Can I add an author to a book via author ID? [Answered]

[gem]

I have the hardest time figuring out if an author’s name has extra spaces in it from multiple authors having the same name. I’d prefer to add them to a book entry via a unique ID number, such as the one in the URL of their author page. Is this possible?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

No that isn't possible.

What I do, is to select a book under the intended author profile and open it in edit mode. (This is if it is a GR author. A non-GR author you can just open the author profile in edit mode itself.) Then copy the name as entered and paste it into the book that I want to move to that profile. Combine as a 2nd step if necessary.

[gem]

Thanks for the quick reply. Bummer it's not possible because opening the profile or other book in edit mode takes several extra clicks.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "A non-GR author you can just open the author profile in edit mode itself."

I noticed that if a Goodreads author has a verified profile, you can't open edit mode on their profile to check the spaces.

It would be really convenient if author profiles showed a special field for librarians only that showed their "system" name (including all the spaces).

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

gem wrote: "I noticed that if a Goodreads author has a verified profile, you can't open edit mode on their profile to check the spaces."

That's why I choose one of their books and open in edit mode. Yes, it takes extra clicks, but it's easier than sitting there trying to figure it out.

Notes do show on their combine page, and there is a link on the combine page to a list of Similar names. On that list it will tell you how many spaces. I just find it easier to do the copy/paste thing.

You'll find what is easiest for you.

[gem]

What the heck, might as well submit it as an idea. ^o^ Anyone reading, feel free to give it a thumbs up.

New idea: Display the "system" name for an author (including spaces) on their profile

[Scott]

Better yet, devise a way to separate authors of the same name that doesn't involve this awkward workaround.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

gem wrote: "What the heck, might as well submit it as an idea. ^o^ Anyone reading, feel free to give it a thumbs up.

New idea: Display the "system" name for an author (including spaces) on their profile"

There is a way to do this via help.

I'll comment that there are a lot of things I think the developers should be doing before considering this, but there is no way to down vote a suggestion.

[annob [on hiatus]]

gem wrote: "I have the hardest time figuring out if an author’s name has extra spaces in it from multiple authors having the same name..."

I use the 'Similar Author Names' page a lot. Here you can see how many spaces each profile have in their name.

Example:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/simi...

The link to the page can be found on the righthand side of the combine page, under the Librarian Tools headline.

[Dobby]

Another option is to display the list of books from the author's page. You may need to select the "More books..." link if the list is longer than one page. At the bottom of the book list is this note:

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more books, click here.

The "click here" link opens an Add a New Book page with the author's name already entered.

As Elizabeth said, it's whatever is easiest for you. I usually use the method Elizabeth explained or this method, depending on the situation.