Changing <div> tags to <p> tags

[townsend]

I find every time I start working on a new chapter, I have to change the initial <div> tag to a <p> tag, or else each subsequent paragraph will have <div> tags instead of the correct <p> tags.

I put this in as an issue and John.

Anyone else find themselves doing this all this all the time?

[DiapDealer]

I've never had the problem of Sigil using div instead of p, but then as I mentioned, I don't make changes in Book View. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "start new chapter" in terms of Sigil functionality, but any time I insert a brand new html file, it usually starts life as <p>& nbsp;</p>… never any divs.

You'd probably need to detail your exact steps that that result in divs. But I doubt that it's a Sigil "issue." It's probably a case of Sigil not working the way you think it should for your particular workflow. You may need to adapt.

[townsend]

Yes, I work in Book View, using the WYSIWYG editor. To start a new chapter, I always use the Split at Cursor button, which creates a new XHTML file. I like working in Book View, but periodically have to go into code view to change <div> tags to <p> tags and to remove nbsb characters. If not for these two instances, I would not need to use Code View. If one could ignore code view, then I think a many more users would be able to use Sigil.

None the less, just the way it is, I think Sigil is fantastic!

Here are the instructions for duplicating this problem.

1. Start a new ebpub document.
2. In Section0001, type in a few words
3. Press h2 to make that line Heading 2
4. View Code. Notice &nbsp; is added into header. This is not necessary.
5. Go back to Edit mode.
6. Move cursor to end of line and enter a carriage return.
7. Type a few words. Look at code again.
8. Notice new paragraph has </div><div> tags.
9. These should be <p></p> tags.

This is Issue 2162.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by townsend

Here are the instructions for duplicating this problem.

1. Start a new ebpub document.
2. In Section0001, type in a few words
3. Press h2 to make that line Heading 2
4. View Code. Notice &nbsp; is added into header. This is not necessary.
5. Go back to Edit mode.
6. Move cursor to end of line and enter a carriage return.
7. Type a few words. Look at code again.
8. Notice new paragraph has </div><div> tags.
9. These should be <p></p> tags.

1. Start a new ebpub document.
2. In Book View hit the enter (return) key once followed by the delete key.
3. With the mouse (or arrow keys) place cursor on the first line.
4. Type in a few words, Press h2 to make that line Heading 2.
5. Move cursor (w/mouse or arrow keys) to second line, type a few words.
6. Look at code.
7. Go back to Edit mode.
8. Move cursor to end of line and enter a carriage return.
9. Enter more paragraphs at your leisure by using the carriage return.

Repeat whenever you start a new chapter.

[townsend]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

1. Start a new ebpub document.
2. In Book View hit the enter (return) key once followed by the delete key.
3. With the mouse (or arrow keys) place cursor on the first line.
4. Type in a few words, Press h2 to make that line Heading 2.
5. Move cursor (w/mouse or arrow keys) to second line, type a few words.
6. Look at code.
7. Go back to Edit mode.
8. Move cursor to end of line and enter a carriage return.
9. Enter more paragraphs at your leisure by using the carriage return.

Repeat whenever you start a new chapter.

Thanks for trying to help me with this. I've tried follow these steps 4 times. On step 5, moving the cursor to the second line; this can only be done by entering a carriage return. At which time the <div> tags appear, and cannot only be corrected manually through code.

[DiapDealer]

If step 5 won't allow you move to the second line, it can only mean that you didn't enter the carriage return (enter) in step 2. Also note that step 2 is the Return key followed by the delete key. Not the backspace key. The delete key is not the same thing as the backspace key. Hitting Return/Backspace would definitely foul the process up as you've described.

The steps do work. It just creates two paragraphs right from the get-go, so you don't have to hit the return key after you're done changing the first paragraph to a heading (h2). You then manually move the cursor into the second paragraph, and from there on out... everything is normal.

Hitting the delete key just removes the & nbsp; since you don't care for it being there. You could skip that step (hitting the delete key) if you want.

[townsend]

Also note that step 2 is the Return key followed by the delete key. Not the backspace key.

That was my problem. I used backspace instead of delete. Thanks DiapDealer!

This little acrobatic routine will save me the time having to edit the <div> tags every time I create a new XHTML file.

As for correcting this in Sigil, so new users don't have to figure this out, the status of this issue is: "Cannot Fix".

No matter. John, you're doing a fantastic job! Even at .7.1 Sigil is nearly bullet proof, and a joy to use.

PS: I'll update this thread if the status changes.

[DiapDealer]

Glad it worked for you.

[DaleDe]

One workaround would be to do this once and save it. Then use this as a template (starting point) whenever you start a new book instead of new.

Dale

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

One workaround would be to do this once and save it. Then use this as a template (starting point) whenever you start a new book instead of new.

Dale

+10000 (can I do that??)

I go in and have ALL my default pages (cover/title/copyright/acknowledgement s/maps/CSS/opf/first page) set up exactly how I want them, then save as "default.epub"

Then I change the properties of the Sigil shortcut so instead of opening a "new" ePub it opens the "default". (Do that by adding '{space}"{path}/default.epub" ' after the "sigil.exe" in the properties.
I.e. "...sigil.exe" "c:/ebooks/default.epub"

Just remember to Save As to a different file name before you make any changes.

If any of the devs are reading, it would be nice to have this as a built in function...

[DiapDealer]

Why the shortcut properties rigamarole? If Sigil is the default epub app on your system, just double-click default.epub (or whatever your template epub is named).

[exaltedwombat]

And if it isn't (I prefer to have a reader rather than an editor as the default application for books) just drop the file's icom into Sigil's icon.

What have you got against <div> anyway? You can assign it classes and styles just like <p>.

[theducks]

Or do as I do when I want other than the set sefault:
Right click on the file: Open with: Sigil

[Turtle91]

I don't like a lot of shortcuts on my desktop...I have the one sigil shortcut in my task bar at the bottom...it won't let me have duplicates. When I click it, it opens the default ePub. No dragging, no finding the file(that I have in a folder several levels deep). It's very easy to add the file to the properties. One click and I'm working!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

I don't like a lot of shortcuts on my desktop...I have the one sigil shortcut in my task bar at the bottom...it won't let me have duplicates. When I click it, it opens the default ePub. No dragging, no finding the file(that I have in a folder several levels deep). It's very easy to add the file to the properties. One click and I'm working!

Turtle
I just open Sigil (default) from the Quick Launch bar (at the bottom), select the current file from the TOP of th File open history list. This adds a few seconds only.