[GUI Plugin] Modify ePub

[Brett Merkey]

if they want to update the Help

They may not want to :-) but if they do, they should also correct the path to the Extra CSS feature:
Preferences->Common Options->Look & Feel->Styling tab ->Extra CSS

[BetterRed]

@JimmXinu, Rev.Bob, etc

The HTML Help file that is shipped with the PI and accessed via the link at top right corner of options screen does not have anything for the Append extra CSS option, but that's not the only thing that's missing.

Do we want to continue shipping the 'Modify ePub Help.htm' file if its not up-to-date. Assuming I ever knew, I had forgotten it was even there. I have 11 Kiwidude plugins, Modify EPub is the only one with a Help file.

See merged thread starting here ==>> https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=1222

BR

[phossler]

I put the path to the CSS I wanted to append like the tooltip says, but it seems the PI put the path into the doc's style sheets

I pasted in all of the CSS in the file and the PI seems to like that

The test doc had 3 stylesheets (no overlapping classes), and I checked all 3 -- the CSS was appended to all 3

The PI (and other things) create ORIGINAL_EPUB files. How do I revert back to the original version? I can remove selected formats, but I couldn't see a way to just go back

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by phossler

I put the path to the CSS I wanted to append like the tooltip says, but it seems the PI put the path into the doc's style sheets

I pasted in all of the CSS in the file and the PI seems to like that

The test doc had 3 stylesheets (no overlapping classes), and I checked all 3 -- the CSS was appended to all 3

The PI (and other things) create ORIGINAL_EPUB files. How do I revert back to the original version? I can remove selected formats, but I couldn't see a way to just go back

Right click on it in Book Details, viz:



BR

[phossler]

Thanks -- much easier than the clumsy way I was doing it

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Do we want to continue shipping the 'Modify ePub Help.htm' file if its not up-to-date. Assuming I ever knew, I had forgotten it was even there. I have 11 Kiwidude plugins, Modify EPub is the only one with a Help file.

Outdated beats nonexistent, but updated is certainly best. It’s a lot easier for some enterprising soul to improve an outdated help file than to create a new one from scratch.

[Brett Merkey]

@phossler: ??
You seem to be saying, without being totally clear, that you were able to successfully use the Modify ePub plug-in to effectively override multiple stylesheets—which was your original intent. True? If so, that's another feature of a great plug-in tool.

[phossler]

Originally Posted by Brett Merkey

@phossler: ??
You seem to be saying, without being totally clear, that you were able to successfully use the Modify ePub plug-in to effectively override multiple stylesheets—which was your original intent. True? If so, that's another feature of a great plug-in tool.

What I was trying to say is that:

1. The Calibre tooltip says you can put the PATH to a CSS file into the Conversion -- Common Options -- Look & Feel -- Styling tab -- Extra CSS box, BUT the Modify PI "Append Extra CSS" check box only uses 'raw' CSS. If you have just the path, then it doesn't seem to do anything (understandable, but a message would be nice). That initially caused some head scratching

2. If you have more than one style sheet, the PI appends the CSS to each. Guess it has no way to know, unless it asked in those cases. That seems to clutter things, and leaves the appended classes defined multiple times

3. I guess I have a very personal opinion about using controls (such as the Styling text box) for uses that I thing were other than what they were intended for. The Styling textbox is under Conversion, but Modify ePub PI uses it. Yes, it is sort of a conversion, but IMHO it's a stretch

4. I like the PI and use it to make my life easier. There's a few quirks that a separate configuration 'page' would make easier. Including a more current Help that lists all available features and details about using them

[Brett Merkey]

Great summary. Thanks! Anyone doing a search for a similar problem will benefit.

If you have more than one style sheet, the PI appends the CSS to each

That might puzzle someone hand coding but e-reader user agents should not complain.

[Brett Merkey]

Apropos of nothing (since I am not qualified in the technicalities of this thread) I have to state as fact that every one of the books I read on my readers has been improved with the help of the Modify ePub plug-in.

I hope it continues to improve...

[AnotherCat]

I am another regular user of the plugin. It still does its job as far as I'm concerned (constructive updates always welcome though ).

Didn't know it had a Help file and I never needed one.

[BetterRed]

Moderator Notice
There's no point in discussing what the Modify ePub plugin should and shouldn't do in the Book Editor subforum, so I'm merging this thread into the Modify ePub thread.

Starts at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=1222

Perhaps the ability to specify a file path in the Conversion configuration was added after 30 Aug 2013, which is the date when the Extra CSS option was added to Modify.

BR

[phossler]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Do we want to continue shipping the 'Modify ePub Help.htm' file if its not up-to-date. Assuming I ever knew, I had forgotten it was even there. I have 11 Kiwidude plugins, Modify EPub is the only one with a Help file.

BR

My 2 cents -- I'm not very familiar with a lot of the PIs and their options.

If the option (checkbox, radio button, etc.) has a tooltip, explanation label, message, or other means to fully explain its use (like most of Kovid's have) then you don't need a separate help file.

However, things like the Modify ePub Append CSS IMHO could benefit from a UI re-design to add explanatory information, or from a help file that explains how to use it: what is "caliber defaults", what is "text already contained"? Calibre has a lot of defaults, and my style sheet already contains text

[FulciLives]

Thank you for this Caliber plugin.

I had an epub with an embedded font that I hated. I used this plugin to remove it.

So simple yet so life-changing. I can read the book now!

P.S.
To be clear, the Caliber reader would not let me change the type of font until I did this.

[lumpynose]

Originally Posted by FulciLives

Thank you for this Caliber plugin.

I had an epub with an embedded font that I hated. I used this plugin to remove it.

So simple yet so life-changing. I can read the book now!

Made me laugh because I've been there.

I'm glad you made this comment because I didn't know about this plugin. I'll also use it to "fix" the justification of books; I prefer a ragged right margin.