Blank pages on kindle from Sigil epub?

authorava · 01-31-2019, 02:47 PM

I recently got a review on Amazon from a reader who complained about multiple blank pages in the book. I've never had this kind of comment before and I format all my books the same way. Is there someone here who wouldn't mind taking a look at my file? I can either send a mobi or an epub.

Obviously without knowing where she encountered them it's hard to easily identify the problem, but I wonder if it could be my divider bar code?

<p class="pppdiv"><img alt="" height="28" src="../Images/dividerbarfaded1.png" width="225"/></p>

and the class code is:

p.pppdiv {font-weight: bold; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; font-size: 100%; text-indent: 0em; text-align:center;}

Thx
~Ava

jhowell · 01-31-2019, 03:29 PM

What you give to Amazon isn't always the same as what readers receive. Have you purchased your own book and had a look at it?

If you list the ASIN of your book I will take a look at the free sample (first 10% of the content) and see if any unexpected blank pages appear.

RbnJrg · 01-31-2019, 03:34 PM

When you open your epub in Kindle Previewer, how does it look? I mean, with different font-size and different devices. If you also include your dividers at the end of each chapter, it could be possible -in same places- a generation of a blank page.

DiapDealer · 01-31-2019, 03:35 PM

I can assure you that Sigil is not responsible for blank pages being added to a Kindlebook. Might I suggest our Kindle formats forum or our Workshop forum for technical help on problematic epub to Kindlebook conversions? Blank pages after images is quite a popular topic in the Kindle Formats section.

Tex2002ans · 01-31-2019, 04:14 PM

I'm definitely betting it's something else, but tough to tell without seeing the ebook itself.

It could be there's a:

Code:

page-break-before
page-break-after

in your CSS somewhere. Sometimes crappy programs insert that needlessly.

authorava · 01-31-2019, 05:57 PM

Here is my Amazon link. I didn't see any in the preview, which only shows five chapters. I can gift you the book if you'd like to download it as the zon sends it. And yes, I've purchased my own book but didn't see anything wrong.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FFCXT6H

jhowell · 01-31-2019, 06:30 PM

The formatting is fine in the free sample. I suspect that the problem is specific to the reader who complained.

theducks · 01-31-2019, 08:18 PM

I also looked at a sample
the pagebreak style was not USED within the sample.

I wonder what viewing settings (font size, words per line...) that user was using?

I did not a common (many books) failing with Fleurons and some other images.
The background is NOT transparent. It appears WHITE on a sepia background

RbnJrg · 01-31-2019, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

The formatting is fine in the free sample. I suspect that the problem is specific to the reader who complained.

I agree. According to the sample, your ebook is fine, no issue with it (and with any font size used). I'm the opinion that the problem may be linked with the ereader utilized to read your ebook; very probably is not a Kindle or a Kindle app.

PeterT · 01-31-2019, 10:21 PM

What's not clear from the review is whether they are setting blank pages with the content being correct, or totally missing sections of text.

Tex2002ans · 02-01-2019, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

What's not clear from the review is whether they are setting blank pages with the content being correct, or totally missing sections of text.

Yeah. I read the review as well. Could they be complaining about a Paperback version that was misprinted?

exaltedwombat · 02-01-2019, 07:50 AM

Graphic dividers are dangerous. Like any picture that isn't immediately preceded by a page break they will ALWAYS end up widowed or orphaned for some readers, at some text sizes, on some devices.

theducks · 02-01-2019, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exaltedwombat

Graphic dividers are dangerous. Like any picture that isn't immediately preceded by a page break they will ALWAYS end up widowed or orphaned for some readers, at some text sizes, on some devices.

But,again, that is the fault of the device not properly implementing (or ignoring) the XHTML spec

The ding should not go against the Publisher

exaltedwombat · 02-01-2019, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

But,again, that is the fault of the device not properly implementing (or ignoring) the XHTML spec

The ding should not go against the Publisher

Shouldn't, but will!

