Source 1 page TOC converts to 5 ugly pages

Old_Professor · 12-24-2018, 04:35 PM

I'm converting a newsletter in ODT format. The Table of Contents in the original is surrounded by multiple text boxes. It fits on one page and looks attractive. The output EPUB file has the text boxes spread over four pages and the TOC split between two pages.

What can I do to get an attractive one page TOC in the EPUB? It doesn't have to look identical to the ODT, just contain the same information. I'm attaching a PDF of the source TOC.

BetterRed · 12-24-2018, 06:39 PM

Try saving as DOCX and converting that.

BR

Old_Professor · 12-25-2018, 02:32 PM

ODT -> DOCX -> EPUB was worse. In both Calibre and Edge the text boxes were screwqed up, the TOC doesn't click through to the articles, and images were doubled.

My next thought is to include the text boxes as a JPG made by screen capture and let the TOC be a full page generated byODT. Do you have an alternative?

BetterRed · 12-25-2018, 02:55 PM

Assuming you are using Libre Office Writer, then save the document in Writer as a DOCX directly. i.e. forget ODT.

Calibre's ODT input module is quite old and no longer actively maintained, whereas the DOCX is more recent and actively maintained by Kovid.

BR

Old_Professor · 12-25-2018, 03:07 PM

I switched from using Word to write the newsletter to Libre Office Writer because Word made random placements of images when the document got about 25 pages. I've seen lots of warnings about switching back and forth between ODT and DOCX files to the effect that breakage occurs. I can use LibreOffice to output a DOCX files to use as input to Calibre, which is what I tried. The resulting EPUB was no improvement; maybe a little worse.

Are there any alternatives you would recommend, on my computer or on the web?

BetterRed · 12-25-2018, 03:28 PM

If you want Kovid to take a look at your DOCX conversion issues, you'll need to provide the information outlined in this sticky thread ==>> How to ask a question about conversion problems

Try the Mammoth converter ==>> Mammoth · DOCX->HTML, and import its output into calibre, or use Sigil's DOCXImport plugin (it's a wrapper around Mammoth) see ==>> Sigil ePub Editor

Try Toxaris's eBook Tools MS Word add-in

There's also a plugin for Writer than creates ePUBs, I don't have a link for it, but should be easy to find.

BR

Old_Professor · 12-25-2018, 03:52 PM

Thanks very much for the references. I'll follow up as time permits. I'm trying to publish the next issue of the newsletter this month. It appears that publishing an EPUB version is more work than I have time for now. Do you have any suggestion for which order I should try?

BetterRed · 12-25-2018, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Professor

Thanks very much for the references. I'll follow up as time permits. I'm trying to publish the next issue of the newsletter this month. It appears that publishing an EPUB version is more work than I have time for now. Do you have any suggestion for which order I should try?

IMO the easiest would be to post precise details of your problem as outlined in the "How to ask..." sticky and see if Kovid can fix it. You won't find a more responsive developer this side of Alpha Centauri

He'll need the saved DOCX.

BR

retiredbiker · 12-25-2018, 08:56 PM

The pdf you posted shows your many-boxes TOC page to be a thing of beauty, and I'm sure you spent many hours making it so.

Here's the thing...shrink it down to a 3.5 inch wide Kindle screen, or even a 4.625 inch Kobo Forma screen. (And think smart phone?!) How many people could even read it at that size? So even if you get a perfect page-to-page conversion, will it really do any good for e-reading devices? Larger tablets, maybe...but they are OK reading the pdf anyway.

When I started messing with ebooks I spent untold hours trying to get fancy stuff readable on my Kindle, with a huge lack of success. Now the fact of tiny real estate and readability comes first, fancy last; that's my (grudging) reality.

Old_Professor · 12-25-2018, 10:01 PM

Actually, the results are much better than you predicted, providing you're using the "right" EPUB app. I transferred the EPUB file to my Android (Samsung S7), where I have two favorite EPUB readers.

Most featured DID NOT WORK in Cool Reader. The text boxes were not present. The separate TOC, which is one of my favorite features in Cool Reader was present, but links did not work.

