Formatting epic poems with line numbers?

Lima_dat · 02-25-2008, 09:35 AM

What is the best way, or is it even feasible, to format epic poems with line numbers? Any other poetry formatting tips or advice would be appreciated.

HarryT · 02-25-2008, 09:42 AM

It depends what format you're talking about.

If you're creating MobiPocket books, you could do it as a 2-column HTML table, with the text in the left column and the line number in the right. Make the table's borders invisible.

ProfJulie · 02-25-2008, 11:16 AM

How are you planning to use the epic poems you format? If it is for personal use, I'd go with the KISS principle and create the book in Word, having Word number the lines, in a page size that is compatible with my Cybook, then print it to a PDF file.

I won't buy any DRM PDF files, but I create them all the time for my personal use.

Puffball · 02-25-2008, 02:06 PM

How geeky are you? You have to be somewhat technical to use it, but EMACS is the daddy of all text-manipulation programs. It has its own macro language that you can use to accomplish just about anything. The finished file is in .txt format, so you can then feed it into Word or whatever else you like.

Although EMACS is a Unix editor (with its own fans, mortal enemies of Vi fans

) it has been ported to lots of other operating systems. I've used MicroEMACS on a DOS PC and GnuEMACS on Mac's Darwin via the Terminal. If you have a Linux computer it's even easier - probably you've already got a copy in your distro.

Jellby · 02-25-2008, 03:53 PM

I'd use (pdf)latex with a package like "texnika" (http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macr...trib/technica/), but even the defaulte "verse" of "memoir" (http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/help...es/memoir.html) can do that.

02-25-2008, 09:35 AM	#1
Lima_dat English ppl ride potatoe? Posts: 40 Karma: 674 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, TX Device: Kindle	Formatting epic poems with line numbers? What is the best way, or is it even feasible, to format epic poems with line numbers? Any other poetry formatting tips or advice would be appreciated.

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02-25-2008, 09:42 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It depends what format you're talking about. If you're creating MobiPocket books, you could do it as a 2-column HTML table, with the text in the left column and the line number in the right. Make the table's borders invisible.

02-25-2008, 11:16 AM	#3
ProfJulie Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 890 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: USA Device: whatever	How are you planning to use the epic poems you format? If it is for personal use, I'd go with the KISS principle and create the book in Word, having Word number the lines, in a page size that is compatible with my Cybook, then print it to a PDF file. I won't buy any DRM PDF files, but I create them all the time for my personal use.

02-25-2008, 02:06 PM	#4
Puffball Member Posts: 20 Karma: 181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Scotland, UK Device: Sony Reader	How geeky are you? You have to be somewhat technical to use it, but EMACS is the daddy of all text-manipulation programs. It has its own macro language that you can use to accomplish just about anything. The finished file is in .txt format, so you can then feed it into Word or whatever else you like. Although EMACS is a Unix editor (with its own fans, mortal enemies of Vi fans ) it has been ported to lots of other operating systems. I've used MicroEMACS on a DOS PC and GnuEMACS on Mac's Darwin via the Terminal. If you have a Linux computer it's even easier - probably you've already got a copy in your distro.

02-25-2008, 03:53 PM	#5
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,515 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I'd use (pdf)latex with a package like "texnika" (http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macr...trib/technica/), but even the defaulte "verse" of "memoir" (http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/help...es/memoir.html) can do that.

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