Am I living in Lala land or is Sigil really Nirvana.

mhikl · 12-03-2010, 03:28 PM

Am I living in Lala land or is Sigil really Nirvana?

I came to this sight to figure out what was ‘wrong’ with Sigil.

Disclaimer:
Now I must point out that I am very lazy and the only things in life I find easy and natural are: sleeping, eating, resting, physical activities (not related to work), impressing dames (I think so anyway). All else is drudgery if it doesn’t immediately come quick.

I always find forums difficult. Its like a liquor store with hints of indulgence but all the bottles are behind doors within doors within doors. So, I quickly return to the easy things in life, or I try the thing I am trying to figure out at the moment (Sigil) and sometimes it is easier than reading the instruction manual or the labyrinth of a forum.

Here is What I Found:

Sigil seems to do everything for me. I just want a quick and dirty (easy) way to make .pubs and therein I want:
1. Clean text with highlighting (bold, italics) and varying sizing of print. WYSIWYG
2. Spacing between paragraphs and points without an actual spacing line. (dunno the term)
3. Chaptering
4. Pictures and graphics
5. Everything to work when I transfer my work to Stanza.

I tried Calibre and it was a dogs breakfast of tricks I am too lazy to figure out. Sigil does all of the above.

To me, Sigil is Nirvana. The banana tree, ready supply of beer and company with a bright warm sun glistening off the blue waters.

Am I missing something? If so, what?

Namaste,
mhikl

nyrath · 12-03-2010, 04:55 PM

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but I use Sigil to edit my ePub books, and Calibre to manage my eBook library and to convert from one format to another.
Different tools for different jobs.

dwig · 12-03-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhikl

...
I tried Calibre and it was a dogs breakfast of tricks I am too lazy to figure out. Sigil does all of the above...

I use Calibre to fix some issues with books I download, but for serious fixes I convert to ePub in Calibre and fix with Sigil, converting to MOBI for my Kindle3 with Calibre when done.

Sigil works well, but I'd hardly call it "nirvana". I can crash it at will using the Search & Replace function with certain extended ASCII characters and a spell checker would be a boon for finding a lot of the errors produced by poorly edited OCR scans.

theducks · 12-03-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhikl

Am I missing something? If so, what?

Namaste,
mhikl

Many things

No (add) Hyper links.
No Font size changes (not, misusing Headers)
No spell check (We all know this one)
No easy insert HTML entities
and dozens more.

Does this make Sigil Bad?
Hell NO.

I can wish for more

But I will take what I get and supply constructive feedback.

mrmikel · 12-04-2010, 07:05 AM

Sigil is stuck with the various odd deficiencies of underlying software, found when you try to cut and paste and other particular operations. It will delete by accident using the menu but not by using the keyboard.

But it has gone from being almost so slow as to be unusable to being pretty fast and pretty much does things the way I would do them unlike MS Word. The spell checker is the big thing missing especially coming from OCR or PDF source.

For my small needs, Sigil works better than calibre since I never wanted a program to organize my books to begin with and always kept my own quixotic organization.

Hail Sigil we who are about to epub salute you!

mhikl · 12-04-2010, 01:39 PM

As usual, I opened my mouth too soon. I had success formatting a practice document with a graphic (picture of my dog in disguise) chapter titles and doc titles in bold and different sizes. Perfect. Then all my real docs screwed up when I tried the same. Couldn't remember all my steps the next day. Wasted a day trying to retrace my steps.

Now, looking at both programmes I see their differences and purpose but I got a lot of good info from you guys from my dumb question.

Appreciate that no one made fun but pointed out my ignorance in polite form. I still find it very difficult to put all the details together and get quite frustrated but will trial on, and what a trial this is for me.

I was going to list all the good points from each contributor but will just express appreciations for the help.

Now I have to post another request because my Calibre has lost its icons and for the life of me and two hours trying to figure how to get them back in the programme, I am tired and frustrated. Hope I get as much help with it as I did with this post.

Namaste,
mhikl

Valloric · 12-04-2010, 04:47 PM

Thanks for the praise, but as others pointed out, Sigil still has its fair share of kinks. They're slowly being ironed out. For instance, performance used to be a major concern but now it's pretty solid.

BJThornton · 12-04-2010, 09:08 PM

Lol, even if it isn't nirvana, there's nothing wrong with applauding ease of use when you find it. I just took up the Sigil recommendation a few days ago, and it pulled me out of a deep frustration about why I couldn't get a funky little square out of my epubs. Positivity posts FTW.

