Annotations for characters

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by xxyzz

Hi Karellen, please check out the test version of WordDumb(https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...&postcount=275).

Hello @xxyzz
Thank you for the link. This only works on Kindle though, right? I use a Kobo Libra 2.

Regardless I will test it out on the next book I start (should be tomorrow or the day after) and will provide some feedback. I should be able to test in Kindle desktop and Kindle Previewer?

[xxyzz]

The test version adds X-Ray footnotes to EPUB books. I don't have any Kobo device but the footnotes work fine on EPUB readers(calibre, apple books, foliate).

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by xxyzz

The test version adds X-Ray footnotes to EPUB books. I don't have any Kobo device but the footnotes work fine on EPUB readers(calibre, apple books, foliate).

Great, thank you.

[Karellen]

Do any ereaders support the <abbr> tag?

I think this might be an easy way to achieve annotating characters.

I tried on the Kobo Libra 2, but didn't work, though works on calibre viewer and editor.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Do any ereaders support the <abbr> tag?

I think this might be an easy way to achieve annotating characters.

I tried on the Kobo Libra 2, but didn't work, though works on calibre viewer and editor.

Did you try it as a KePub (on your Libra 2) as that is ePub 3 compatible and may support <abbr>?

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Did you try it as a KePub (on your Libra 2) as that is ePub 3 compatible and may support <abbr>?

No, I didn't try kebup. I tested with epub v3.

I don't use kepub, but out of curiosity I'll test the kepub.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Karellen

No, I didn't try kebup. I tested with epub v3.

I don't use kepub, but out of curiosity I'll test the kepub.

Please let us know if it works or not. Thanks.

[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Do any ereaders support the <abbr> tag?

I think this might be an easy way to achieve annotating characters.

I suspect it would be very poor, if anything...

<abbr> is meant for abbreviations... and MAYBE Text-to-Speech.

<p>The <abbr title="Federal Bureau of Investigation">FBI</abbr> is doing shady stuff.</p>

Visually, it would show "FBI"... but spoken, it might say "Federal Bureau of Investigation".

But it definitely has some serious issues + Accessibility concerns.

Instead, the text should be rewritten the first time like:

<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is doing shady stuff.</p>

then afterwards, you can continue using the abbreviation throughout the text.

- - -

Side Note: Different browsers treat <abbr> completely differently too.

Some:

• give it a dotted underline.
• require a hover of the mouse.
  
  • Won't work on phones/touch/e-ink.
• won't speak out title.
  
  • Text-to-Speech.
• might speak it out twice.
  
  • For example, it might read abbreviation PLUS title.

For more info/discussion/tips, see:

• WCAG 2.0: "Abbreviations"
• WCAG 2.0: "H28: Providing definitions for abbreviations by using the abbr element"
• WCAG: "User Agent Support Notes for H28"
• DAISY.org: "Abbreviations"
• HTML Living Standard: "The abbr element"

- - -

Originally Posted by Karellen

I didn't try to create an index, but from what little I read, it wasn't too far different (but probably a bit more work) than my current method of creating a Character Summary at the end of the book.

Like others have said, your best bet is probably generating an X-Ray file:

• WordDumb is that most recent/easiest way to generate the files.
  
  • And it now "works" in EPUB too (as footnotes).
• X-Ray Builder
  
  • Standalone Windows program. Lets you generate the specific Amazon X-Ray file. Only works for Kindles.

- - -

Side Note/Rant: I remember when "Game of Thrones" was getting ginormous, and Amazon was hyping up X-Ray so you can try to "keep track of all the characters".

• 2014: /r/kindle: "[book](Game of Thrones) Is the X-Ray Feature Worth $9.99?"
• 2013: The Digital Reader: "Amazon Gets a Patent on Kindle X-Ray, Public Notes"
• 2022: GoodEreader.com: "What is X-Ray for the Amazon Kindle?"

or even some of the MR discussion over the years:

• 2020: "Xray like feature possible for non-Amazon books?"
• 2012: "Is X-Ray just a gimmick?"

I don't know, I haven't been following it too closely over these years, but I thought it kind of fell off a rock.

(Like many of these "ebook enhancements" which fail to live up to the hype a few years later... like "Kindle in Motion" + many others!)

Although X-Ray might be one of those slightly more "successful" features...

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please let us know if it works or not. Thanks.

Oops. This forum really needs ping notifications.

Sure. When I test I'll post here.
Hmm, converting to kepub doesn't seem to be a Calibre Convert Books option. I'll do a search on how to do it.

Originally Posted by Tex2002ans

I suspect it would be very poor, if anything...

<abbr> is meant for abbreviations... and MAYBE Text-to-Speech.

<p>The <abbr title="Federal Bureau of Investigation">FBI</abbr> is doing shady stuff.</p>

Yep, I think you are right.
I was hoping that simply clicking on the underlined <abbr> text would bring up a balloon but I guess the ebook software developers don't think it has a use in ebooks.

I'll stick to my Character Summary at the end of the book. I create these as I read the book. (jump up from my reading chair, run to my pc, edit the new character into the ebook, back to reading in my chair...)

Thanks

[xxyzz]

I guess you haven't tried the WordDumb plugin? It adds pop-up footnotes to EPUB books, exactly what you need.

[AlanHK]

Originally Posted by Karellen

I'll stick to my Character Summary at the end of the book.

I put the dramatis personae, and glossary, at the front of an ebook.

I read them on Kindle, but I suspect this will work in most other readers (it does in iPad iBooks) : I select a name/word and one of the options I have is "Search", (in the book). Doing that the first hit is almost always in the dramatis personae/glossary, look at that and then use the "go back" shortcut to continue reading.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Oops. This forum really needs ping notifications.

Sure. When I test I'll post here.
Hmm, converting to kepub doesn't seem to be a Calibre Convert Books option. I'll do a search on how to do it.




Yep, I think you are right.
I was hoping that simply clicking on the underlined <abbr> text would bring up a balloon but I guess the ebook software developers don't think it has a use in ebooks.

I'll stick to my Character Summary at the end of the book. I create these as I read the book. (jump up from my reading chair, run to my pc, edit the new character into the ebook, back to reading in my chair...)

Thanks

IF it were for me, myself alone, which is my clear inference here, I would build a footnote, and then regex it to all instances of "Bob" or "FBI" or whomever. I would simply make it a footnote; most devices have popup footnotes today (and if not, you can jump and jump back) and that's it.

Do it once; then regex it into every instance of Bob, and well...Bob's-yer-uncle, more or less.

THAT, or do an index in the source material (Word, LO, etc.) and then import that thereas and use the index.

Offered solely FWIW, from someone who uses a LOT of annotated material in her work.

Hitch