How to share code logic for two fields when using the inline plugin?

[halloleo]

I have a question about how custom album fields can refer to each other when using the inline plugin.

Let's look at a minimal example. In my config I could have something like:

album_fields:
  myfield: |
    # Assume here a lengthy calculation
	res = "AnArtist"
	# ...
    return res

  myotherfield: |
    return myfield.upper()

format_album: $myotherfield - $album [$genre]

paths:
    default: $myfield/$track $title

When running beets with this config I get a "Name error: 'myfield' not found." This means that in the definition of myotherfield I'm apparently not allowed to refer to myfield.

Now, assuming myfield is calculated in a slightly laborious way, then it would be very desirable to reuse the value of myfield in the definition of myotherfield. But how to do it? I tried using a function to share the code:

album_fields:
  myfield: |
    def anartist():
      return "AnArtist"
    return anartist()

  myotherfield: |
    return anartist().upper()

However, the function anartist() is not available in myotherfield.

What else does work to share code logic for two fields?

Thanks heaps for any suggestions!

[DjSlash]

I'm don't know about cross-referencing fields, but in your example, you could just use the template function for your format_album:

format_album: %upper{$myfield} - $album

[halloleo]

Interesting. Makes sense.

My example was a bit dumbed down... What would do the job for me is instead of upper-casing a field, removing all spaces from it. I can't find a template functiom which does this or did I just overlook it?

[RollingStar]

Replace? https://beets.readthedocs.io/en/stable/reference/config.html#replace

[DjSlash]

There is no template function to replace spaces from a variable. The replace config option only reflects paths/filenames.

@halloleo I have the feeling we are missing the whole picture. Maybe try to elaborate what you want to do or how you picture your end-result.

[halloleo]

Hi @DjSlash, finally I get back to this. To your question what I want to do:

I want to find an appropriate "overall composer" for an album. For this I have the following functions:

  def albumcomposers():
      # sets do not allow duplicates
      c_set = set()
      for item in items:
        item_cs = list(map(clean_name_dups, cmpr_split(item.composer)))
        c_set.update(item_cs)
      return list(c_set)

    def albumcomposer():
      try:
        cmpr = composer # ususally fails: composer not a standard albumfield
        cmprs = cmpr_split(cmpr)
      except NameError:
        cmprs = albumcomposers()

      if len(cmprs) == 0:
        return "No Album Composer"
      elif len(cmprs) == 1:
        return cmprs[0]
      else:
        return "Various Composers"

I then want to use the function albumcomposer in multiple fields: Once as is and once returning the txt without spaces. I figured out that the inline plugin cannot do this directly, because each field is evaluated in a separate global scope. -- See for my solution my top-level comment below.

[RollingStar]

You could at least define the function in both places, and copy-paste between the two when one changes.

[halloleo]

Thank you for the suggestions and sorry for my late repsosnse. I guess I have to write this as a little plugin to share the code.

[halloleo]

I finally got around extending the inline plugin: beets-inlineplus seems to be able to do this. (I'm sure I didn't cover all corner cases -- so feedback is very welcome!)