Exchanging quotes from »« to «»

Arran · 09-04-2014, 11:09 AM

Hello

I try to adapt a miserable coded Ebook with the quotes »« (German way) to «» (Swiss way). I thought, when I have to code the book anyway, I might as well change them.

However how would I best do this?

I could exchange first all » by the «, but then I can not do the second exchange, because the look would no be «text«.

Any clever suggestions?

doubleshuffle · 09-04-2014, 11:19 AM

The experts will probably have something much cleverer, but I have dealt with similar problems by including the spaces before/after the respective marks in the search/replace. Should work in this case as well.

How's the view from Goat Fell today?

EDIT: JSWolf's solution below is much better than mine. I knew it...

JSWolf · 09-04-2014, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arran

Hello

I try to adapt a miserable coded Ebook with the quotes »« (German way) to «» (Swiss way). I thought, when I have to code the book anyway, I might as well change them.

However how would I best do this?

I could exchange first all » by the «, but then I can not do the second exchange, because the look would no be «text«.

Any clever suggestions?

It just takes an extra search/replace. Search/replace » with @@@. Next, search/replace « with ». Finally search/replace @@@ with «.

DONE!

It's a similar problem to the Fox, goose, beans, and small boat. (Google it if you want to know more about this).

dwig · 09-04-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It just takes an extra search/replace. Search/replace » with @@@. Next, search/replace « with ». Finally search/replace @@@ with «.

DONE!

It's a similar problem to the Fox, goose, beans, and small boat. (Google it if you want to know more about this).

+1

The only caution is that you choose the "@@@" string carefully being sure that it doesn't exist in the text. If you are concerned, simply do a text search for your chosen temp string, "@@@" in this case, to confirm that it doesn't exist.

Arran · 09-04-2014, 11:50 AM

Thanks, friends. This is the solution. However, i will use a very exotic letter from Russia or so, and I will not run into any problems.

I have easily managed to get rid of the german ß and put ss into the place. Again a slight, but important difference between Switzerland and its neighbours D and A.

And à propos Goatfell: between 10.00 and 15.00 georgous weather all over the Island, before that, morning haze and after three clouds coming in. You've been up?

doubleshuffle · 09-04-2014, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arran

And à propos Goatfell: between 10.00 and 15.00 georgous weather all over the Island, before that, morning haze and after three clouds coming in. You've been up?

Yep, twice. Glorious view both times. Muuuch too long ago though, sadly.

Jellby · 09-04-2014, 01:06 PM

I use ¬ or | or ¦ (I search first, to make sure it doesn't appear anywhere).

eschwartz · 09-04-2014, 10:17 PM

I would just use

Search:

Code:

»([^«»]*)«

Replace:

Code:

«\1»

Matches all matched sets only, doing both replaces in one go using a capture group to preserve inner text. Assumes no weird-foreign-symbols-I-forget-the-name-of

inside matching sets.

JSWolf · 09-09-2014, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I would just use

Search:

Code:

»([^«»]*)«

Replace:

Code:

«\1»

Matches all matched sets only, doing both replaces in one go using a capture group to preserve inner text. Assumes no weird-foreign-symbols-I-forget-the-name-of

inside matching sets.

But then you still have to do it my way to handle any unmatched sets. So this is just one extra S/R that doesn't need to be done. Yes, you can get unmatched sets when you have a new paragraph in the middle of someone talking.

cybmole · 09-10-2014, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Yes, you can get unmatched sets when you have a new paragraph in the middle of someone talking.

I have seen that but only in a few books, what are the "rules" for multi paragraphs where it is all spoken. I always thought it was a mistake / bad typesetting ?

most books show
"some speech...."

"some more speech by same person"

only a few use
"some speech.

"some more speech....

Jellby · 09-10-2014, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

most books show
"some speech...."

"some more speech by same person"

only a few use
"some speech.

"some more speech....

Then "most books" are wrong, as far as I know. Have you checked actual printed books from respectable publishers?

doubleshuffle · 09-10-2014, 04:53 AM

I think there are two standards, at least in English (in German it has always been option 2) only, I think):

1)
"Some speech...

