Quotes linked to Books

[This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For]

Within the quotes, how does one link a quote to a specific book and/or change the link of it is incorrect? I can see how to edit the quote (it's mildly unintuitive to find it by clicking on the # of people who liked it, but whatever...), but I don't see a way to deal with missing or errant book linkages.

On an unrelated note, could we, in one instance "lock" membership of a quote? "Don't Panic" currently has exactly 42 people who like it, and this is exactly how it should be...

[rivka, Former Moderator]

*LAUGH*

As you enter the author (just backspace one letter if it's correct), GoodReads will offer suggestions. Choose one that's on the list, and it will offer an optional list of books by that author.

[Lisa]

Oh thank you Rivka. I used to get that link to books but hadn't for a while and couldn't figure out why. Thanks for the instructions.

[This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For]

Thanks. I knew there had to be a way I just wasn't seeing it.

[Ruby]

I'm having some problems with certain authors' quotes that have gotten a bit messy.

For example, Jose Saramago is listed in 4 different ways in "Quotes" and none of these are linked to his books correctly, if at all. I'm not sure how to enter the name of the book, combine the multiple author entries, remove the all caps title and author entry that someone has put in, etc etc. In short - it all needs a bloody good clean up!

I'm a librarian, so happy to do it myself if you can advise.

[Paula]

First thing is to find the multiple profiles and merge to the correct one. That moves all books to the right spelling of the author. Then combine the books. Then go to the quotes section from the author profile. In theory the name on the quotes will change to the author profile you have kept as the real one.

then it's a matter of following the instructions above to edit if necessary and link to book.

[Ruby]

Thanks. I've avoided doing any merging until I've read the guidelines - guess i can't put it off forever :)

[Paula]

If you want some one else to merge - leave some links and someone will pick it up for you

[Ruby]

Hiya - In having a better look, I don't think there are multiples of this author outside the Quotes section. I think people are adding quotes, and instead of clicking on the drop-down, they are re-typing the author's name in varied & different ways. That said - the correct author's spelling & format doesn't link to his books.

If you go to Quotes, and try to enter one for Jose Saramago, you'll see what I mean.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

It's probably because they are leaving off the accented e.

I fixed all the ones I found.

[Paula]

I found a few author profiles also and merged them, and sorted out the quotes I beat rivka to!

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Further evidence that I am not St. Nick.

Unless Paula is an elf . . .

[Ruby]

Okay. I won't pretend to understand that. Under quotes, there were 4 versions of Jose Saramago. (One with the accent, with an apostrophe, one without either and one in all caps). I used the one with the accent for my quotes, since that was the main author profile.

None of those 4 were linked to the author's books when I entered my quotes. (They might be now - I won't know unless I try to add a new quote).

How do I go back and edit my quotes to link them to the books?

[Paula]

:)

Ruby if you go to your profile page, at the bottom is a section with your liked quotes . View those, to edit click on the "n people liked this" link. At the top by the quote title is an edit button this will let you change the author.

Otherwise go to the quotes section on GR, search for Jose then click, " people liked this" and edit as above

[Ruby]

Thanks for that. Sadly, there are still two Saramagos in the drop-down (one Jose and one just plain Saramago). Neither of these actually link to his books.

Excellent attempt though! :)

[Beth]

rivka wrote: "Further evidence that I am not St. Nick.

Unless Paula is an elf . . ."

Nice try, Ms. Claus.

[Paula]

Ruby, Can you provide links to the quotes that are not correct. I cannot find any doing a search

Thanks

[Ruby]

The quotes aren't incorrect. They are not linked to books.

1) Try putting in a new quote by "Saramago" - you will see there are still two author entries in the drop down.

2) Select the correct author (Jose Saramago with an accent) and try linking it to "Blindness" (or any other book) and you'll see that there aren't any.

[Ruby]

The same applies to existing quotes - I tried to edit my existing Saramago quotes, and it still gives me 2 authors and no books on the drop downs. I can't even enter a book title - it doesn't let you.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Here's one of your existing quotes. When I go to edit it, I see over 90 books.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Here are 26 quotes linked to Blindness.

[Ruby]

It is now letting me edit my quotes, but PLEASE just try adding a new quote for Saramago yourself? Please? I promise you, the books are not showing up. (although there is only one Saramago now - thanks!)

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Works just fine.

[Ruby]

Nope - http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/...

I think we're going in from two different places. You're doing it from Saramago's author page, right?

Try going Explore - quotes - add a quote - then type in & select saramago from the drop-down - see what I mean?

[rivka, Former Moderator]

You found another incorrect variant of the name, which I merged. You MUST enter his name as José Saramago -- first name first, and with the accent. Cutting and pasting helps.

[Ruby]

Thanks. I'll try that, but Is there a way to fix this? Otherwise, people will just type the surname and get the wrong one.

[Ruby]

Actually - I wouldn't even know how to add the accent!

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Copy and paste is what I usually use. Or start from the author's page.

And no, starting with the surname will never work (unless there is an incorrect version of the author's name that gets added later). That's not just for quotes -- it applies equally to adding books. Always enter author names first name first.

[Ruby]

Another issue - If I enter Jose Saramago (no accent), there's another variant of the name that comes up, not linked to any books.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

I think that's a remnant/caching issue from all the recent merges of his name.

[Ruby]

Thanks for that. The weird version with the black diamond & a question mark in it is still showing up, FYI.

The bit about searching using 1st names 1st seems weird. I always search using surname, and usually the correct name will show up in the search results.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Searches will work fine using last names. Adding new quotes will not.