, etc.
Can we have multiple ASIN fields? Amazon owns Audible, and they annoyingly give two ASINs to their audio books, one entry on the book's Amazon page and one entry on the Audible page. I usually enter this in the comments of my edition, along with hours and minutes, etc.
26timspalding
Okay, after that false start absolutely every book that can have data for UPC, EAN and ASIN now has it. They have also beed added to the default ("most:") filter in search.
27cairoartsjp
Hi, are all kinds or UPC and EAN supported? I had problem with some fields here before because they have letter count limit.
I didn`t try it yet but I hope you mean all kinds are supported, with no letter count limit.
Example : UPC-E 19200741 & UPC-A 707161215228.
I didn`t try it yet but I hope you mean all kinds are supported, with no letter count limit.
Example : UPC-E 19200741 & UPC-A 707161215228.
28cairoartsjp
Emm, another notice.... these identifiers are not supported for importing books, they are suppported just for manual entry of them..
I see such feature was added because it`s useful for some/ many people.. and that` good.. perfect... BUT, sadly, in my situation, I need these to be supported at book import, I don`t bother to add an UPC manually when there`s an ISBN already assigned.
I`ve lots and lots of books that have only UPC (no ISBN), emm, I can add them manually and put UPC code in its field.. yes, I got it, but this takes very much effort... I hope these will be supported for importing, not just as being manually-typed identifires.
(I tested and confirmed this)
I see such feature was added because it`s useful for some/ many people.. and that` good.. perfect... BUT, sadly, in my situation, I need these to be supported at book import, I don`t bother to add an UPC manually when there`s an ISBN already assigned.
I`ve lots and lots of books that have only UPC (no ISBN), emm, I can add them manually and put UPC code in its field.. yes, I got it, but this takes very much effort... I hope these will be supported for importing, not just as being manually-typed identifires.
(I tested and confirmed this)
29cairoartsjp
Emm, these new fields are grayed and I can`t type there..
If this due to aumatic conversion, there are many situations that ISBN can`t be converted to EAN.
Example:
ISBN:957827940X
EAN:9789578279407
Information above can be verified here:
http://www.boookers.com/?type=isbn&query=957827940X
(First and second line)
(Note: My book includes only ISBN, so I have to enter associated EAN I found)
New:
I didn`t see EAN code converted, or any other barcode in both book & work details.. so, if it`s auto-converted is was not.. and if it`s manual entry it`s gray and typing-disabled.
Link in LT:
https://www.librarything.com/work/16127819/details/119547970
If this due to aumatic conversion, there are many situations that ISBN can`t be converted to EAN.
Example:
ISBN:957827940X
EAN:9789578279407
Information above can be verified here:
http://www.boookers.com/?type=isbn&query=957827940X
(First and second line)
(Note: My book includes only ISBN, so I have to enter associated EAN I found)
New:
I didn`t see EAN code converted, or any other barcode in both book & work details.. so, if it`s auto-converted is was not.. and if it`s manual entry it`s gray and typing-disabled.
Link in LT:
https://www.librarything.com/work/16127819/details/119547970
30timspalding
So, I don't know how to respond to your posts, because they're not making sense to me—literally so. So, well, see if you can't say it again in another way. As often when people aren't understanding each other, you might start by explaining your problem to me as if I were a six year-old.
Beyond that, a few thoughts:
1. At present, indeed LT is not using UPCs in automatic imports, but only ISBNs. This should not be a problem for books--any book is going to have an ISBN. Or rather, if it has a UPC it will definitely have an ISBN. When LT expands to other media, UPCs will have to be looked at again.
2. The ISBN and EAN there in >29 cairoartsjp: are the same thing. Every 10-digit ISBN has a corresponding 13-digit ISBN, calculated by adding 978 to the front and recalculating the check-digit at the end. (Not every ISBN13 has an ISBN10, since some ISBN13s start with 979, although very very few so far.) ISBN13s in turn are nothing more or less than EANs.
Beyond that, a few thoughts:
1. At present, indeed LT is not using UPCs in automatic imports, but only ISBNs. This should not be a problem for books--any book is going to have an ISBN. Or rather, if it has a UPC it will definitely have an ISBN. When LT expands to other media, UPCs will have to be looked at again.
2. The ISBN and EAN there in >29 cairoartsjp: are the same thing. Every 10-digit ISBN has a corresponding 13-digit ISBN, calculated by adding 978 to the front and recalculating the check-digit at the end. (Not every ISBN13 has an ISBN10, since some ISBN13s start with 979, although very very few so far.) ISBN13s in turn are nothing more or less than EANs.
31cairoartsjp
@timspalding #30
My problem is that I can`t add UPC code in its field. All codes` fields are grayed out, at least in my case.
Let`s say that my book have only this code printed (the one below)
ISBN:957827940X
and that I found this one (below) with the help of a site, or LT grabbed it automatically for me
EAN:9789578279407
Well, now , I`ll need to add the first one as well (to LT database)..
simply because the second one is not printed anywhere in the book, and the first one is the only usable identifier in this case.. but, I have its field gray.. so, I can`t add it.
