cannot combine a zero-copy work using the Workbench

I found a zero-copy work in an awards list* and tried to combine it with a ten-copy identical work. Unfortunately, the zero-copy work doesn't show up as a potential.

1. Added the zero-copy work to the Workbench - https://www.librarything.com/work/15451384
2. Added the ten-copy work to the Workbench - https://www.librarything.com/work/20147789
3. Opened the Workbench, which listed both works.
4. Clicked Combine works, which took me to the Combine From Workbench page -- which showed only the ten-copy work:



Repeated steps 1-4:
- immediately
- after clearing the Workbench
- after waiting 20 minutes
- after clearing the cache (Firefox)
- after updating Firefox
- in Opera

(Do you have any zero-copy works handy that you want to combine? Try now!)

* These awards: Lambda Literary Award Finalists

Sometimes the workbench does work with zero-copy works, most of the time in my experience. But there are indeed times like this example where the zero-copy work doesn't show up. Thanks for reporting it!

Yes, like >2 r.orrison: I noticed that it may or may not work. It's kind of weird.

>2 r.orrison: >3 Nicole_VanK: This is the first time I've had it not work for me, so it's good to know it's not just me.

Forgot to say that I'm using a Windows 10 system running Firefox and Opera, all updated comparatively recently (Windows 10 Home v. 22H2, Firefox 111.0.1 (64-bit), and Opera 96.0.4693.80)

Oh, I think I see the problem.
This isn't just a zero copy work. It's a zero edition work.

I want to say a similar bug has come up but I'm not sure.

>5 gilroy: I think it had been like that for a while - if you pull all editions out of a work and it remains with 0 editions, there is nothing to show for it on the combination screen - so it does not show up there.

I've run into this issue. I kept meaning to report a bug and didn't get around to it, so I've got a few examples just in case any of them display different nuances of the bug:

Dana Marton's Broslin Bride
https://www.librarything.com/work/15598752
https://www.librarything.com/work/17065168

Stephanie St. Klaire's Brother's Keeper I: Declan Part 2 / The Rise of Declan
https://www.librarything.com/work/25816012
https://www.librarything.com/work/25816015

Jo Richardson's Summer Job
https://www.librarything.com/work/29960873
https://www.librarything.com/work/29584656

Mari Carr's Crash Point
https://www.librarything.com/work/16889818
https://www.librarything.com/work/15271518

>7 parlerodermime: Yup. All zero edition works

Here's another one: Stand for Ukraine, a charity anthology
https://www.librarything.com/work/27897763
https://www.librarything.com/work/28752022
I really hope that one can be merged. All the painstaking work re: metadata is on the zero-edition version.

>9 parlerodermime: Done!

>9 parlerodermime: Done: https://www.librarything.com/work/28752022

When you have one of those, come over to the Combiners! group and we will be happy to help.

>7 parlerodermime: All done.

>1 karenb: Done.

>13 DuncanHill: So it's not a bug, it's a thing that only some people can do?

>14 karenb: It is the same process as the over 200 books combinations - there are no special permissions and anyone can work out the process if they understand how sites work.

>15 AnnieMod: If you reread >1 karenb:, I was unable to combine the works because some did not appear on the Combine works page. What changed so that Duncan Hill could do it?

>16 karenb: Nothing changed - the site does not show them on a combine screen. It never had when the zero copy work is a zero edition one as well.

To combine these you need to use the same method that is used when combining two works with more than 200 books in them. It’s not a special permission - anyone can work out the way to do it if they understand how sites work but it is not on the UI and cannot be done via the UI.

>17 AnnieMod: Thank you for explaining

>14 karenb: Passed from generation to generation at secret rites when the Moon is full and the Sun is in Uranus, the knowledge can only be shared with those who have already achieved the grade of ipsissimus....

Actually someone sent me a message saying, more or less, "you seem to be a good sort, here's how to do it".

Many many years ago I asked for the secret in the Combiners! group and was politely but firmly rebuffed! I suppose I could figure it out for myself but have never been thus motivated.

I had the secret many moons ago. But I've since misplaced the secret...

>19 DuncanHill: LOL. I can just picture me doing the secret ritual now, only using the wrong variety of heirloom tomato with the wrong edition of Joy of Cooking.

BUMP: Just came up again at https://www.librarything.com/topic/353947

I did the combination but the underlying problem persists.