Real page numbers inconsistencies

[scop]

Hi everyone, I don't understand how the "real page numbers based on the print edition [some ISBN]" on Amazon are supposed to work.

For example, this book is given as length 242 pages, BUT the ISBN they say it is sourced from is the hardback edition which has 256 pages.

The ebook edition at Goodreads also shows 256 pages.

So if I want to get the most accurate "real" page numbers so I can coordinate with someone else using a paper edition, should I accept the one provided by Goodreads (256) or the one on Amazon (242)?

And why would there be these inconsistencies anyway?

Thanks for any advice,
Tim.

[Bookstooge]

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

It is the same sound as when you try to arbitrarily make ebooks behave like paperbooks

If your goal is consistency, I'd highly recommend the Count Pages plugin in the Plugins sub-forum. It is one of the few plugins I use regularly.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by scop

So if I want to get the most accurate "real" page numbers so I can coordinate with someone else using a paper edition, should I accept the one provided by Goodreads (256) or the one on Amazon (242)?

If you are trying to coordinate with someone reading a paper edition, shouldn't you use the page count from their edition?

But, it probably won't work. Unless the ebook has markers in it for where the real-book pages are, the device will calculate the page breaks. They are unlikely to be the same any paper edition. And the more complicated styling in the book, the less likely they will be consistent.

And why would there be these inconsistencies anyway?

Because the layout of each edition is different. Page and font size for paper editions. The algorithm use to calculate the page count for the ebooks. And this can be device or reader app specific.

[jhowell]

These are two different statements about two different kinds of page numbers:

Length: 242 pages

Contains real page numbers based on the print edition (ISBN 0802121403).

The first indicates the length of the book by using an algorithm to determine that the amount of content it contains is approximately equivalent to that number of printed pages. It is there to give you an idea of how long this book is relative to other Kindle books.

The second indicates that the start position of each page in the print edition is marked within the metadata of the Kindle book. This allows the Kindle book to show which page number you are on as you read and enables the "Go to page #" function.

[theducks]

Kindles use Reading Location, just for the reason that changing fonts, line space all affect what you see on the SCREEN.

The reason tracking by 'pages' worked in the classroom of olde, was you all were using the same HARD PRINTED edition
Chapter 2, Paragraph 9, Word 5 works for soft copies (and that assumes ) that there were no editorial changes

[scop]

Originally Posted by jhowell

These are two different statements about two different kinds of page numbers

Ah, I see. I was misinterpreting those two statements to be referring to the same thing (perhaps because one is hidden under the other). Thanks for understanding my question and answering it exactly!

[scop]

Originally Posted by davidfor

But, it probably won't work. Unless the ebook has markers in it for where the real-book pages are, the device will calculate the page breaks. They are unlikely to be the same any paper edition. And the more complicated styling in the book, the less likely they will be consistent.

Thanks for the reply. Does the page count plugin put in such markers?

[scop]

PS And also explains why the page numbers on Goodreads are different to the one "on top" (the first one) on Amazon.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by scop

Thanks for the reply. Does the page count plugin put in such markers?

No. It can use various methods to count the pages in the book, or download a count from two sites (soon to be three). To me it is just a guestimate of the length of the book in a form that most people sort of understand. Word count is probably a better guestimate, but, personally, while I know 100,000 words is longer that 80,000 words, I don't have a feel for how long the books are. 200 pages and 160 pages, I can see.

Disclaimer: There is no attempt to have those numbers relate to each other, I just picked round numbers that weren't easy multiples.