For anyone wanting to edit their RTFs in MSWord and having problems getting the EPUB line spacing retained, this is another approach which requires only MSWord and Calibre. MSWord to create/edit the RTF, Calibre to do a simple RTF to EPUB conversion. I don't claim it as 'the One True Way'.
I have attached 2 images. the first is how the sample RTF looks in Word, the second is how the EPUB looks in the Calibre Viewer. As you can see the line spacing appearance has been correctly retained. If the first image is what you're aiming for -- read on.
- The main thing which needs to be done when editing the RTF in Word is NOT to add blank paragraphs where you want to see some vertcal whitespace. Instead you create a second Word paragraph-style (I've called it Para1, based on the Normal paragraph-style) which has a large top margin (using Format - paragraph - Space before) and a zero bottom margin (Format - paragraph - Space after=zero). I also set indents to zero for the Para1 style - but that's optional.
Wherever you want to add extra vertical whitespace e.g. Chapter starts, scene breaks, you apply the Para1 style to the first paragraph. All other body text paragraphs can be left as Normal style. See image 1.
- Make sure you have the following Convert - Look&Feel settings when you do the Calibre RTF to EPUB conversion:
Code:
Remove spacing between paragraphs: unchecked
Insert blank line: unchecked
Extra CSS : p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0}
This gives you an EPUB which looks like image 2.
I've also attached the source sample RTF for anyone who wants to try it out. Hope it helps someone
