Forcing a quotation mark style - Page 2

theducks · 05-02-2013, 11:39 PM

"All Quotes are not at the Beginning or End" he said.

The simple S&R above assumed this was the case.
Using the Clips editor to enclose selected text in curly quotes is a workable solution.

GrannyGrump · 05-03-2013, 12:34 AM

@Hoods7070 -- if you want to *temporarily* remap your keyboard to type curly quotes instead of straight quotes, I recommend using AutoHotkey. (probably other macro/scripting software will do it as well, but this is the one I use and am familiar with.)

I have a script that runs from the taskbar, and when I activate this feature, my "quote" keys send the curly quotes instead. Sometimes I use the F1 and F2 keys instead of the quote keys when I need to also type straight quotes in the code.

If you are interested, I can post the script here, but you do have to install AutoHotkey .

pdurrant · 05-03-2013, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoods7070

Well, since from the discussion above it seems my way is as easy and efficient as any other, and not remotely complicated, I think I'll stick with it, bar some day finding a way to force my keyboard to type "smart quotes" as I go.

You could switch to Mac.

open-double-quotes (“): option-[
close-double-quotes (”): option-shift-[
open-single-quotes (‘): option-]
close-single-quotes (’): option-shift-]

HarryT · 05-03-2013, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoods7070

Well, since from the discussion above it seems my way is as easy and efficient as any other, and not remotely complicated, I think I'll stick with it, bar some day finding a way to force my keyboard to type "smart quotes" as I go.

i.e. a) edit in Sigil correcting quotes - using keyboard straight quotes as needed, then b) converting ALL quotes to straight via search/replace, c) using Book Polish with smart quotes checked - alll quotes are fixed to curly quotes. Three simple steps and it's done, so I suppose there was no point whining in the first place.

The point is, though, that it's NOT done. If you don't do manual checking, you're doomed to failure, because no automated system is going to get it right.

In particular, words which begin in apostrophes, such as the 'Tis that Paul mentioned in an earlier post will break most automated systems, because the automated system can't know whether it's an open left single quote or a right single quote (it is of course a right quote).

The bottom line is that by all means use your automated replacement, but then you MUST check by hand afterwards and fix the things it's got wrong.

Jellby · 05-03-2013, 06:54 AM

and things get worse when there are errors in the text, like missing/wrong quotes, missing/extra spaces around them, etc.

Toxaris · 05-03-2013, 01:38 PM

Actually, I have several wildcard searches and a dialogue macro to get all the quotes right and find all the missing one. They are for Word though, but after these I haven't found a wrong one yet.

HarryT · 05-03-2013, 02:24 PM

How can any automated system know whether a word beginning with a single quote is a left open quote or a right quote apostrophe? I just don't see that it can be done.

Eg,
'hello there', he said

vs:
'Tis a beautiful day to make a 'phone call.

Will your macros really handle both of these correctly?

DiapDealer · 05-03-2013, 02:46 PM

Or unbalanced quotations that span paragraphs?

"Blah, blah, bah.
"Blah, blah-blah-blah."

Jellby · 05-03-2013, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Eg,
'hello there', he said

vs:
'Tis a beautiful day to make a 'phone call.

Or, more extreme:

Don't 'hello there' me.

vs.

He said that 'tis a dogs' life.

(maybe not the best examples, but you see what I mean). It's simpler if you just set apostrophes and right single quotes to the same character, but suppose you don't...

Toxaris · 05-03-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

How can any automated system know whether a word beginning with a single quote is a left open quote or a right quote apostrophe? I just don't see that it can be done.

Eg,
'hello there', he said

vs:
'Tis a beautiful day to make a 'phone call.

Will your macros really handle both of these correctly?

Yup. The combination will, since the second sentence isn't a dialogue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Or unbalanced quotations that span paragraphs?

"Blah, blah, bah.
"Blah, blah-blah-blah."

Yup, although not automatic. The macro will ask for the appropiate action here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

Or, more extreme:

Don't 'hello there' me.

vs.

He said that 'tis a dogs' life.

(maybe not the best examples, but you see what I mean). It's simpler if you just set apostrophes and right single quotes to the same character, but suppose you don't...

Should not be a problem at all.

Hitch · 05-03-2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Yup. The combination will, since the second sentence isn't a dialogue.

Yup, although not automatic. The macro will ask for the appropiate action here.

Should not be a problem at all.

Stop it, Toxie, you big tease:

You are giving them macro lust.

Hitch

Toxaris · 05-04-2013, 03:22 AM

You can already testdrive Hitch, so you have the advantage... English translation on its way.

Hitch · 05-04-2013, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

You can already testdrive Hitch, so you have the advantage... English translation on its way.

I know, I know. I'm was teasing. ;-)

H

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05-02-2013, 11:39 PM	#16
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	"All Quotes are not at the Beginning or End" he said. The simple S&R above assumed this was the case. Using the Clips editor to enclose selected text in curly quotes is a workable solution.

05-03-2013, 12:34 AM	#17
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,245 Karma: 35164265 Join Date: May 2011 Location: PA {back in the usa!} Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	@Hoods7070 -- if you want to temporarily remap your keyboard to type curly quotes instead of straight quotes, I recommend using AutoHotkey. (probably other macro/scripting software will do it as well, but this is the one I use and am familiar with.) I have a script that runs from the taskbar, and when I activate this feature, my "quote" keys send the curly quotes instead. Sometimes I use the F1 and F2 keys instead of the quote keys when I need to also type straight quotes in the code. If you are interested, I can post the script here, but you do have to install AutoHotkey .

05-03-2013, 06:54 AM	#20
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,570 Karma: 20150435 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	and things get worse when there are errors in the text, like missing/wrong quotes, missing/extra spaces around them, etc.

05-03-2013, 01:38 PM	#21
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Actually, I have several wildcard searches and a dialogue macro to get all the quotes right and find all the missing one. They are for Word though, but after these I haven't found a wrong one yet.

05-03-2013, 02:24 PM	#22
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	How can any automated system know whether a word beginning with a single quote is a left open quote or a right quote apostrophe? I just don't see that it can be done. Eg, 'hello there', he said vs: 'Tis a beautiful day to make a 'phone call. Will your macros really handle both of these correctly?

05-03-2013, 02:46 PM	#23
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,891 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Or unbalanced quotations that span paragraphs? "Blah, blah, bah. "Blah, blah-blah-blah."

05-04-2013, 03:22 AM	#27
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	You can already testdrive Hitch, so you have the advantage... English translation on its way.