Define initial font viewing size

Alan Newson · 02-29-2012, 03:13 AM

Hi, is it possible to set the initial font size of an ePub - using a size that would be available when the user chooses to increase or decrease font size.

This is probably not recommended but I would like to know what a user is seeing on initially opening the document.

DiapDealer · 02-29-2012, 07:26 AM

Readers don't like it when they open a book and the font size is three times bigger or smaller than the last book they were looking at.

With no font-size specification (or a specification of 1em), they are seeing the font size they have chosen for their particular viewing comfort (for normal body text).

mmat1 · 02-29-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Newson

Hi, is it possible to set the initial font size of an ePub

Afaik theres no central item to set a global font-size; but you may give every tag in your epub a specific size via css.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Newson

using a size that would be available when the user chooses to increase or decrease font size

A user-choice such as "big", "even bigger", "quite large", "monstrous big" and "default", where default is the size you specified ???
I guess: no

DaleDe · 02-29-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmat1

Afaik theres no central item to set a global font-size; but you may give every tag in your epub a specific size via css.

A user-choice such as "big", "even bigger", "quite large", "monstrous big" and "default", where default is the size you specified ???
I guess: no

since every file has a body tag you can set font size in the body CSS so yes there is a way to set a global font size.

ePub and its predecessor OEB has 7 font sizes that are supposed to be supported. They need to be called: xx-small, x-small, small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large. If the eBook reader doesn't support all these sizes it can reuse a size it does support. A font size set to larger will go to the next larger font in this set of 7 and a font size set to smaller will go down the list.

However, it is likely better not to specify a font size and let the user choose.

Dale

mrmikel · 03-01-2012, 07:29 AM

DaleDe, the wisdom of your remark is illustrated by the fact of all the thread participants, there appears to be no one reader in common. Set it perfect for one and make it off for the rest!

Toxaris · 03-01-2012, 07:51 AM

Lets have one device in common then.

Rob Lister · 03-01-2012, 08:39 AM

And yet... there are situations where it would be nice to have a font display at a particular size. A good example is the e-book display of a table. If the font size is known (or controlled) at the time of development, the developer can make the table display correctly for the most common screen widths.

My opinion is to rethink the necessity of the table, or at the very least, tightly control the width of the table elements and number of columns.

Where a table is absolutely necessary, I've had good results with converting the table to an image. If the resulting img (width=100%) is illegible in the width of the display of the smallest anticipated screen size, then rethinking the design of the table is also absolutely necessary. If it is legible, it is a good, if not perfect, solution.

So in a nutshell, if you find yourself thinking it necessary to screw with the user-defined font size (or any other user setting), step back and see if there is a more universal, device/user independent solution that will achieve the same result.

huebi · 03-01-2012, 08:41 AM

html is flexible. You do not have control over the users settings nor can you influence them. You have to live with that.

02-29-2012, 03:13 AM	#1
Alan Newson Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: iPad	Define initial font viewing size Hi, is it possible to set the initial font size of an ePub - using a size that would be available when the user chooses to increase or decrease font size. This is probably not recommended but I would like to know what a user is seeing on initially opening the document.

03-01-2012, 08:39 AM	#7
Rob Lister Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 3293888 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Device: Nook Simple Touch	And yet... there are situations where it would be nice to have a font display at a particular size. A good example is the e-book display of a table. If the font size is known (or controlled) at the time of development, the developer can make the table display correctly for the most common screen widths. My opinion is to rethink the necessity of the table, or at the very least, tightly control the width of the table elements and number of columns. Where a table is absolutely necessary, I've had good results with converting the table to an image. If the resulting img (width=100%) is illegible in the width of the display of the smallest anticipated screen size, then rethinking the design of the table is also absolutely necessary. If it is legible, it is a good, if not perfect, solution. So in a nutshell, if you find yourself thinking it necessary to screw with the user-defined font size (or any other user setting), step back and see if there is a more universal, device/user independent solution that will achieve the same result. Last edited by Rob Lister; 03-01-2012 at 08:49 AM.

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02-29-2012, 07:26 AM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Readers don't like it when they open a book and the font size is three times bigger or smaller than the last book they were looking at. With no font-size specification (or a specification of 1em), they are seeing the font size they have chosen for their particular viewing comfort (for normal body text).

03-01-2012, 07:29 AM	#5
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	DaleDe, the wisdom of your remark is illustrated by the fact of all the thread participants, there appears to be no one reader in common. Set it perfect for one and make it off for the rest!

03-01-2012, 07:51 AM	#6
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Lets have one device in common then.

03-01-2012, 08:41 AM	#8
huebi Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 5070 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	html is flexible. You do not have control over the users settings nor can you influence them. You have to live with that.

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