ePub or not?

AnnieHuley · 10-07-2011, 02:20 AM

I have owned both a Sony PRS-600 and a Kindle 3. I got the Kindle because I was more impressed with the e-ink on non-touch screen devices at the time.

I am really glad that I switched because I do think the screen on the Kindle is much better, but there is something that I miss.

On my Sony, with ePub books, there were chapter marks, which I really liked. In particular I remember my Sony version of Sense and Sensibility had boxes around the chapter numbers. It looked like this:http://pan.fotovista.com/dev/1/5/037...u_03701451.jpg

I guess my question is, is there a way to get this on Kindle ebooks? Or will Kindle ever have this? Now that a nook or sony will have the same clear screen this may be a deal breaker for me.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 02:41 AM

That's just a border around a paragraph. You can do that with any book, but it has to be defined by the book.

AnnieHuley · 10-07-2011, 02:52 AM

It's possible with .mobi? I haven't seen it in any amazon books

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 02:56 AM

Yes, it's possible with Mobi. Simply place the text in a table with a visible border.

AnnieHuley · 10-07-2011, 03:03 AM

Hm, you lost me there. So I have to manually set each chapter mark? That's a lot of work. Also with an ePub where the chapter boxes are present, they disappear when converted to .mobi

Hoyt Clagwell · 10-07-2011, 03:04 AM

The example that was shown looked like a typical book from Feedbooks.com. I downloaded an ePub version and a Mobi version of the same book. On my Sony it has the border. On my Kindle it does not. But I cannot see how the absence of the border could in anyway dampen my reading experience.

AnnieHuley · 10-07-2011, 03:06 AM

It's just a preference. The chapter markers, and the larger first letters make the reading experience more "book"-like for me. I just miss it from one reader to the other.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnieHuley

Hm, you lost me there. So I have to manually set each chapter mark? That's a lot of work.

No, it's something that the creator of the book would do, should they wish to.

Quote:

Also with an ePub where the chapter boxes are present, they disappear when converted to .mobi

In an ePub file you'd do it with something called a "stylesheet". The Mobi format doesn't support these, so formatting that's defined using a stylesheet tends to disappear when you convert the ePub book to Mobi format. But that's not to say that (as in this case) the same effect can't be achieved in a Mobi book; it just has to be done in a different way.

Hoyt Clagwell · 10-07-2011, 03:12 AM

I understand. It does look like Amazon is getting more fancy with the first letters for a chapter with their new readers. At least with the book on their webpage.

AnnieHuley · 10-07-2011, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it's something that the creator of the book would do, should they wish to.

In an ePub file you'd do it with something called a "stylesheet". The Mobi format doesn't support these, so formatting that's defined using a stylesheet tends to disappear when you convert the ePub book to Mobi format. But that's not to say that (as in this case) the same effect can't be achieved in a Mobi book; it just has to be done in a different way.

Aha! Now we are on the same page. Got it, and thank you.

AnnieHuley · 10-07-2011, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoyt Clagwell

I understand. It does look like Amazon is getting more fancy with the first letters for a chapter with their new readers. At least with the book on their webpage.

Yes, you're right it does! And I can't say I'm terribly impressed by the shiny cover of the Sony PRS-t1. Maybe I will hold out for the next generation of readers.

David58117 · 10-07-2011, 07:18 AM

This was one of the things I noticed too within my collection (.mobi being less 'faithfull' to formatting) and why I decided to go with epub.

10-07-2011, 02:20 AM	#1
AnnieHuley Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 3186 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle 3	ePub or not? I have owned both a Sony PRS-600 and a Kindle 3. I got the Kindle because I was more impressed with the e-ink on non-touch screen devices at the time. I am really glad that I switched because I do think the screen on the Kindle is much better, but there is something that I miss. On my Sony, with ePub books, there were chapter marks, which I really liked. In particular I remember my Sony version of Sense and Sensibility had boxes around the chapter numbers. It looked like this:http://pan.fotovista.com/dev/1/5/037...u_03701451.jpg I guess my question is, is there a way to get this on Kindle ebooks? Or will Kindle ever have this? Now that a nook or sony will have the same clear screen this may be a deal breaker for me. Last edited by AnnieHuley; 10-07-2011 at 02:31 AM.

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10-07-2011, 02:41 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That's just a border around a paragraph. You can do that with any book, but it has to be defined by the book.

10-07-2011, 02:52 AM	#3
AnnieHuley Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 3186 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle 3	It's possible with .mobi? I haven't seen it in any amazon books

10-07-2011, 02:56 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, it's possible with Mobi. Simply place the text in a table with a visible border.

10-07-2011, 03:03 AM	#5
AnnieHuley Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 3186 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Hm, you lost me there. So I have to manually set each chapter mark? That's a lot of work. Also with an ePub where the chapter boxes are present, they disappear when converted to .mobi

10-07-2011, 03:04 AM	#6
Hoyt Clagwell Not an Addict Posts: 301 Karma: 5678807 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: The blue one next to the fish.	The example that was shown looked like a typical book from Feedbooks.com. I downloaded an ePub version and a Mobi version of the same book. On my Sony it has the border. On my Kindle it does not. But I cannot see how the absence of the border could in anyway dampen my reading experience.

10-07-2011, 03:06 AM	#7
AnnieHuley Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 3186 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle 3	It's just a preference. The chapter markers, and the larger first letters make the reading experience more "book"-like for me. I just miss it from one reader to the other.

10-07-2011, 03:12 AM	#9
Hoyt Clagwell Not an Addict Posts: 301 Karma: 5678807 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: The blue one next to the fish.	I understand. It does look like Amazon is getting more fancy with the first letters for a chapter with their new readers. At least with the book on their webpage.

10-07-2011, 07:18 AM	#12
David58117 Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 1020558 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Sony T1, K4NT (To Wife), Nook ST, NSTG	This was one of the things I noticed too within my collection (.mobi being less 'faithfull' to formatting) and why I decided to go with epub.