Freeshadow · 12-04-2010, 10:34 PM

there certainly IS a lot of stuff which could be (and I think one day will) added to sigil
a lot of codepieces is surely adaptable from existing web editing software.

But it is indeed right to say that even as it is now sigil is a great piece of software sparing a helluva manual steps in epub creation for which we should thank Val on every possible occasion.
this being said: another bunch of karma 's on the way.

leday · 12-05-2010, 09:48 PM

I am new to Sigil and so far I like it for editing my newly converted epubs, but the only thing I wish it DID have is a spellchecker (so I can correct any spelling errors that may have occurred during conversion). If there is one already, I haven't been able to find it.

Ahmad Samir · 12-06-2010, 04:50 PM

Yes, Sigil is a great tool, only one of its kind (at least in the Linux world, AFAIK). It has a lot of potential, I think it'll reach even higher grounds over time :)

mhikl · 12-12-2010, 08:32 PM

Sigil is coming as close to nirvana as I could ever expect. By adding a decimal increment to each save I can go back to a successful save and try, try again.

I am to the point where I have every formation I can think of working and tweakable, save for centring my images but I have ranted on about this in another post and here is for my praise of Sigil, not for its follies.

I do not mind the steps I have to take to make my precious prides of joy: Pages - TextEdit - html - .pub - 1.00 − 1.01 −1.02 -, etc. I’m getting quite quick, quieting the Sigil devils that rear their quirky heads.

I do my planning, writing and editing in Pages. Then I copy my perfect copy to TextEdit and from there, save to html. (The fact that I can do anything in html lifts my spirit and swells my head.) And then to Sigil I bolt, html in hand, to make my masterpiece.

(I hope Sigil does not go complex on me. To add editing features other than the few it has, only taunts the spirits that like to make life’s little headaches, migraines, and defeats the KISS factor.)

With each tweak to my Sigil submaster I add a decimal version. My second success (remember, my first success was a fluke that the envious gods of pride taunted me to begin this thread) took me nine decimal times to get straight (with a number of back counts I wont name). But success was such that my third adventure took only four decimal points with no back counts (and only one restart) and no errors, only tweaks to satisfy my perfectionist drive.

The uninitiated ebook poet might find fault with my skewed images and first blank page but I am delighted and hail this Sigil a worthy member of my Application folder.

And now I have a tyke to put to bed and a spirit to soothe with cogitation before I start my 4th Sigil.

Namaste,
mhikl

12-03-2010, 03:28 PM	#1
mhikl Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 1764 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Device: iPod touch	Am I living in Lala land or is Sigil really Nirvana. Am I living in Lala land or is Sigil really Nirvana? I came to this sight to figure out what was ‘wrong’ with Sigil. Disclaimer: Now I must point out that I am very lazy and the only things in life I find easy and natural are: sleeping, eating, resting, physical activities (not related to work), impressing dames (I think so anyway). All else is drudgery if it doesn’t immediately come quick. I always find forums difficult. Its like a liquor store with hints of indulgence but all the bottles are behind doors within doors within doors. So, I quickly return to the easy things in life, or I try the thing I am trying to figure out at the moment (Sigil) and sometimes it is easier than reading the instruction manual or the labyrinth of a forum. Here is What I Found: Sigil seems to do everything for me. I just want a quick and dirty (easy) way to make .pubs and therein I want: 1. Clean text with highlighting (bold, italics) and varying sizing of print. WYSIWYG 2. Spacing between paragraphs and points without an actual spacing line. (dunno the term) 3. Chaptering 4. Pictures and graphics 5. Everything to work when I transfer my work to Stanza. I tried Calibre and it was a dogs breakfast of tricks I am too lazy to figure out. Sigil does all of the above. To me, Sigil is Nirvana. The banana tree, ready supply of beer and company with a bright warm sun glistening off the blue waters. Am I missing something? If so, what? Namaste, mhikl

12-04-2010, 01:39 PM	#6
mhikl Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 1764 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Device: iPod touch	As usual, I opened my mouth too soon. I had success formatting a practice document with a graphic (picture of my dog in disguise) chapter titles and doc titles in bold and different sizes. Perfect. Then all my real docs screwed up when I tried the same. Couldn't remember all my steps the next day. Wasted a day trying to retrace my steps. Now, looking at both programmes I see their differences and purpose but I got a lot of good info from you guys from my dumb question. Appreciate that no one made fun but pointed out my ignorance in polite form. I still find it very difficult to put all the details together and get quite frustrated but will trial on, and what a trial this is for me. I was going to list all the good points from each contributor but will just express appreciations for the help. Now I have to post another request because my Calibre has lost its icons and for the life of me and two hours trying to figure how to get them back in the programme, I am tired and frustrated. Hope I get as much help with it as I did with this post. Namaste, mhikl Last edited by mhikl; 12-04-2010 at 02:16 PM. Reason: changed "thanks" - messes karma