"Some more speech by same person...

"Last bit of speech by same person."

2)
"Some speech...

Some more speech by same person...

Last bit of speech by same person."

My impression is that 1) has become rarer.

BetterRed · 09-10-2014, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

I think there are two standards, at least in English (in German it has always been option 2) only, I think):

1)
"Some speech...

"Some more speech by same person...

"Last bit of speech by same person."

2)
"Some speech...

Some more speech by same person...

Last bit of speech by same person."

My impression is that 1) has become rarer.

I've not seen 2) personally, I'm a bit OCD on punctuation so I think I would have noticed it. But I don't read everything

Coincidentally more recent discussion on continued speech from this post forward ==>> e-Book Tools - a Word add-in

From what Hitch has posted there I get the impression that some contemporary authors use

"Some speech..."
"Some more speech by same person..."
"Last bit of speech by same person."

And from what Toxaris says that is common in Dutch.

BR

doubleshuffle · 09-10-2014, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

From what Hitch has posted there I get the impression that some contemporary authors use

"Some speech..."
"Some more speech by same person..."
"Last bit of speech by same person."

I don't think I have ever come across this. Can't be sure, but I think I would remember - it would have confused the hell out of me, because it clearly signifies a change of speaker to me.

BetterRed · 09-10-2014, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

I don't think I have ever come across this. Can't be sure, but I think I would remember - it would have confused the hell out of me, because it clearly signifies a change of speaker to me.

However your 2) is the same, I would initially assume the second and third paragraphs were not speech, and the first para was missing a closing quote. IMO the traditional way provides the best visual clue as to what's going on - short of using coloured fonts :lol:

I have seen some contemporary writers contrive an introductory tag at start of each paragraph

"Some speech..."
Looking bewildered he then said, "Some more speech by same person..."
After scratching his left elbow he continued, "Last bit of speech by same person."

Ψ² - BR

09-04-2014, 11:09 AM	#1
Arran Lernender Posts: 70 Karma: 341348 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Isle of Arran, Scotland Device: Calibre, Sigil and Tolino	Exchanging quotes from »« to «» Hello I try to adapt a miserable coded Ebook with the quotes »« (German way) to «» (Swiss way). I thought, when I have to code the book anyway, I might as well change them. However how would I best do this? I could exchange first all » by the «, but then I can not do the second exchange, because the look would no be «text«. Any clever suggestions?

09-04-2014, 11:19 AM	#2
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	The experts will probably have something much cleverer, but I have dealt with similar problems by including the spaces before/after the respective marks in the search/replace. Should work in this case as well. How's the view from Goat Fell today? EDIT: JSWolf's solution below is much better than mine. I knew it... Last edited by doubleshuffle; 09-04-2014 at 11:24 AM.

09-04-2014, 10:17 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I would just use Search: Code: »([^«»])« Replace: Code: «\1» Matches all matched sets only, doing both replaces in one go using a capture group to preserve inner text. Assumes no weird-foreign-symbols-I-forget-the-name-of inside matching sets. Last edited by eschwartz; 09-04-2014 at 10:20 PM.*

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09-04-2014, 11:50 AM	#5
Arran Lernender Posts: 70 Karma: 341348 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Isle of Arran, Scotland Device: Calibre, Sigil and Tolino	Thanks, friends. This is the solution. However, i will use a very exotic letter from Russia or so, and I will not run into any problems. I have easily managed to get rid of the german ß and put ss into the place. Again a slight, but important difference between Switzerland and its neighbours D and A. And à propos Goatfell: between 10.00 and 15.00 georgous weather all over the Island, before that, morning haze and after three clouds coming in. You've been up?

09-04-2014, 01:06 PM	#7
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,570 Karma: 20150435 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I use ¬ or \| or ¦ (I search first, to make sure it doesn't appear anywhere).

09-10-2014, 04:53 AM	#12
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	I think there are two standards, at least in English (in German it has always been option 2) only, I think): 1) "Some speech... "Some more speech by same person... "Last bit of speech by same person." 2) "Some speech... Some more speech by same person... Last bit of speech by same person." My impression is that 1) has become rarer.