A large part of our skill consists of anticipating the terrible things distribution and reading devices do to our work, and solving them in advance as much as possible.

authorava · 02-01-2019, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exaltedwombat

Shouldn't, but will!

A large part of our skill consists of anticipating the terrible things distribution and reading devices do to our work, and solving them in advance as much as possible.

This is so true! I've received some really nutty reviews over the years, and I usually ignore them, it's par for the course. But this one hurt because there are only three reviews so far.

I've checked my source file and my own personal download of the book, and I'm finding no glaring mistakes in the code. There are no page-break strings, and my files are always checked at epub validator.

The sting will wear off, eventually. My skin is pretty thick.
Thanks everyone

01-31-2019, 02:47 PM	#1
authorava Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kindle, Kindle Fire	Blank pages on kindle from Sigil epub? I recently got a review on Amazon from a reader who complained about multiple blank pages in the book. I've never had this kind of comment before and I format all my books the same way. Is there someone here who wouldn't mind taking a look at my file? I can either send a mobi or an epub. Obviously without knowing where she encountered them it's hard to easily identify the problem, but I wonder if it could be my divider bar code? <p class="pppdiv"><img alt="" height="28" src="../Images/dividerbarfaded1.png" width="225"/></p> and the class code is: p.pppdiv {font-weight: bold; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; font-size: 100%; text-indent: 0em; text-align:center;} Thx ~Ava

01-31-2019, 04:14 PM	#5
Tex2002ans Wizard Posts: 2,306 Karma: 13057279 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Forma, Nook	I'm definitely betting it's something else, but tough to tell without seeing the ebook itself. It could be there's a: Code: page-break-before page-break-after in your CSS somewhere. Sometimes crappy programs insert that needlessly.

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01-31-2019, 03:29 PM	#2
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,162 Karma: 92500001 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	What you give to Amazon isn't always the same as what readers receive. Have you purchased your own book and had a look at it? If you list the ASIN of your book I will take a look at the free sample (first 10% of the content) and see if any unexpected blank pages appear.

01-31-2019, 03:34 PM	#3
RbnJrg Wizard Posts: 1,877 Karma: 8821117 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Rosario - Santa Fe - Argentina Device: Kindle 4 NT	When you open your epub in Kindle Previewer, how does it look? I mean, with different font-size and different devices. If you also include your dividers at the end of each chapter, it could be possible -in same places- a generation of a blank page.

01-31-2019, 03:35 PM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,891 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I can assure you that Sigil is not responsible for blank pages being added to a Kindlebook. Might I suggest our Kindle formats forum or our Workshop forum for technical help on problematic epub to Kindlebook conversions? Blank pages after images is quite a popular topic in the Kindle Formats section.

01-31-2019, 05:57 PM	#6
authorava Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kindle, Kindle Fire	Here is my Amazon link. I didn't see any in the preview, which only shows five chapters. I can gift you the book if you'd like to download it as the zon sends it. And yes, I've purchased my own book but didn't see anything wrong. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FFCXT6H

01-31-2019, 06:30 PM	#7
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,162 Karma: 92500001 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	The formatting is fine in the free sample. I suspect that the problem is specific to the reader who complained.

01-31-2019, 08:18 PM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,267 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I also looked at a sample the pagebreak style was not USED within the sample. I wonder what viewing settings (font size, words per line...) that user was using? I did not a common (many books) failing with Fleurons and some other images. The background is NOT transparent. It appears WHITE on a sepia background

01-31-2019, 10:21 PM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,698 Karma: 79983758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	What's not clear from the review is whether they are setting blank pages with the content being correct, or totally missing sections of text.

02-01-2019, 07:50 AM	#12
exaltedwombat Guru Posts: 878 Karma: 2457540 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	Graphic dividers are dangerous. Like any picture that isn't immediately preceded by a page break they will ALWAYS end up widowed or orphaned for some readers, at some text sizes, on some devices.