Tabs or White Space? - Page 3

tomsem · 06-09-2011, 12:50 PM

This should all be handled with paragraph styles, not 'tabs' or extra line breaks. With a paragraph style, for example, you can add less than a full line of space between paragraphs, and use a wider space between sections.

Moreover, styles (as opposed to 'hard coded' white space) can be more easily adjusted to the display characteristics of a given reading system. One of the most annoying things I run into is the inability to reduce margins and indents that use absolute units of measurement - a 1" indent on a 7" screen may look good, but on my iPod Touch it looks very bad.

Ideally, one can specify the paragraph style to use and override the publisher settings, especially when the publisher has done something that looks awful.

j.p.s · 06-09-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

It's interesting that there's such a strong divide. I wonder what authors should do -- it's hard to please the "tabs only" AND the "spaces between paragraphs" crowds simultaneously.

I think it would be easy if paragraph designation is done by the document (e-book) and paragraph rendering is done by the device, with rendering method configuration selected by the user.

peterjmerrigan · 06-09-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Tab-indented. Dubble return white space is for a scene change.

Completely agree here. Much prefer tab-indenting. It's more pleasing to the eye and reads more like a 'proper' (

) book.

DMB · 06-09-2011, 01:25 PM

I suppose I'm another one who thinks "both", but if I can't have that I prefer the space.

Ideally, it should be a smaller space than the leading of the text.

WillAdams · 06-09-2011, 01:56 PM

One or the other, never both, which is redundant and visually cluttered.

Nyssa · 06-09-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillAdams

One or the other, never both, which is redundant and visually cluttered.

I disagree. The minimal space helps to "de-clutter" the page on an e-reader.

If we're talking paper books, however, then only indentation is necessary, and as others noted, a space would be used for scene changes.

Ravensknight · 06-09-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterjmerrigan

Completely agree here. Much prefer tab-indenting. It's more pleasing to the eye and reads more like a 'proper' (

) book.

Yup, yup, yup...

shanghaichica · 06-09-2011, 05:09 PM

Tabs.

JSWolf · 06-09-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Tabs are white space, but if you're asking whether people prefer indented or space-separated paragraphs, this has been discussed ad nausiam in the past; it might be better to re-read some of those old threads rather than re-hash it all yet again?

Seeing as this is a duplicate thread, why not close it?

JSWolf · 06-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Been done... more voting options...

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=121540

Move along, nothing to see here.

Nyssa · 06-09-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Been done... more voting options...

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=121540

Move along, nothing to see here.

Don't be rude Jon! You knew about that thread because you started it. Many of us, myself included, did not know about it before you posted the link.

Not only that, it is now considered an "Old" thread per the warning posted at the end. Although MobilRead has no problems with thread resurrection, some users prefer to start fresh.

Personally, I would suggest merging the two threads together if it will make "everyone" happy.

It is still a valid question.

JSWolf · 06-09-2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Don't be rude Jon! You knew about that thread because you started it. Many of us, myself included, did not know about it before you posted the link.

Not only that, it is now considered an "Old" thread per the warning posted at the end. Although MobilRead has no problems with thread resurrection, some users prefer to start fresh.

Personally, I would suggest merging the two threads together if it will make "everyone" happy.

It is still a valid question.

Yes, you can merge the two threads, but I have no idea what will happen to the polls.

And given the following in post #13, that would get me to go and find some of the older threads on the same topic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Tabs are white space, but if you're asking whether people prefer indented or space-separated paragraphs, this has been discussed ad nausiam in the past; it might be better to re-read some of those old threads rather than re-hash it all yet again?

I was just trying to move things to the thread that already exists. I don't see that as rude. I see that as helpful.

It is better to resurrect an old thread if it's on topic then to start another thread. Granted, it is not always easy to find the old threads so yes, we will be getting duplicate threads. But if someone that knows of the older thread(s) can link, then that's a help.

anamardoll · 06-09-2011, 08:42 PM

For the record, I don't think it's best to resurrect old polls. People change their minds over time -- they may decide to vote differently.

I'm sorry this thread wasn't shiny and new and original. I believe that the forum view shows other threads than mine -- maybe some of those are shiny and new and original and people who don't like this thread can go hang out in those threads. There's even a Jane Austen poll, yay!

I thought this could be a useful discussion given how many authors and learning-to-format-ebooks people are on Mobile Reads. I apologize if the existence of this thread was offensive to someone, but for me, it has been pleasant and useful. Thank you.

JSWolf · 06-09-2011, 10:37 PM

This thread is not offensive at all. But when there's good information on the same topic, I do think it's a good idea to point people to the other thread. To me, it's rehashing the same thing. personally, I don't mind opening an old thread if you have something relevant to add. Too many old threads were recently opened with improper comments.

anamardoll · 06-09-2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

This thread is not offensive at all. But when there's good information on the same topic, I do think it's a good idea to point people to the other thread. To me, it's rehashing the same thing. personally, I don't mind opening an old thread if you have something relevant to add. Too many old threads were recently opened with improper comments.

I hate improper comments on old threads. If I'm going to open an old thread, I try to do so with a hearty "LEEEERRRROOOOY JEEEENNNNKIIIINNNNSSS!!"

View Poll Results: Tabs or White Space?
Tabs	51	57.95%
White Space	37	42.05%
Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

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06-09-2011, 12:50 PM	#31
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,004 Karma: 27060353 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	This should all be handled with paragraph styles, not 'tabs' or extra line breaks. With a paragraph style, for example, you can add less than a full line of space between paragraphs, and use a wider space between sections. Moreover, styles (as opposed to 'hard coded' white space) can be more easily adjusted to the display characteristics of a given reading system. One of the most annoying things I run into is the inability to reduce margins and indents that use absolute units of measurement - a 1" indent on a 7" screen may look good, but on my iPod Touch it looks very bad. Ideally, one can specify the paragraph style to use and override the publisher settings, especially when the publisher has done something that looks awful.

06-09-2011, 01:25 PM	#34
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	I suppose I'm another one who thinks "both", but if I can't have that I prefer the space. Ideally, it should be a smaller space than the leading of the text.

06-09-2011, 01:56 PM	#35
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,259 Karma: 3439432 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	One or the other, never both, which is redundant and visually cluttered.

06-09-2011, 05:09 PM	#38
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	Tabs.

06-09-2011, 05:27 PM	#40
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,677 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Been done... more voting options... https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=121540 Move along, nothing to see here.

06-09-2011, 08:42 PM	#43
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	For the record, I don't think it's best to resurrect old polls. People change their minds over time -- they may decide to vote differently. I'm sorry this thread wasn't shiny and new and original. I believe that the forum view shows other threads than mine -- maybe some of those are shiny and new and original and people who don't like this thread can go hang out in those threads. There's even a Jane Austen poll, yay! I thought this could be a useful discussion given how many authors and learning-to-format-ebooks people are on Mobile Reads. I apologize if the existence of this thread was offensive to someone, but for me, it has been pleasant and useful. Thank you.

06-09-2011, 10:37 PM	#44
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,677 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	This thread is not offensive at all. But when there's good information on the same topic, I do think it's a good idea to point people to the other thread. To me, it's rehashing the same thing. personally, I don't mind opening an old thread if you have something relevant to add. Too many old threads were recently opened with improper comments.