Calibre is removing my blank lines

[Harks09]

Hello! I am trying to use Calibri to convert DOCX (downloaded from Google Docs) to MOBI.

When I use amazon's creator, the file looks perfect. When trying to use Calibri, all of the empty lines are stripped out. For instance, I have poems and songs spread throughout the text, and those are preceded and followed by blank lines for readability. To be perfectly clear, I'm just hitting enter twice in the doc to give it some space. That space is preserved on Kindle but stripped out in the Calibre MOBI.

I have about 100 books to do so editing the code of each one isn't really feasible. Am I missing a setting? Is there a way to format the Google Doc prior to downloading that would make Calibre preserve the space?

[kovidgoyal]

convert to azw3 not mobi.

[Harks09]

Same problem with azw3! Is there a setting I'm missing?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Harks09

Same problem with azw3! Is there a setting I'm missing?

There is an option that removes spaces during conversion. Looking at the screen grab, you want to have "Remove spacing between paragraphs" unchecked. To get the this option, go to Preferences > Common Options > Look & Feel select the layout tab.

[Harks09]

That option isn't checked. I just ran it again to make sure. Is there anything else it could be?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Harks09

That option isn't checked. I just ran it again to make sure. Is there anything else it could be?

How are you creating the blank lines? Are you doing it with a style that uses margins or are you just using a return?

[Harks09]

Just using a return.

[Harks09]

Is there a better way to do it?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Harks09

Is there a better way to do it?

Not knowing the problem, I would thing that using styles with margins might be the solution.

But before you try that, try vieing your Kindle eBook in the Calibre viewer and see how it displays. Also try it with Kindle Previewer and see how that goes. It could be an issue with the Kindel's firmware and the blank line. (that would depend on the blank line's code). Have a look at the code for the blank line by using the Calibre editor to look at it and post it here (including any relevant CSS).

[Harks09]

Using the Google Doc paragaph padding works well enough as a hack! I just tried it and it gave it the breathing room it needed. Thank you.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Harks09

Using the Google Doc paragaph padding works well enough as a hack! I just tried it and it gave it the breathing room it needed. Thank you.

I was thinking the code could be something like <p></p> and the Kindle is ignoring it.

When creating eBooks from a word processing document, you are best to use styles. No more select and press B for bold. You have to highlight the text and apply a style. And you have to use consistent styling.

[Harks09]

Here is what it looks like in the editor. The bolded lines are ignored when Calibri converts.

<p class="block_14">She put on a pot of tea and sat by her fire, thinking. She couldn’t fight the wind, she saw that now. No matter what she did, her flowers were going to mix with those of her neighbors. The bobbing beauties didn’t understand farms or property lines. They didn’t obey signs and fences.</p>
<p class="block_14"></p>
<p class="block_15">I can’t cage my beauties in</p>
<p class="block_15">I can’t keep the pollen from the wind</p>
<p class="block_15">Am I wrong to try so hard</p>
<p class="block_15">And keep my flowers in my yard?</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">They say you reap what you sow</p>
<p class="block_15">I ain’t been sowing that far though</p>
<p class="block_15">I see my babies, off they go</p>
<p class="block_15">Will my fields go fallow?</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">I don’t know</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">Are the neighbors onto something?</p>
<p class="block_15">Is there good in cross pollination?</p>
<p class="block_15">I can’t be sure, but what I’m seeing would indicate</p>
<p class="block_15">That tulips love to mix and germinate!</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">So if all the fields are as lovely as mine</p>
<p class="block_15">The whole town’s plants will be top of the line</p>
<p class="block_15">I finally understand the affair</p>
<p class="block_15">Nature’s way is to spread and share.</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">Spread and Share!</p>
<p class="block_16"></p>
<p class="block_14"></p>

[Harks09]

Here is the code in Calibri. It ignores the empty P lines.

<p class="block_14">She put on a pot of tea and sat by her fire, thinking. She couldn’t fight the wind, she saw that now. No matter what she did, her flowers were going to mix with those of her neighbors. The bobbing beauties didn’t understand farms or property lines. They didn’t obey signs and fences.</p>
<p class="block_14"></p>
<p class="block_15">I can’t cage my beauties in</p>
<p class="block_15">I can’t keep the pollen from the wind</p>
<p class="block_15">Am I wrong to try so hard</p>
<p class="block_15">And keep my flowers in my yard?</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">They say you reap what you sow</p>
<p class="block_15">I ain’t been sowing that far though</p>
<p class="block_15">I see my babies, off they go</p>
<p class="block_15">Will my fields go fallow?</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">I don’t know</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">Are the neighbors onto something?</p>
<p class="block_15">Is there good in cross pollination?</p>
<p class="block_15">I can’t be sure, but what I’m seeing would indicate</p>
<p class="block_15">That tulips love to mix and germinate!</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">So if all the fields are as lovely as mine</p>
<p class="block_15">The whole town’s plants will be top of the line</p>
<p class="block_15">I finally understand the affair</p>
<p class="block_15">Nature’s way is to spread and share.</p>
<p class="block_2"></p>
<p class="block_15">Spread and Share!</p>
<p class="block_16"></p>
<p class="block_14"></p>

[BetterRed]

I'd change the Styles in the DOCX manuscript. Attached zip has sample DOCX and EPUB from default conversion.

BR

[JSWolf]

The problem is that empty paragraphs are not liked. You should use styles in your documents to use a margin for the spacing.

But you could also edit the HTML and CSS to allow the blank lines to work.