Epub layout for scholars

Shiimis · 08-23-2011, 03:56 PM

Hello,

I'm currently experimenting with an acceptable layout for texts which require pagination on the side of the page (most classic texts are like that). Without standard pagination these texts are useless for serious work.
I managed to progress somewhat but unfortunately sold my PRS-600 a little while ago (Currently waiting for my Nook Color to arrive).

Could you please load the epub file in your readers and tell me how it looks, perhaps you have some advice regarding the layout.

The file contains a first few lines from Plato's Lysis which uses Stephanus pagination.

I appreciate the help!
Thanks!

charleski · 08-24-2011, 03:54 PM

Unfortunately this demonstrates why tables can be a bad idea. If the user enlarges the font enough that all the text in a row can't fit on the screen, then the text gets chopped off.

I redid it using floats and attached the result. Note that I set all the margins in em.

Shiimis · 08-25-2011, 09:19 AM

Wow, thanks! This is so much better!
I appreciate your help.

HarryT · 08-25-2011, 09:43 AM

I don't personally like to specify margins in em units. Do you really want your margins to expand if you increase the text size? Indents in em, yes, but have margins in some fixed units - pt, cm, or whatever.

charleski · 08-25-2011, 08:00 PM

Vertical margins should always be in em so that you maintain the vertical rhythm of the type across differing font sizes. Horizontal margins generally work better with absolute measures or ones relative to screen width, but in this case the margins are actually padding used to keep the two elements apart (I changed some of them to padding-right etc, and the others should probably be changed as well), so they need to scale with the font size to maintain the relative positions or they end up looking very odd.

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08-25-2011, 09:19 AM	#3
Shiimis Member Posts: 12 Karma: 145834 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-600 [sold]	Wow, thanks! This is so much better! I appreciate your help.

08-25-2011, 09:43 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I don't personally like to specify margins in em units. Do you really want your margins to expand if you increase the text size? Indents in em, yes, but have margins in some fixed units - pt, cm, or whatever.

08-25-2011, 08:00 PM	#5
charleski Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1281258 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	Vertical margins should always be in em so that you maintain the vertical rhythm of the type across differing font sizes. Horizontal margins generally work better with absolute measures or ones relative to screen width, but in this case the margins are actually padding used to keep the two elements apart (I changed some of them to padding-right etc, and the others should probably be changed as well), so they need to scale with the font size to maintain the relative positions or they end up looking very odd.

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