Guidelines for formatting book files

[fdsia8ds0]

Good day,

I have been building up a digital library of books I've been meaning to read---much of the content overlapping with what one may find here. Things seem to be well-organized in the Calibre library, so I was wondering whether there were specific rules used in tagging/naming/sorting the files, so that I may do likewise?

One of my biggest questions in particular was whether titles should be used in author names. Upon some searches, it seems like St. is when applicable, but no ecclesial titles like Fr., Card., or the like are used, except for Pope.
Is this accurate?

Also, is there a chat for this sort of thing, or just the forum? Thank you!

(P.S.: it appears, however, that postnomials are used)

[Geremia]

One of my biggest questions in particular was whether titles should be used in author names. Upon some searches, it seems like St. is when applicable, but no ecclesial titles like Fr., Card., or the like are used, except for Pope.
Is this accurate?

Initially, I did put St., Cdl. or Card., Fr., Sr., etc., but then I dropped it. I kept "Pope" to distinguish real popes from anti-popes.
I would say don't include any authors' titles.
Religious order abbreviations, academic, and other suffixes are generally preserved.

[fdsia8ds0]

One of my biggest questions in particular was whether titles should be used in author names. Upon some searches, it seems like St. is when applicable, but no ecclesial titles like Fr., Card., or the like are used, except for Pope.
Is this accurate?

Initially, I did put St., Cdl. or Card., Fr., Sr., etc., but then I dropped it. I kept "Pope" to distinguish real popes from anti-popes.
I would say don't include any authors' titles.
Religious order abbreviations, academic, and other suffixes are generally preserved.

I see, thank you. So do you prefer to omit prefixes?
I may do so on my own library if so, to keep it consistent, though I have seen St. many times, and just now, a Rev. (maybe mistaken or an outlier?) in the Isidore library (perhaps a bit of an odd example, but Pranatis, who is interestingly so-titled as an outlier, given that he was defrocked).

I also saw, for instance, both Benedict XVI and Joseph Ratzinger as two different authors: is this simply based on the time of the publication?

Thanks again

[fdsia8ds0]

Interestingly, it appears that multiple cases like St. Liguori & St. Grignion de Montfort, as well as Bernard Orchard, have identical 'name' and 'sort name', i.e. their names are listed as Surname, ...

[Geremia]

Bernard Orchard, have identical 'name' and 'sort name', i.e. their names are listed as Surname

I see "Orchard, Bernard, M.A. (Cantab.)".

I have seen St. many times, and just now, a Rev. (maybe mistaken or an outlier?) in the Isidore library (perhaps a bit of an odd example, but Pranatis, who is interestingly so-titled as an outlier, given that he was defrocked).

Also, I make the author(s) = author(s) sort.

I also saw, for instance, both Benedict XVI and Joseph Ratzinger as two different authors: is this simply based on the time of the publication?

Yes.

So do you prefer to omit prefixes?

Yes.

I have seen St. many times, and just now, a Rev. (maybe mistaken or an outlier?

As I said, earlier entered authors generally had prefixes.

perhaps a bit of an odd example, but Pranatis, who is interestingly so-titled as an outlier, given that he was defrocked

So? Priests are eternally priests.

[fdsia8ds0]

perhaps a bit of an odd example, but Pranatis, who is interestingly so-titled as an outlier, given that he was defrocked

So? Priests are eternally priests.

True.

So the format that you would follow now, for both 'name' and 'sort name'—so that I may do mine consistently—is?:

Code Select Expand

{Surname | papal name}, {remainder of name, if applicable}, {postnomials, if applicable | "Pope" if applicable (I assume this could also be Antipope or any regnal title)}, {birth year–death year, if known and applicable}
Once again, thank you for explaining this—I appreciate it

[fdsia8ds0]

It also seems like sometimes the native-language (Juan de la Cruz) name is used, and sometimes and anglicized name is used?
Which is preferable?

I also notice some authors technically have e.g. a long French name—it seems the shortened, English-like format is used instead? (e.g. Hilaire Belloc instead of Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc)

Also, are only religious postnomials used? Wikipedia states that GK Chesterton has KC*SG, i.e. the Order of St. Gregory the Great, but it isn't listed (nor are birth and death years). I assume the latter just isn't always added, but was the former meant to be?

[Geremia]

It also seems like sometimes the native-language (Juan de la Cruz) name is used, and sometimes and anglicized name is used?

I prefer the native language, though with John of St. Thomas I used his native secular name, too, as he's often referred to as Poinsot, too.

I also notice some authors technically have e.g. a long French name—it seems the shortened, English-like format is used instead? (e.g. Hilaire Belloc instead of Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc)

I didn't know that was his full name.

Wikipedia states that GK Chesterton has KC*SG

I didn't know that.

Honestly, if enough of a name is specified to identify the author, you don't have to have all their names.

felix festum Sanctissimi Corporis Christi!

[fdsia8ds0]

It also seems like sometimes the native-language (Juan de la Cruz) name is used, and sometimes and anglicized name is used?

I prefer the native language, though with John of St. Thomas I used his native secular name, too, as he's often referred to as Poinsot, too.

Yes, it seems much of this is up to preference—I often enjoy keeping things in their native language as well, but was not really considering it in this case, though I just may now!

I also notice some authors technically have e.g. a long French name—it seems the shortened, English-like format is used instead? (e.g. Hilaire Belloc instead of Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc)

I didn't know that was his full name.

Wikipedia states that GK Chesterton has KC*SG

I didn't know that.

Honestly, if enough of a name is specified to identify the author, you don't have to have all their names.

Nor would have I, if I did not look into it (I was mostly adding in birth- and death-dates).

You are right that, as long as the author is identifiable (in my case there aren't many disambiguations needed), then not every detail is necessary.

felix festum Sanctissimi Corporis Christi!

Indeed, happy and blessed Corpus Christi!

[fdsia8ds0]

I also notice that the preposition is somethings before, e.g. 'de Sales, Francis', and sometimes after, e.g. 'Liseux, Thérèse de'. Is the a preference, or a specific reason that they differ?
I've also wondered whether it should be 'Grignon de Montfort, Louis-Marie', or 'de Montfort, ...', or 'Montfort, ... de'.

[Geremia]

I also notice that the preposition is somethings before, e.g. 'de Sales, Francis', and sometimes after, e.g. 'Liseux, Thérèse de'. Is the a preference, or a specific reason that they differ?

Honestly, I don't know which is better; that's why there's variety...

I've also wondered whether it should be 'Grignon de Montfort, Louis-Marie', or 'de Montfort, ...', or 'Montfort, ... de'.

His is an interesting case, especially since he signed his name variously (according to Le Crom's biography).

[Geremia]

Also, as a general rule the publication dates are set to the month+year of the imprimatur of imprimatured books.