I am not sure whether I am overthinking it too much when trying to add books that are not exactly but often partially available in the Core.
I have the famous paperback Karl May series which were published before there were ISBNs. I use their print volume (instead of ISBN) to identify the exact book as well as the cover/binding that was used at that time (60s - 70s). The following site is a great source for all Karl May fans. I found all but one of my books matching their print volume as well as the correct cover: Karl May Bücher - Bibliographie - Reihe
My problem is how to import about 50 titles with my exact confirmed data but unavailable in the Core:
- Most of the titles are available in the famous Hardback version, even with the respected cover page.
- But these books have too much information that does not apply to the paperbacks. Therefore, each book would require a lot of editing.
- The only advantage I see is that by linking to this version, I get the Plot, which is quite good and detailed.
- Also, the barcode is really not applicable to the paperbacks.
- There are SOME paperbacks available in the Core, but these are of a newer version, including newer cover pages. While I can change the cover pages, I don’t know whether this version was reworked and does not necessarily contain the exact content as my books. The recent years/decades have reworked a lot of Karl May’s work.
- I imported the titles by text file with all the confirmed data I had in my spreadsheet, so quick way of doing it. It turned out quite well with minor problems.
- But NOW, when I want to update 2 fields (moving the data of one field to another field in the same book for all books, I seem to have to link the title still to the core ( because I couldn’t accept the suggested version in absence of my version.)
- The manual says to submit all missing titles/books to add to the Core, but is it even possible if they don’t have ISBNs or would the Core just automatically assign the ISBNs of a newer version or other type of book?
- Is it justifiable to add 50 titles if there are other versions of this title already in the Core?
- If trying to solve this manually, I have to edit a lot and keep the books out of the core. Does it really matter to assign the wrong ISBN and just change the cover page?
You might indeed be overthinking this, but I’ll try to answer some of your questions, maybe it will give you peace of mind.
But NOW, when I want to update 2 fields (moving the data of one field to another field in the same book for all books, I seem to have to link the title still to the core ( because I couldn’t accept the suggested version in absence of my version.)
I don’t understand this: what exactly do you do where it then asks you to link the title to Core? It shouldn’t ask you that if you use the “transfer field tool” - but you mention the word “update” - if you try to use Update from Core, then yes, a book needs to be linked.
What are you trying to do?
You can not submit books without ISBNs to Core - but I wouldn’t worry about submitting, just focus on your own database.
And for your information: Core does not assign an ISBN to a book!
Is it justifiable to add 50 titles if there are other versions of this title already in the Cor
Sure, that is no problem, but you don’t have to do it.
I have to edit a lot and keep the books out of the core. Does it really matter to assign the wrong ISBN and just change the cover page?
If you just keep your data local and not submit to us, then it really doesn’t matter. But we rather not have “other data” submitted to a different ISBN, if you know what I mean 
Your answers gave me a lot to think about and actually clarified some of my assumptions about Core vs local/cloud database. As a result, I can now evaluate my content to be imported much more accurately.
Important Understanding:
- Core is solely based on barcodes as ID. I assumed that Core could take any content, not by assigning a barcode but by some kind of system ID for the particular object imported.
- Anything without barcode must remain in the local database until the correct barcode is found if there is one available.
- If there is a barcode available but not found yet, or found only under a different barcode type, you can either do your own research and submit the result later to CLZ; or request the title to be added under the Add Book>…Barcode not Found> Submit missing barcode (or similar wording).
- There is not enough information about importing books/movies by text file. The initial info is good and very helpful, but there is no info about what happens next when the title to be imported doesn’t exactly match with the Core (or has no barcode at all as I know now). This is the location I was when trying to link the imported files: A list of unmatched titles to be linked. I wrote my own process, especially after I realized that it is still worth the time to import by text file if you have the data readily available from a spreadsheet.
- I still have to try the Transfer Field Data, just found it on my menu. Sounds like this is exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you for listening and help me understand better.
Not exactly, but I don’t think it matters for what you’re trying to accomplish to be honest.
You do not have to submit. The most important thing is your own database, and since all fields can be edited, you can make it exactly the way you want!
I’m not sure I understand this one. After you import books via a CSV, you can use the “Link Books” screen in CLZ Books Web to link them up to entries in our database - you can even pick one that matches your book as close as possible, for ones you don’t have an ISBN for, so you can get quick information about the book (a plot, the genre, the right cover). That said, you don’t have to link books of course.
Transfer Field Data is a tool to move or copy data from one field to another field. It doesn’t send data from one book to another book though, just want to make that clear.