ODT to Epub: Not keeping fonts

thefirstage · 08-20-2021, 07:21 AM

So I tried converting a book I wrote to EPUB using Libre office. It garbled the layout up badly so I used Calibre to convert the ODT directly instead(i am quite new to this software) It fixed all the layout problems.

However, when I use Calibre to convert my Libre file to EPUB, it changes all the fonts. The only ones it kept the same were ones I had specified set formatting to in Libre(I used heading 1 and 4). I did this in order to generate a TOC in Libre, and the TOC works in the EPUB too. But all the other text in the book gets changed, the main body text of the poems(its a poetry collection)

I could potentially select all the text that doesnt have a specified formatting in libre and update it(I did try this with the title page text, then converted it again to EPUB, it worked and kept the font style) However that is a lot of manual labor and seems kind of messy and strange.

Looking around in the calibre conversion screens, theres an option which I tried to Embed Fonts. From the description it sounds like it SHOULD keep all the fonts the same as the base file(the ODF/ODT) However it doesnt.

Theres got to be a way to do this easier than the mess I'm in. I am very new to HTML and CSS so I haven't tried messing around with that yet

Would appreciate the help

kovidgoyal · 08-20-2021, 07:52 AM

Int he conversion dialog under Look & Feel->Styling->Extra CSS add

p, div {
font-family: "Name of the font you want" !important;
}

Quoth · 08-20-2021, 08:37 AM

It's best with LO to:
Use compatible paragraph styles
Save ODT
Go properties and embed fonts, in case a different computer is using Calibre
Save As docx
On Calibre import only docx for creating an ebook
Select Embed and subset fonts.

I only ever have to edit CSS on ebooks from elsewhere, never files imported from LO Writer via an EXTRA Save As in docx

Never open the docx in Writer, only edit in ODT. If importing from Word you need to check all styles, headings, images, page formats etc. Often multiple page styles are auto created. That needs fixed. A file for ebook creation should have only one page style with no headers or footers.

thefirstage · 09-06-2021, 12:35 PM

Thanks a lot Quoth especially

I wish I understand how and why this works
But I did your steps and it came out almost perfect as an EPUB
I do not own Word but I saved as a DocX and used that in Calibre

I hope Amazon's publishing step doesn't screw it up as I publish on KDP and I hate their software

I had added an ebook to KDP on Amazon recently and that step garbled up the layout, so hoping that doesn't happen

Quoth · 09-07-2021, 07:11 AM

Upload epub2 ONLY to Amazon KDP.
Works perfectly.
Amazon recommended it when page breaks started vanishing with docx uploads. Only use the extra Docx save as for Calibre. Nowhere else.

Never edit the Docx in LO Writer. Only edit ODT and an extra Save As. If you import a doc or docx you need to check ALL styles of characters, paragraphs, pages and graphics and headings and links. Because the import converts and concentrates on appearance.

We upload the SAME epub2 to Amazon, Smashwords (who send to Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Tolino, Overdrive and Scribd) and Google.
The mobi/KF7, azw, azw3/KF8 and KFX with so called Enhanced typesetting are fine. Tested by purchase, not using uploader account.

We also make a dual mobi from the epub2 in Calibre for local tests on Kindles of new styles and direct upload to Smashwords for their local Kindle sales. All their redistribution is epub2.

We also edit our own sample versions with all the chapter headings and start of chapter, better than the usual Amazon samples. Only on our own site. See sig.

thefirstage · 09-12-2021, 03:44 PM

Ok so all the fonts and most of the layout is working, for the main body of text that the poems are made of
I only edit in ODF
But the spacing on my title page, dedication etc is not working
I mean there's no spacing between the title and my name at all on the title page, or the first few intro pages, and I don't know how to fix such a basic problem. And they start from the beginning of the page rather than the middle or where I place the text in LO
I also have no clue how to make an acceptable TOC, the one it generates is very ugly and messy in EPUB whereas it's perfect in LO Writer

What am I doing wrong in the ODF to Docx that it wont space out my headings when I convert it to EPUB? I think I may have messed around with paragraph styles on the opening in LO, could that be it?

