Hierarchical entries in user category may not merge correctly in tag browser

[HamsterExAstris]

Suppose I have a custom series-like column called "series_original", and a grouped search with a corresponding user category (Preferences -> Searching -> Grouped Searches) called "series_all", combining the built-in "series" field and the custom "series_original" field.

All three fields (series, #series_original, @series_all) have been set as hierarchical in the preferences (Preferences -> Look & Feel -> Tag Browser -> Categories with hierarchical items).

When there is no hierarchy in either the series field or the custom field, it works as expected: the tag browser merges the results from both fields together.

When hierarchy depths match in both fields, they also get merged correctly.

But if one field has entries at a certain hierarchy level and the other field *doesn't*, then they don't get merged and instead show as duplicate entries in the tag browser.

Example that works:

book 1: series is A
book 2: series_original is A

Example that works:

book 1: series is A.B.C
book 2: series is A.B.C.D
book 3: series_original is A.B.C

Example that does not work (delete book 1 from prior example):

book 1: series is A.B.C.D
book 2: series_original is A.B.C

Screenshot attached showing the first example working (86 - total of 6 entries, 5 from series and 1 from series_original) and the last example not working (it has duplicate hierarchies for each column).

calibre v5.34 on Windows

[Kovid Goyal (kovid)]

Changing the component for this bug.

 assignee cbhaley
 status triaged

[Charles Haley (cbhaley)]

Note that this fix works with grouped search terms. 'Real' user categories will never be merged because the source category is part of the 'name'

[Kovid Goyal (kovid)]

Fixed in branch master. The fix will be in the next release. calibre is usually released every alternate Friday.

 status fixreleased