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Book Search Guide

Learn how to efficiently search and retrieve book information

Table of Contents

Search Feature Overview

Reading Forest allows you to retrieve book information from external databases and automatically add it to your reading records. You can search using book titles, author names, and ISBN (International Standard Book Number).

Information You Can Search

Free vs Premium Plan Differences

Free Plan

  • Browser Search: Opens external sites like Amazon, Google Books for searching
  • Manual Copy: View search results and manually enter needed information
  • ISBN Search: OpenBD (publishing information database) search available
  • Search Mode Selection: Choose from "Title+Author", "Title Only", "Author Only"

Premium Plan (includes Trial)

  • Auto-Import: Just select a book from results to automatically import information
  • Multiple Databases: Google Books, National Diet Library, Calil, and more
  • Auto Cover Download: Automatically downloads book cover images
  • Batch Search: Get information for multiple books at once
  • All Free Plan features included
Try all Premium features free with our 30-day trial.

Types of Search Methods

1. Get Book Info Dialog

Opens when you click the "Get Book Info" button in the book edit screen.

Steps

  1. Click a book card to open the edit screen
  2. Click the "Get Book Info" button
  3. Enter title/author and select search mode
  4. Click the "Search" button
  5. Select a book from results (auto-import on Premium only)

2. Select Book Database

Opens from the Search button in the edit screen.

Steps

  1. Click a book card to open the edit screen
  2. Click the search icon
  3. "Select Book Database" window opens
  4. Choose a database to use
  5. Select search criteria (Title+Author, Title Only, Author Only)

3. Find This Book

Opens from "Find This Book" in the "Select Book Database" window.

Steps

  1. Open the "Select Book Database" window
  2. Click "Find This Book" in the "Open Page" section
  3. Select search criteria (Title+Author, Title Only, Author Only)
  4. Click Amazon or Google Books
  5. External site opens in a new tab

Using Different Search Modes

When both title and author are entered, you can choose from 3 search modes. If search results aren't found, try changing the mode and searching again.

Mode Search Criteria Recommended Use
Title+Author Search for books containing both title and author When many books have similar titles, use author to narrow down
Title Only Search by title only (ignores author) When author name is uncertain, or to exclude translator names
Author Only Search by author only (ignores title) When looking for other books by the same author
If "Title+Author" doesn't find results, try "Title Only" instead. This is especially effective for translated books or when author names have variations.
Author names containing words like "trans." or "ed." may affect search results. If not found, try editing the author name before searching.

Using "Select Book Database"

Window Layout

Search Target

Displays the title, author, and ISBN of the book currently being edited.

Auto Import (Premium Only)

Click a database to search, then select a book from results to automatically import information.

Open Page (All Plans)

Opens external sites in your browser for searching. View results and manually copy needed information.

Using "Find This Book"

A feature available on all plans that searches for books on external sites. Search results are displayed in your browser where you can view the information.

Search Flow

Select Database
->
Find This Book
->
Select Mode
->
Choose Site
->
Search on Site

Search Mode Selection

When both title and author are entered, choose from these 3 options:

Available Search Sites

If publisher information is available, use the "Include publisher in search" option for more accurate results.

Search Tips

What to Do When Not Found

  1. Change search mode - If "Title+Author" fails, try "Title Only"
  2. Shorten the title - Remove subtitles and search with main title only
  3. Modify author name - Remove "trans.", "ed." etc., or change name order
  4. Use ISBN search - Search by ISBN from the back cover for certain results
  5. Try different databases - If not found on Google Books, try Amazon

Efficient Search Methods

Verify the search result is the correct book by checking title, author, and publisher before selecting. Books with similar titles or different editions may exist.

Related Pages