How can I amend the style definition in HTML to fix Kindle default?

[eggheadbooks1]

This is not my problem because I convert to mobi before upload to Kindle, but I'm trying to help out those who just want to upload HTML to Kindle for conversion:

Kindle's converter automatically indents the first line of every paragraph. So if you want your paragraphs to flush left, Kindle advises:

"The first line of each paragraph indents by default. You can change the indentation of the first line of a paragraph using the width attribute:
<p width="N"> (pixels), <p width="N%">,<p width="Nem"> or <p width="Npt">"

Now, who wants to do that all through a 300-page book? I would think there might be a way to amend the Normal paragraph style definition instead. For example, in a document with a flushed left paragraph, justified, and with a 12 pt space after it, the definition looks like this:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
text-align:justify;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;}

Does anyone know how or where the above definition might be amended as per Kindle's suggestion? I've tried various ways without success.

If not, the code for my paragraphs reads:

<p class=MsoNormal>blah blah blah blah.</p>

Where would I add the <p width="N"> code (or one of the other variants listed by Kindle). I've tried before and after the <p class=MsoNormal> but with no success either.

Thanks.

P.S. I am aware of formatting workarounds in Word, but this question is about code.

[DiapDealer]

The "text-indent" CSS attribute is how you control the indentation in the first line of each paragraph. I have absolutely no idea how Kindle's converter will handle that css, though. I've never used it. I assume you're talking about sending HTML files to your Kindle's email address and having them convert the files for you?

To eliminate the indentation and make it flush with the other lines, just add the "text-indent:0;" to your existing css:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
text-align:justify;
text-indent: 0;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
}

[HarryT]

Doing the replacement through a whole book involves no more than doing a search and replace of "<p>" with "<p width="1em">" (or whatever your preference is).

[dwig]

Originally Posted by eggheadbooks1

... the definition looks like this:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
text-align:justify;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;}

...

... also, you should follow the Kindle Publishing Guidelines and not specify a font or font size for the main text.

In addition, the indent along with top and bottom margins should be specified in em units rather than a fixed size unit so that they remain proportional to the text size when the reader chooses a different base text size. This would be more appropriate:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0;
margin-right:0;
margin-bottom:1em;
margin-left:0;
text-align:justify;
text-indent: 0;
}

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dwig

... also, you should follow the Kindle Publishing Guidelines and not specify a font or font size for the main text.

In addition, the indent along with top and bottom margins should be specified in em units rather than a fixed size unit so that the indent remains proportional to the text size when the reader chooses a different base text size. This would be more appropriate:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0;
margin-right:0;
margin-bottom:1em;
margin-left:0;
text-align:justify;
text-indent: 0;
}

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {
    margin-top: 0;
    margin-right: 0;
    margin-bottom: 0;
    margin-left: 0;
    text-align: justify;
    text-indent: 1.2em
}

That would be better for a paragraph that one wants indented. Also, removing the excess space between the paragraphs makes it look nicer.

[eggheadbooks1]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The "text-indent" CSS attribute is how you control the indentation in the first line of each paragraph. I have absolutely no idea how Kindle's converter will handle that css, though. I've never used it. I assume you're talking about sending HTML files to your Kindle's email address and having them convert the files for you?

To eliminate the indentation and make it flush with the other lines, just add the "text-indent:0;" to your existing css:

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
text-align:justify;
text-indent: 0;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Georgia;
}

Worked perfectly. Thanks!

[AThirstyMind]

Well, I agree with all of the above, but I get a bit more explicit about it. I also build a new style for a flush left....NormalFlush...and base it on the regular Normal style and in the style description in html for NormalFlush I make sure this text is there:

margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
text-indent:0in;
font-size: whatever you want to use

Probably the "in" part isn't necessary, but I've left it off, and left off the semi-colon or the colon...and it doesn't work...so I use exactly this every time. I don't have a problem with the prc (mobi) ever. Just insert text-indent:0in; in whichever Style that you want to Flush left and you won't have to worry anymore