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12-03-2010, 04:55 PM	#2
nyrath Addict Posts: 281 Karma: 52007 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: nook	Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but I use Sigil to edit my ePub books, and Calibre to manage my eBook library and to convert from one format to another. Different tools for different jobs.

12-04-2010, 07:05 AM	#5
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	Sigil is stuck with the various odd deficiencies of underlying software, found when you try to cut and paste and other particular operations. It will delete by accident using the menu but not by using the keyboard. But it has gone from being almost so slow as to be unusable to being pretty fast and pretty much does things the way I would do them unlike MS Word. The spell checker is the big thing missing especially coming from OCR or PDF source. For my small needs, Sigil works better than calibre since I never wanted a program to organize my books to begin with and always kept my own quixotic organization. Hail Sigil we who are about to epub salute you!

12-04-2010, 04:47 PM	#7
Valloric Created Sigil, FlightCrew Posts: 1,982 Karma: 350515 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Kobo Clara HD	Thanks for the praise, but as others pointed out, Sigil still has its fair share of kinks. They're slowly being ironed out. For instance, performance used to be a major concern but now it's pretty solid.

12-04-2010, 09:08 PM	#8
BJThornton Writer Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dirty South Device: none	Lol, even if it isn't nirvana, there's nothing wrong with applauding ease of use when you find it. I just took up the Sigil recommendation a few days ago, and it pulled me out of a deep frustration about why I couldn't get a funky little square out of my epubs. Positivity posts FTW.

12-04-2010, 10:34 PM	#9
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	there certainly IS a lot of stuff which could be (and I think one day will) added to sigil a lot of codepieces is surely adaptable from existing web editing software. But it is indeed right to say that even as it is now sigil is a great piece of software sparing a helluva manual steps in epub creation for which we should thank Val on every possible occasion. this being said: another bunch of karma 's on the way.

12-05-2010, 09:48 PM	#10
leday Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 400 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-700, Nook Color	I am new to Sigil and so far I like it for editing my newly converted epubs, but the only thing I wish it DID have is a spellchecker (so I can correct any spelling errors that may have occurred during conversion). If there is one already, I haven't been able to find it.

12-06-2010, 04:50 PM	#11
Ahmad Samir Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 5246 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none	Yes, Sigil is a great tool, only one of its kind (at least in the Linux world, AFAIK). It has a lot of potential, I think it'll reach even higher grounds over time :)

12-12-2010, 08:32 PM	#12
mhikl Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 1764 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Device: iPod touch	Sigil is coming as close to nirvana as I could ever expect. By adding a decimal increment to each save I can go back to a successful save and try, try again. I am to the point where I have every formation I can think of working and tweakable, save for centring my images but I have ranted on about this in another post and here is for my praise of Sigil, not for its follies. I do not mind the steps I have to take to make my precious prides of joy: Pages - TextEdit - html - .pub - 1.00 − 1.01 −1.02 -, etc. I’m getting quite quick, quieting the Sigil devils that rear their quirky heads. I do my planning, writing and editing in Pages. Then I copy my perfect copy to TextEdit and from there, save to html. (The fact that I can do anything in html lifts my spirit and swells my head.) And then to Sigil I bolt, html in hand, to make my masterpiece. (I hope Sigil does not go complex on me. To add editing features other than the few it has, only taunts the spirits that like to make life’s little headaches, migraines, and defeats the KISS factor.) With each tweak to my Sigil submaster I add a decimal version. My second success (remember, my first success was a fluke that the envious gods of pride taunted me to begin this thread) took me nine decimal times to get straight (with a number of back counts I wont name). But success was such that my third adventure took only four decimal points with no back counts (and only one restart) and no errors, only tweaks to satisfy my perfectionist drive. The uninitiated ebook poet might find fault with my skewed images and first blank page but I am delighted and hail this Sigil a worthy member of my Application folder. And now I have a tyke to put to bed and a spirit to soothe with cogitation before I start my 4th Sigil. Namaste, mhikl

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