Note1: The first one is a UPC code, The second one is EAN code.
Note2: In most cases in my library, ISBN and EAN are NOT the same, as listed above. Well, if you want to verify these not being the same, kindly have a look here:
http://s21.postimg.org/enawpz5lz/EAN_is_NOT_ISBN.png
My problem is that I can`t add UPC code in its field. All codes` fields are grayed out, at least in my case.
Let`s say that my book have only this code printed (the one below)
ISBN:957827940X
and that I found this one (below) with the help of a site, or LT grabbed it automatically for me
EAN:9789578279407
Well, now , I`ll need to add the first one as well (to LT database)..
simply because the second one is not printed anywhere in the book, and the first one is the only usable identifier in this case.. but, I have its field gray.. so, I can`t add it.
Note1: The first one is a UPC code, The second one is EAN code.
Note2: In most cases in my library, ISBN and EAN are NOT the same, as listed above. Well, if you want to verify these not being the same, kindly have a look here:
http://s21.postimg.org/enawpz5lz/EAN_is_NOT_ISBN.png
32anglemark
What is listed as EAN there is actually not EAN but 13-digit ISBN. What is listed as ISBN is the 10-digit ISBN.
33jjwilson61
>31 cairoartsjp: From the first post:
At present these fields are not editable. We are in the process of considering the ramifications of making them so, especially on covers, since the three give us the potential to access covers for items we don't have covers on now.
At present these fields are not editable. We are in the process of considering the ramifications of making them so, especially on covers, since the three give us the potential to access covers for items we don't have covers on now.
35CurrerBell
>1 timspalding: the three give us the potential to access covers for items we don't have covers on now
Dumb question, Tim, but the bit about "access[ing] covers" doesn't mean you're going to force a cover on us, does it? Currently, I enter all my Kindle books using ASIN but I upload my own image, a picture of a Kindle, so I've got an identical image which is a quick identifier when I'm in "All Collections" view in "Your Books."
And of course I've got quite a number of older books that don't have ISBNs and for which I've entered the data manually and uploaded a scanned image of the cover. These books might very well have ASINs, though, and I'd be horrified if my uploaded covers were replaced with a different Amazon cover that doesn't match the cover of my actual book. (ETA: And more seriously, I may have relied on Amazon just to enter my data, but then used a scanned cover because the Amazon cover doesn't match my own. That would cause an even bigger problem if you derived covers for me based on my use of Amazon data.)
Again, probably a dumb question, but I just stumbled across this thread in the wee hours of the morning and got concerned.
Dumb question, Tim, but the bit about "access[ing] covers" doesn't mean you're going to force a cover on us, does it? Currently, I enter all my Kindle books using ASIN but I upload my own image, a picture of a Kindle, so I've got an identical image which is a quick identifier when I'm in "All Collections" view in "Your Books."
And of course I've got quite a number of older books that don't have ISBNs and for which I've entered the data manually and uploaded a scanned image of the cover. These books might very well have ASINs, though, and I'd be horrified if my uploaded covers were replaced with a different Amazon cover that doesn't match the cover of my actual book. (ETA: And more seriously, I may have relied on Amazon just to enter my data, but then used a scanned cover because the Amazon cover doesn't match my own. That would cause an even bigger problem if you derived covers for me based on my use of Amazon data.)
Again, probably a dumb question, but I just stumbled across this thread in the wee hours of the morning and got concerned.
36MarthaJeanne
I can't imagine Tim ever forcing a different cover over the one you chose. Quite the contrary. I can't find it right off, but somewhere he recently even said he might give us the option of having best guess member cover being used instead of Amazon cover when we haven't chosen a specific one.
ETA: I do wish the coverstats bug would get fixed. Knowing that I have 19 Amazon covers gets me very nervous, but searching book for book to find them is more than I can face.
ETA: I do wish the coverstats bug would get fixed. Knowing that I have 19 Amazon covers gets me very nervous, but searching book for book to find them is more than I can face.
37MarthaJeanne
I'm nervous about all these new numbers appearing on books that I have entered and then changed the publishing info because my edition isn't in the sources. If these numbers are on my books, and I have no way to check their accuracy or change them, I want to be able to just get rid of them. They aren't useful to me. Nor do I want to enter our DVDs and videos until I have control of these numbers in my catalogue.
38cairoartsjp
@MarthaJeanne
I noticed people reporting many problems with Amazon.. yes, I am using Amazon Japan because it`s the best (and the only) source for Japanese books.. But I don`t see it`s your case. You have english books.. Can`t you use another (reliable) source instead? (Library of Congress, UK National Library, etc...)
Emm, I got only 1% errors with Amazon Japan, which Amazon Japan changed my ISBN for some reason, as I can remember... I have approx. 2000 books and got the problems with less than 15 books..
So, I am sad Tim`s new change reflects lots of books of yours...
