diff --git a/python/web/library/models.py b/python/web/library/models.py
index fd4db02..c2c5c5f 100644
--- a/python/web/library/models.py
+++ b/python/web/library/models.py
@@ -52,16 +52,30 @@ class Book(models.Model):
 			print fileformat.write_action(self.to_dict())
 
 		else:
-			format = '%-15s: %50s \n'
-			for field in book_fields:
-				try:
-					scratch += format % (field[1],eval('self.'+field[0]))
-				except Id.DoesNotExist:
-					scratch += format % (field[1], "None")
-				except AttributeError:
-					scratch += format % (field[1], '')
-			authors = ', '.join(map(unicode, self.get_authors()))
-			scratch += format % ('Authors', authors) 
+			if self.getid():
+				scratch = 'book %s %s\n' % (self.isbn, self.getid())
+			else:
+				scratch = 'book %s\n' % self.isbn
+			scratch += 'Title: %s\n' % self.title
+			if self.subtitle:
+				scratch += 'Subtitle: %s\n' % self.subtitle
+			scratch += 'ISBN: %s\n' % self.isbn
+			scratch += 'Persons:\n'
+			for bp in self.persons.all():
+				scratch += ' %s %s %s (%s)\n' % (bp.person.id,
+								 bp.person.first_name, bp.person.last_name,
+								 bp.relation)
+			if len(self.persons.all()) == 0:
+				scratch += ' (no persons associated with this book)\n'
+			if self.series: scratch += 'Part of series: %s %s\n' % (self.series.id, self.series.title)
+			scratch += 'Category: %s\n' % self.category.id
+			if self.publisher: scratch += 'Publisher: %s\n' % self.publisher
+			if self.published_year: scratch += 'Published year: %s\n' % self.published_year
+			if self.edition: scratch += 'Edition: %s\n' % self.edition
+			if self.num_pages: scratch += 'Number of pages: %s\n' % self.num_pages
+			if self.description:
+				scratch += 'Description:\n%s\n' % '\n'.join(map(lambda line: ' '+line,
+										self.description.split('\n')))
 
 		return scratch 
 
@@ -105,13 +119,19 @@ class Book(models.Model):
 
 			
 	def getid(self):
-		if self.id:
-			return self.id.id
+		try:
+			if self.id:
+				return self.id.id
+		except Id.DoesNotExist:
+			pass
 		return None
 
 	def setid(self,newid):
-		if self.id:
-			self.id.delete()
+		try:
+			if self.id:
+				self.id.delete()
+		except Id.DoesNotExist:
+			pass
 		newid = Id(book=self,id=newid)
 		newid.save()
 
@@ -177,12 +197,13 @@ class Person(models.Model):
 			#generate commit-string
 			print fileformat.write_action(self.to_dict())
 		else:
-			format = '%-10s: %50s \n'   				
-			scratch = format % ('Name', ' '.join((self.first_name, self.last_name)))
-			scratch += format % ('ID', self.id)
-
-			books = ', '.join(map(lambda x: x.book.title, self.books.all()))
-			scratch += format % ('Books', books)
+			scratch = 'person %s\n' % self.id
+			scratch += 'Name: %s %s\n' % (self.first_name, self.last_name)
+			scratch += 'Books:\n'
+			for bp in self.books.all():
+				scratch += ' %s %s (%s)\n' % (bp.book.isbn, bp.book.title, bp.relation.name)
+			if len(self.books.all()) == 0:
+				scratch += ' (no books associated with this person)\n'
 
 		return scratch