Announcement: Changes to the Combine page

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Some of you have already noticed that we recently changed the messaging when you combine books. Today I am happy to announce that we have also implemented some significant changes to the filtering options on the combine page. In addition to all the existing options, we have added the ability to filter by Work ID*. This should avoid the difficulties with filtering works that have no keyword in common and/or which show up on different pages of our existing combine page; make it easier to find specific editions when combining; and significantly reduce instances of combine pages timing out. To help with the loading of the combine page, authors with hundreds of works will no longer display a list of works on the combine page when you first open it. Once you use one of the filtering options, you will see those results listed as usual on the combine page.

The new option of filtering by Work ID is especially recommended for combining works by prolific authors. The filter by keyword option will remain, but it may time out in some cases -- even when attempted repeatedly. Filtering by Work ID should be far less prone to timing out. However, with very large works (ones with 5000 or more editions), you may still occasionally see a timeout. When this happens, please simply re-try the filtering. It should go through on the second try.

Please try out this new tool, and let us know what you think!

*While some Goodreads Librarians are already familiar with Work IDs, many may not be accustomed to looking for that identifier. Therefore, we have added a new entry in the Librarian Manual explaining what a book's Work ID is, and how to find it.

[Moloch]

A question: if I filter by work ID, doesn't it show me books that are already combined? How does that help me to find books (not yet combined) that have no keywords in common?

I opened a random combine page but I still don't see the changes
https://www.goodreads.com/book/combin...

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Moloch wrote: "A question: if I filter by work ID, doesn't it show me books that are already combined?"

You will need to list at least two work IDs, separated with commas.


Moloch wrote: "I opened a random combine page but I still don't see the changes
https://www.goodreads.com/book/combin..."

It takes some time to update all the many many authors and books on the site.

[Moloch]

Got it, thanks

[Dobby]

Thanks, Rivka. This should be a tremendous help with some of the more problematic combines. Kudos to all involved on the back end of this big change!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Have they fixed the problem of filtering by non-consecutive key words?

For many prolific authors, I won't have identified the work IDs. I see the works on the combine page.

[Dobby]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "...For many prolific authors, I won't have identified the work IDs. I see the works on the combine page."

Depending on your browser, you should be able to see the Work ID in the status bar when you hover over a specific edition's "Details" link. With Chrome, the status bar appears on the lower left side of the window.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Dobby wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: " With Chrome, the status bar appears on the lower left side of the window."

But that is when you already have something on the combine page, right? So if the combine page doesn't show anything until you put the Work IDs in, how are you going to find them when you don't know they are there?

Some prolific public domain authors have many multiples of uncombined editions.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

There have been no recent changes to the keyword search itself. It often does not work well for prolific authors, which has been true for a very long time.

Combine pages now have two radio button options: Work ID and keyword. Keyword is still an option -- I just used "white" on Anne McCaffery's combine page, and it worked just fine. You do need to select the "keyword" radio button first.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Again, these changes have nothing to do with the existing keyword filter. Posts about it have been removed. If you have questions or concerns about the keyword filter, please use the Contact Us link.

This thread is about the new Work ID filter.

It should now be available on all combine pages site-wide. Please try it out!

[Anna]

This is an amazing improvement. Thank you! I've wanted this ever since I did my first combine.

[Moloch]

Another question

for books that have just one edition, Work ID = Book ID?
If not, how do I find the work ID if I can't click on "All editions"?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

rivka wrote: "It should now be available on all combine pages site-wide. Please try it out!"

Filtering on Work IDs will be good for titles in different languages. It's another workaround.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Moloch wrote: "for books that have just one edition, Work ID = Book ID?

No.


Moloch wrote: "If not, how do I find the work ID if I can't click on "All editions"?"

While "Other Editions" is only clickable when there are multiple editions, "All Editions" is clickable even when a work only has one edition. The new Manual entry has screenshots, and we carefully highlighted the one that always works (rather than the one that sometimes does).

[Moloch]

thanks, I don't know why but I thought you couldn't access the "other editions" page at all if the edition was just one, I was wrong.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Since the last several posts have all been requests for individual combine, rather than anything regarding this new feature, I am going to close this thread.

If there are any further questions or concerns, please use the contact link.