Random page - Page 2

Diten Retni · 09-15-2011, 05:22 AM

Thank you very much for your replies.

The idea is that it should be as easy as turning a page in ibooks (the next one being a random unread one of course).

I've tought about screen saver or diaporamas, due to the nature of the poems (These are short texts with the characters locked in a specific position in the page, like a painting; so that each poem is locked into one page, like an image).

But I would prefer a more simple solution without the reader having to deal with the randomness (even not aware at the beginning), just turning pages, like in a real e-book, and stored just like the other e-books (not an app).

Billi · 09-15-2011, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diten Retni

But I would prefer a more simple solution without the reader having to deal with the randomness (even not aware at the beginning), just turning pages, like in a real e-book, and stored just like the other e-books (not an app).

Maybe this solution is too simple, but what if you are the randomizer? I mean, if you put all the poems in an absolute random sequenze couldn't this have the same effect as using a script that does the randomizing?

Diten Retni · 09-15-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Maybe this solution is too simple, but what if you are the randomizer? I mean, if you put all the poems in an absolute random sequenze couldn't this have the same effect as using a script that does the randomizing?

Nice try, but not the same effect. Just the unlikely (but still possible) scenario of someone rereading the book justifies the random business.

Elfwreck · 09-15-2011, 08:28 PM

EPub supports coding that could make the randomness possible, in maybe a couple of different ways, but not all ePub readers would support that code. Mobi doesn't support this; there's no way to build scripts into a mobi file. (At least, not for end users. Who knows what Amazon might come up with in the future?) An app would definitely be easiest, and most consistent; there is just no way to force a particular page order (not even "random") on all the various ebook devices currently available.

If word placement is *vitally* important, it should probably be done as a set of image slides--which would have to be arranged to display on a 6" or 5" screen. CSS can do a lot to maintain original formatting, but it tends to get strange when the reader increases or decreases the font size.

It's possible that non-image poems could be done, as suggested, as chapters, with a link at the bottom of each for "random next poem." This wouldn't get the guaranteed "no repeats until you've seen them all," but is probably more do-able through CSS that's more widely supported.

09-15-2011, 05:22 AM	#16
Diten Retni Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Ipad	Thank you very much for your replies. The idea is that it should be as easy as turning a page in ibooks (the next one being a random unread one of course). I've tought about screen saver or diaporamas, due to the nature of the poems (These are short texts with the characters locked in a specific position in the page, like a painting; so that each poem is locked into one page, like an image). But I would prefer a more simple solution without the reader having to deal with the randomness (even not aware at the beginning), just turning pages, like in a real e-book, and stored just like the other e-books (not an app). Last edited by Diten Retni; 09-15-2011 at 05:25 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ask a Random Question?	DrDln	Lounge	214	07-17-2011 07:02 AM
Random page breaks and random subscripts?	sark666	Kobo Reader	2	09-04-2010 02:25 AM
What's up with Random House?	Skydog	General Discussions	9	04-08-2010 01:05 AM
Random page breaks on PRS-600 and Irex DR1000S	gaphic2	ePub	10	04-05-2010 01:32 PM
Unutterably Silly Random Insanity	RWood	Lounge	16	09-24-2008 09:22 AM

09-15-2011, 08:28 PM	#19
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	EPub supports coding that could make the randomness possible, in maybe a couple of different ways, but not all ePub readers would support that code. Mobi doesn't support this; there's no way to build scripts into a mobi file. (At least, not for end users. Who knows what Amazon might come up with in the future?) An app would definitely be easiest, and most consistent; there is just no way to force a particular page order (not even "random") on all the various ebook devices currently available. If word placement is vitally important, it should probably be done as a set of image slides--which would have to be arranged to display on a 6" or 5" screen. CSS can do a lot to maintain original formatting, but it tends to get strange when the reader increases or decreases the font size. It's possible that non-image poems could be done, as suggested, as chapters, with a link at the bottom of each for "random next poem." This wouldn't get the guaranteed "no repeats until you've seen them all," but is probably more do-able through CSS that's more widely supported.

Advert