[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by Psymon

In any case, I have already conceded to give in and just give it up [...]

Well, sometimes I like to beat a dead horse.

Perhaps one of the lurkers, or one of the people who finds this topic in about a year, wasn't convinced yet.

I like to think about all the INDIRECT benefits of making in-depth posts.

Originally Posted by Psymon

Just because I allow hyphenation (if it's necessary) for a specific word doesn't mean that you'll end up with a hyphen in it, when it's not needed (like, if the word is right in the middle of a particular line, not at the end/beginning).

This is exactly what a hyphenation algorithm is already doing. It only adds a hyphen when it thinks it is necessary. (Although admittedly, the specific iBooks algorithm is not to your liking, and it might be a subpar implementation).

This also doesn't get into the insanities of hyphenation.... different languages/countries have different typographical rules/conventions (you probably don't know German or Greek hyphenation rules for example). There are even differences between UK, US, and Austrailian hyphenation.

Edit: For example, this article gives a few examples, "On Hyphenation - Anarchy of Pedantry": http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/9100/9112article4.htm

"hy-phen-ation" or "hyphena-tion"?
"cryptog-raphy" or "crypto-graphy"?
"ex-actly" or "ex-act-ly" or "exact-ly"?
"ap-pearance" or "appear-ance"?
"di-minish" or "dimin-ish"?

There are people out there who have created giant hyphenation dictionaries to handle many words under the sun. Those that don't have specific rules, then typically they go by some sort of algorithm to split at certain prefixes/suffixes/roots. (For example, when it runs across someone's Last Name, or an obscure word, it needs to figure out how to hyphenate that (if needed)).

Typically, you go dictionary first, algorithm second. (I am making a rough guess, and thinking your typical ereader probably just goes with algorithm only, because it takes up less memory/CPU).

Yes, character count is just one aspect of hyphenation... but it is a heck of a lot more complex. And again, it is closely tied to how good the justification algorithm is at spacing things out (for example, a few spaces here, a few spaces there, might mean the difference between "ex-actly" and "exact-ly". This could reflow the entire thing.)

Other Edit: A lot of this is also a little tough to see, because you have to see the cascade/waterfall effect that happens due to a very minor tweak. Now, while this isn't SPECIFICALLY a "hyphenation" example. You can see what happens in this print book when I make an extremely minor adjustment to the negative indent in the footnote (if I remember correctly, I believe this was 1.2em (or 1.1?) to 1em?).

Page 50 Before/After:



Page 51 Before/After:



As you can see, just that little change on Page 50, two little words "is of", then cascaded, to effect further on in the book. Again, if you need more examples, I can then do a SPECIFIC hyphenation problem. And show what can happen when disabling hyphenation in certain words. It has the potential to completely change the look of a chapter!

And imagine, if I did all of this painstaking manual "fixes". A minor change, could cause me hours of grief in the future. Best to just keep the fixes as "broad" as possible, and stay the heck out of the way.

Originally Posted by Psymon

Like I said, I'm "giving it up" because of all the admonitions that I've gotten to do so -- but I really do have to wonder if, in fact, I'm not making a mistake in doing so. I really can't imagine how changing any of those "variables" you mentioned would end up with disastrous results -- on the contrary, I think what I was doing still would beautifully, regardless of how one change any of those variables.

I will save this post... once you go down your hyphenation-crazy nitpicking path for a few months/years, you will see... you will see!

Originally Posted by Psymon

And that's why I'm wondering, now, if I'm now not making a mistake in giving it up.

Hmmm... were we ever wrong? I mean, we were right about letting fonts do all the fancy footwork! Now go back and read your old topic, you are probably going to think "Who is that crazy guy? Oh wait, his username was Psymon!"