In contrast, Moon+ Reader Pro was just about perfect. The cover appeared (twice). The text boxes were all there, all resized to be readable, just like the rendering for an responsive web page. This is the kind of behavior I would expect from an EPUB.

I don't see any demand for EPUB, perhaps because some potential readers have bad experience. I guess that PDF will continue to be used. I haven't tried which reflow is acceptable.

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12-24-2018, 06:39 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,725 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Try saving as DOCX and converting that. BR

12-25-2018, 02:32 PM	#3
Old_Professor Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2014 Device: DROID4	ODT -> DOCX -> EPUB was worse. In both Calibre and Edge the text boxes were screwqed up, the TOC doesn't click through to the articles, and images were doubled. My next thought is to include the text boxes as a JPG made by screen capture and let the TOC be a full page generated byODT. Do you have an alternative?

12-25-2018, 02:55 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,725 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Assuming you are using Libre Office Writer, then save the document in Writer as a DOCX directly. i.e. forget ODT. Calibre's ODT input module is quite old and no longer actively maintained, whereas the DOCX is more recent and actively maintained by Kovid. BR

12-25-2018, 03:07 PM	#5
Old_Professor Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2014 Device: DROID4	I switched from using Word to write the newsletter to Libre Office Writer because Word made random placements of images when the document got about 25 pages. I've seen lots of warnings about switching back and forth between ODT and DOCX files to the effect that breakage occurs. I can use LibreOffice to output a DOCX files to use as input to Calibre, which is what I tried. The resulting EPUB was no improvement; maybe a little worse. Are there any alternatives you would recommend, on my computer or on the web?

12-25-2018, 03:28 PM	#6
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,725 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If you want Kovid to take a look at your DOCX conversion issues, you'll need to provide the information outlined in this sticky thread ==>> How to ask a question about conversion problems Try the Mammoth converter ==>> Mammoth · DOCX->HTML, and import its output into calibre, or use Sigil's DOCXImport plugin (it's a wrapper around Mammoth) see ==>> Sigil ePub Editor Try Toxaris's eBook Tools MS Word add-in There's also a plugin for Writer than creates ePUBs, I don't have a link for it, but should be easy to find. BR

12-25-2018, 03:52 PM	#7
Old_Professor Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2014 Device: DROID4	Thanks very much for the references. I'll follow up as time permits. I'm trying to publish the next issue of the newsletter this month. It appears that publishing an EPUB version is more work than I have time for now. Do you have any suggestion for which order I should try?

12-25-2018, 08:56 PM	#9
retiredbiker Evangelist Posts: 450 Karma: 3886916 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kindle KB, Oasis, Pop_Os!, Kobo Forma	The pdf you posted shows your many-boxes TOC page to be a thing of beauty, and I'm sure you spent many hours making it so. Here's the thing...shrink it down to a 3.5 inch wide Kindle screen, or even a 4.625 inch Kobo Forma screen. (And think smart phone?!) How many people could even read it at that size? So even if you get a perfect page-to-page conversion, will it really do any good for e-reading devices? Larger tablets, maybe...but they are OK reading the pdf anyway. When I started messing with ebooks I spent untold hours trying to get fancy stuff readable on my Kindle, with a huge lack of success. Now the fact of tiny real estate and readability comes first, fancy last; that's my (grudging) reality.

12-25-2018, 10:01 PM	#10
Old_Professor Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2014 Device: DROID4	Actually, the results are much better than you predicted, providing you're using the "right" EPUB app. I transferred the EPUB file to my Android (Samsung S7), where I have two favorite EPUB readers. Most featured DID NOT WORK in Cool Reader. The text boxes were not present. The separate TOC, which is one of my favorite features in Cool Reader was present, but links did not work. In contrast, Moon+ Reader Pro was just about perfect. The cover appeared (twice). The text boxes were all there, all resized to be readable, just like the rendering for an responsive web page. This is the kind of behavior I would expect from an EPUB. I don't see any demand for EPUB, perhaps because some potential readers have bad experience. I guess that PDF will continue to be used. I haven't tried which reflow is acceptable.

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