Super-splitting works (or exploding)

After trying to clean up the mess of two seperate works being combined a few times now, I'd really like a new feature:
Either a way to select multiple versions of the work for splitting at the same time;
or a simple "explode" that breaks it up into all the seperate entries.

As it is, I spend far more time breaking up the double entry then I do combining the broken up records, thanks to the good combining interface.

I believe Tim (maybe Chris, but he's meant to be on holiday) has an explode script for admin purposes, but from discussions I recall it's not something that should be put in the hands of general members.

I'd suggest if it's really such a mess you email Tim (he may not see this thread) and enquire about him executing the script.

I've sorted out the current messes that I've found so far, but I expect to come across more when adding some semi-obscure RPG books.

I would like to second the idea of being able to separate more than one title at a time from a list that's been poorly combined. I've run into situations in which, for example, 5 of the 10 titles grouped into a work are wrong. It would be handy to be able to select all 5 incorrect titles and separate them en masse, rather than having to go back after each individual separation to separate another one.

But it the powers that be think this would create more harm than good, I'm willing to take the extra steps.

people in the combiners group usually pile in to help if they hear a plea.

But yes given a few layers of safeguards or even at the most extreme putting it in a request queue for approval it would be great.

I would like to see two addition options in separation. 1. Expolosion for when someone has combied all andyl's different issues of Asimov's. 2. the ability to select a sublist of the combined work to be separated out into a single new work.

I'd really like an option to separate multiple titles in one shot, instead of having to do it one at a time. I don't think I've come across any really badly combined works yet, but I've accidentally combined stuff that should not have been combined and it's been a real time consuming task to fix my mistake.

I would be afraid of doing this (or other people doing it) by mistake, so perhaps selecting a sublist through checkmarks to be separated out would work better, as #6 mentioned. This would allow for quicker separation because you would not have to reload the page endlessly and re-scroll to the part you are dealing with, but less chance of a mistake or someone maliciously exploding.

What about two options? If, say, on a list of eight books (each with a checkbox near it) you could select the titles to seperate and click either "explode" or "make separate". Then you could select four of the eight books and choose either to make five seperate works (explode) or two (separate). Often I've found it annoying trying to find the books I've seperated if there are thousands of books listed on a page. If LT gave you the option to simply cut the group in half it would save a lot of time.

Something less drastic that would still increase the speed of decomposing a work, is returning to that work after splitting out one item. Saves the effort of finding it again at least.

Agreed Tarkeel, or perhaps having the opportunity to 'move' it to a separate page or area for viewing/separating purposes. It can be really difficult keeping track of what's going on on a huge page with dozens of editions under each title (Charles Dickens, say, or George Orwell.)

Natantus did you mean you would like to beable to separate a group from a combination.

So you could select all the jack and jill books from the
list below then seperate them?

Jack And Jill
Jack And jill
Jack and the Giant Killer
jack and Jill
Jack and Jill
Jack the Giant Killer
Bonny and Clyde
Jack and Jilll
Jack the giant killer
Jack, killer of giants

I like that idea.

I would like that, or to be able to isolate 'recently separated' titles from the main list - a sort in order of (recent->no) combination or separation activity would be wonderful, as it could also show up new mis-combinations that had been missed otherwise.

>12 SimonW11:
Yeah, from your list I'd select all the "Jack and Jill" titles and would want them to end up in a seperate group all together. And I'd like to see it done with one click. Right now I believe if you do it one at a time you have to wait until you have 6 different "Jack and Jill" books before you can combine them into one work.