Don`t worry, there`s always a solution for each single problem, and there`s always a workaround for each single problem!
Also, let`s wait for Tim... you didn`t get a clear reply from him yet... may be the new cover won`t replace the old one (just both shall exist)..
Again, each problem has a solution and a workaround!
I noticed people reporting many problems with Amazon.. yes, I am using Amazon Japan because it`s the best (and the only) source for Japanese books.. But I don`t see it`s your case. You have english books.. Can`t you use another (reliable) source instead? (Library of Congress, UK National Library, etc...)
Emm, I got only 1% errors with Amazon Japan, which Amazon Japan changed my ISBN for some reason, as I can remember... I have approx. 2000 books and got the problems with less than 15 books..
So, I am sad Tim`s new change reflects lots of books of yours...
Don`t worry, there`s always a solution for each single problem, and there`s always a workaround for each single problem!
Also, let`s wait for Tim... you didn`t get a clear reply from him yet... may be the new cover won`t replace the old one (just both shall exist)..
Again, each problem has a solution and a workaround!
39jjwilson61
>32 anglemark: Tim said in 30 that EANs and ISBN-13s are the same thing.
>38 cairoartsjp: I agree. All of the books in my Read But Not Owned collection have had all of their edition-specific information removed and I don't want new edition-specific info added. It would be wonderful if there were a way to mark a book as being a generic, non-edition-specific book and have all those fields blanked automatically.
>38 cairoartsjp: I agree. All of the books in my Read But Not Owned collection have had all of their edition-specific information removed and I don't want new edition-specific info added. It would be wonderful if there were a way to mark a book as being a generic, non-edition-specific book and have all those fields blanked automatically.
40PhaedraB
>35 CurrerBell: If you upload or choose a cover yourself, you are not affected by this change. You only get an Amazon or "best guess" cover if you don't do anything.
41jessicaofthebees
Just to add a voice, I'd love to be able to add ASINs and UPCs.
42ilaifire
Wow, a year and a half later, and these fields are still not editable? Is there a reason for this? With the amount of user editable data you already allow, I can't imagine allowing five extra fields (all with a character limit) would increase the database size in any meaningful way.
43jjwilson61
>42 ilaifire: Here's what Tim said about that back in post 10:
We'll look into it. I need to get covers working off ASINs before I allow members to change their ASINs.
It has nothing to do with the size of the database.
We'll look into it. I need to get covers working off ASINs before I allow members to change their ASINs.
It has nothing to do with the size of the database.
44danros
you may try http://www.asinlab.com/ for converting asin to upc,ean, isbn and mpn
45CarterhouseBooks
It's been 3 1/2 years now. It would be nice to be able to manually input all fields of data.
46ckevnstn
I first looked at LT in 2011 (that's what my account says). Never really went anywhere with it at the time. My largest collection is sheet music. I just did an initial upload from my library. The UPC codes that exist are GREAT! I scanned away and found 3/4 of my titles. For what I needed to add manually, I wanted to continue the UPC coding, but, as noted, the UPC field is still not editable.
"At present, indeed LT is not using UPCs in automatic imports, but only ISBNs. This should not be a problem for books--any book is going to have an ISBN. Or rather, if it has a UPC it will definitely have an ISBN. When LT expands to other media, UPCs will have to be looked at again." - June 2015
Sheet music isn't books, so no ISBN numbers. Would be really great for the community to be able to build on the database. For example, there can be many editions in sheet music depending on the arrangement, each with a unique UPC.
I am just learning how to get all my titles into my personal library. It looks like different arrangements should be able to be aggregated under a single "Work", but I'm not yet clear on how I can do that as a user.
Tim - Really impressive product overall. I've been following emails since I signed up in 2011 and have seen the user community grow and features get added. Keep up the good work.
"At present, indeed LT is not using UPCs in automatic imports, but only ISBNs. This should not be a problem for books--any book is going to have an ISBN. Or rather, if it has a UPC it will definitely have an ISBN. When LT expands to other media, UPCs will have to be looked at again." - June 2015
Sheet music isn't books, so no ISBN numbers. Would be really great for the community to be able to build on the database. For example, there can be many editions in sheet music depending on the arrangement, each with a unique UPC.
I am just learning how to get all my titles into my personal library. It looks like different arrangements should be able to be aggregated under a single "Work", but I'm not yet clear on how I can do that as a user.
Tim - Really impressive product overall. I've been following emails since I signed up in 2011 and have seen the user community grow and features get added. Keep up the good work.
47WingedWolf
>1 timspalding: It's been years, and I just want to add another voice asking for these to be editable. Often books will show up in only one format - usually print (softcover or hardcover), and the only way to add an ebook format is manually. When adding the book manually, there's no way to put the ASIN in, and ebooks on Amazon don't always have an ISBN, so the book winds up with no identifier. If you edit the hardcover version to make it ebook, then it has the Hardcover's ISBN in and still no ASIN - so it's inaccurate.
