Forced line breaks and full justify

[JSWolf]

<pre> doesn't actually work properly. With RMDSK (ADE), if the <pre> goes off the screen, you don't see it. I don't know if this bug has been fixed or not, but it does exist in older versions and a lot of Readers or apps are using older versions. So using <pre> is out.

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

<pre> doesn't actually work properly. With RMDSK (ADE), if the <pre> goes off the screen, you don't see it. I don't know if this bug has been fixed or not, but it does exist in older versions and a lot of Readers or apps are using older versions. So using <pre> is out.

This is definitely true...if you are in a position to care about people using old/outdated devices. You mentioned it was a very small distribution didn't you? So, tell them to upgrade their device, or put a minimum version number to view the document in all it's formatted glory.

My philosophy: Users will upgrade their devices when they can't adequately read content on them. If they don't mind the pitfalls of older software, then they probably won't care if your poetry isn't formatted exactly so... Publish your book using the most common standards out there and don't worry about the outliers - or bugs in older software.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

My philosophy: Users will upgrade their devices when they can't adequately ...

Mine too: - "Unless it's someone else's money that's being spent, things don't change until the cost of doing the same exceeds the cost of doing the change.'

BR

[JSWolf]

If I bought a book and I found it did not work on say a Sony Reader PRS-T1, I would blame the book before i'd think of the T1's software being out of date.

That's the way most people will think when a book doesn't work properly with their app/device.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If I bought a book and I found it did not work on say a Sony Reader PRS-T1, I would blame the book before i'd think of the T1's software being out of date.

That's the way most people will think when a book doesn't work properly with their app/device.

Fair enough, but where do you draw the line, Jon? At what point do you decide not to include a useful formatting feature in your book because it won't look right to a handful of users of older devices? To my mind, if it looks right to the majority of users, it's fine to use it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Fair enough, but where do you draw the line, Jon? At what point do you decide not to include a useful formatting feature in your book because it won't look right to a handful of users of older devices? To my mind, if it looks right to the majority of users, it's fine to use it.

Tell that to Amazon. Their still supporting Mobi and your eBooks have to deal with it. So what happens is because of those making the eBooks don't know much (or anything) about the media selectors, the KF8 version suffers because features that could have been used to make the eBook formatting better aren't being used.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Tell that to Amazon. Their still supporting Mobi and your eBooks have to deal with it. So what happens is because of those making the eBooks don't know much (or anything) about the media selectors, the KF8 version suffers because features that could have been used to make the eBook formatting better aren't being used.

Amazon provide the capability for those features to be used, though, Jon. Whether or not book creators choose to take advantage of features such as media selectors is outside Amazon's control.

You seem to be suggesting precisely the opposite: that book creators should avoid using advanced formatting features for fear that the resulting books won't look good on a minority of devices.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Amazon provide the capability for those features to be used, though, Jon. Whether or not book creators choose to take advantage of features such as media selectors is outside Amazon's control.

You seem to be suggesting precisely the opposite: that book creators should avoid using advanced formatting features for fear that the resulting books won't look good on a minority of devices.

No, I'm disagreeing with the comment that said that people would upgrade the device if they had some books that didn't work properly. I think most people would blame to books before blaming the device.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

No, I'm disagreeing with the comment that said that people would upgrade the device if they had some books that didn't work properly. I think most people would blame to books before blaming the device.

Also there is the point that they cannot upgrade the firmware in the device. Most older eBook readers are no longer supported with upgrades.

Dale

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Also there is the point that they cannot upgrade the firmware in the device. Most older eBook readers are no longer supported with upgrades.

Dale

Which brings me back to the question I asked Jon: should a book creator avoid advanced formatting features on the grounds that they won't work on a minority of older devices?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Which brings me back to the question I asked Jon: should a book creator avoid advanced formatting features on the grounds that they won't work on a minority of older devices?

Thing is, do we know how many are in that minority? I think there are more than we know of. But I do agree that eventually we have to move on.

But, if it's something that doesn't need to be there like say dropcaps, then that can be done without. It depends on what features and how needed they are.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Which brings me back to the question I asked Jon: should a book creator avoid advanced formatting features on the grounds that they won't work on a minority of older devices?

I would say it would depend on the book and the target audience, as well as what happens. If the book looks ok on the older devices even though not perfect then it is likely fine. Fall backs are often adequate. Reviews and complaints can really hurt book sales.

Dale