Add Books (iBooks) default search results

[djpadz]

The ability to include iBooks library metadata search results (title, author, etc.) in the default search results would be pretty huge for me.

[vitor]

Welcome @djpadz,

 

Alfred uses Spotlight’s metadata to search for files, so if Spotlight can do it (can it?), so should Alfred. Try a File Filter.

 

If iBooks relies on an internal database such as SQL, and that’s what you want to access, then a Workflow to read it would be the way to go (and might or might not be feasible).

[djpadz]

Hi, @vitor.  Thanks for the response.

 

Curiously enough, it doesn't appear that Spotlight indexes Books.  It's not even listed in the Spotlight prefs.  However, ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iBooksX/Data/Documents/BKLibrary contains a sqlite database that contains the bits I'd need.  Is there direct support for sqlite queries in Alfred workflows, or would I have to externalize that?

[vitor]

30 minutes ago, djpadz said:

or would I have to externalize that?

 

That one.

[codycodes]

Hey guys,

Not sure if you're still looking, but I created a workflow to do just this. I'm pretty happy with the results, as it allows you to have fine-grained and also looser control over what you're searching for in the Books app, depending on how you're searching. I'd love if you gave it a test and let me know if there's anything you'd want to improve with it