08-20-2021, 07:21 AM	#1
thefirstage Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2021 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	ODT to Epub: Not keeping fonts So I tried converting a book I wrote to EPUB using Libre office. It garbled the layout up badly so I used Calibre to convert the ODT directly instead(i am quite new to this software) It fixed all the layout problems. However, when I use Calibre to convert my Libre file to EPUB, it changes all the fonts. The only ones it kept the same were ones I had specified set formatting to in Libre(I used heading 1 and 4). I did this in order to generate a TOC in Libre, and the TOC works in the EPUB too. But all the other text in the book gets changed, the main body text of the poems(its a poetry collection) I could potentially select all the text that doesnt have a specified formatting in libre and update it(I did try this with the title page text, then converted it again to EPUB, it worked and kept the font style) However that is a lot of manual labor and seems kind of messy and strange. Looking around in the calibre conversion screens, theres an option which I tried to Embed Fonts. From the description it sounds like it SHOULD keep all the fonts the same as the base file(the ODF/ODT) However it doesnt. Theres got to be a way to do this easier than the mess I'm in. I am very new to HTML and CSS so I haven't tried messing around with that yet Would appreciate the help

09-06-2021, 12:35 PM	#4
thefirstage Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2021 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Thanks dudes Thanks a lot Quoth especially I wish I understand how and why this works But I did your steps and it came out almost perfect as an EPUB I do not own Word but I saved as a DocX and used that in Calibre I hope Amazon's publishing step doesn't screw it up as I publish on KDP and I hate their software I had added an ebook to KDP on Amazon recently and that step garbled up the layout, so hoping that doesn't happen

09-07-2021, 07:11 AM	#5
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,981 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Upload epub2 ONLY to Amazon KDP. Works perfectly. Amazon recommended it when page breaks started vanishing with docx uploads. Only use the extra Docx save as for Calibre. Nowhere else. Never edit the Docx in LO Writer. Only edit ODT and an extra Save As. If you import a doc or docx you need to check ALL styles of characters, paragraphs, pages and graphics and headings and links. Because the import converts and concentrates on appearance. We upload the SAME epub2 to Amazon, Smashwords (who send to Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Tolino, Overdrive and Scribd) and Google. The mobi/KF7, azw, azw3/KF8 and KFX with so called Enhanced typesetting are fine. Tested by purchase, not using uploader account. We also make a dual mobi from the epub2 in Calibre for local tests on Kindles of new styles and direct upload to Smashwords for their local Kindle sales. All their redistribution is epub2. We also edit our own sample versions with all the chapter headings and start of chapter, better than the usual Amazon samples. Only on our own site. See sig. Last edited by Quoth; 09-07-2021 at 07:13 AM.

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08-20-2021, 07:52 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,331 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Int he conversion dialog under Look & Feel->Styling->Extra CSS add p, div { font-family: "Name of the font you want" !important; }

08-20-2021, 08:37 AM	#3
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,981 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	It's best with LO to: Use compatible paragraph styles Save ODT Go properties and embed fonts, in case a different computer is using Calibre Save As docx On Calibre import only docx for creating an ebook Select Embed and subset fonts. I only ever have to edit CSS on ebooks from elsewhere, never files imported from LO Writer via an EXTRA Save As in docx Never open the docx in Writer, only edit in ODT. If importing from Word you need to check all styles, headings, images, page formats etc. Often multiple page styles are auto created. That needs fixed. A file for ebook creation should have only one page style with no headers or footers.

09-12-2021, 03:44 PM	#6
thefirstage Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2021 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Ok so all the fonts and most of the layout is working, for the main body of text that the poems are made of I only edit in ODF But the spacing on my title page, dedication etc is not working I mean there's no spacing between the title and my name at all on the title page, or the first few intro pages, and I don't know how to fix such a basic problem. And they start from the beginning of the page rather than the middle or where I place the text in LO I also have no clue how to make an acceptable TOC, the one it generates is very ugly and messy in EPUB whereas it's perfect in LO Writer What am I doing wrong in the ODF to Docx that it wont space out my headings when I convert it to EPUB? I think I may have messed around with paragraph styles on the opening in LO, could that be it?

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