Remove widows/orphans with Conversion Common Options?

Siavahda · 07-27-2026, 12:56 PM

Preferences -> Common Options -> Look & Feel -> Styling

In the Other CSS Properties bit at the bottom of the page, I have line-height set to be removed. Is it possible to use this function to remove CSS re orphans and widows, too?

I just wrote widows, orphans into the box, but that didn't seem to work. Does it need to be written in a special way, or is this just not doable?

Sirtel · 07-27-2026, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Preferences -> Common Options -> Look & Feel -> Styling

In the Other CSS Properties bit at the bottom of the page, I have line-height set to be removed. Is it possible to use this function to remove CSS re orphans and widows, too?

I just wrote widows, orphans into the box, but that didn't seem to work. Does it need to be written in a special way, or is this just not doable?

Just widows, orphans should work. It does for me.

Siavahda · 07-27-2026, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Just widows, orphans should work. It does for me.

The first time I tried it, it didn't work, but it seems to have done on my second attempt? Well, yay!

Sirtel · 07-27-2026, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siavahda

The first time I tried it, it didn't work, but it seems to have done on my second attempt? Well, yay!

In what way it didn't work? Widows/orphans didn't get removed?

Siavahda · 07-27-2026, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

In what way it didn't work? Widows/orphans didn't get removed?

Yes, exactly - when I checked the file post-conversion, it still had css for widows and orphans.

The second attempt I tried just now, the widows/orphans css was gone. I'm not sure what changed.

Sirtel · 07-27-2026, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Yes, exactly - when I checked the file post-conversion, it still had css for widows and orphans.

The second attempt I tried just now, the widows/orphans css was gone. I'm not sure what changed.

If the first attempt was a book that had been converted before, then per book settings took precedence over general settings.

JSWolf · 07-27-2026, 02:42 PM

Do you know what you are removing? I've seen windows and orphans set to 1 and also set to 2. So which one do you want to remove? Do you want widows and orphans on or do you want them off?

Sirtel · 07-27-2026, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you know what you are removing? I've seen windows and orphans set to 1 and also set to 2. So which one do you want to remove? Do you want widows and orphans on or do you want them off?

They want them removed from the css, because they've set the widows and orphans to 1 in the Kobo configuration file.

JSWolf · 07-27-2026, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

They want them removed from the css, because they've set the widows and orphans to 1 in the Kobo configuration file.

That makes sense. Thanks.

Siavahda · Yesterday, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

If the first attempt was a book that had been converted before, then per book settings took precedence over general settings.

Ahhh, I see! That would explain it.

Does that mean if a book's been converted once, it's no use trying this? It's not going to work if I try it three times, or anything like that?

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 12:51 PM

See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...for-conversion

Siavahda · Yesterday, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...for-conversion

Thank you!

Sirtel · Yesterday, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siavahda

Ahhh, I see! That would explain it.

Does that mean if a book's been converted once, it's no use trying this? It's not going to work if I try it three times, or anything like that?

You just need to adjust the conversion settings manually with previously-converted books (instead of relying on Common Options). That is, if the book conversion settings are different from the Common Options settings.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 02:05 PM

A better solution (IMHO) is to use the Quality Check plugin. You may find there aren't that many eBooks that have widows and orphans and you can edit them by hand in the editor.

There aren't that many eBooks that have widows and orphans.

DNSB · Yesterday, 03:38 PM

Strictly speaking, setting widows & orphans to 1 is the best way to guarantee widows and orphans. For instance, one book I recently read where the last page of one chapter ended with 'rain.' as the sole item at the top of the page so a classic example of a widow (alone at the end).

Also note that if widows and orphans are not set in the CSS, most renderers default to 2.

07-27-2026, 12:56 PM	#1
Siavahda Addict Posts: 220 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Helsinki Device: Kobo Clara Colour	Remove widows/orphans with Conversion Common Options? Preferences -> Common Options -> Look & Feel -> Styling In the Other CSS Properties bit at the bottom of the page, I have line-height set to be removed. Is it possible to use this function to remove CSS re orphans and widows, too? I just wrote widows, orphans into the box, but that didn't seem to work. Does it need to be written in a special way, or is this just not doable?

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07-27-2026, 02:42 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 84,334 Karma: 153744555 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Do you know what you are removing? I've seen windows and orphans set to 1 and also set to 2. So which one do you want to remove? Do you want widows and orphans on or do you want them off?

Yesterday, 12:51 PM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 46,413 Karma: 29634066 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...for-conversion

Yesterday, 02:05 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 84,334 Karma: 153744555 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	A better solution (IMHO) is to use the Quality Check plugin. You may find there aren't that many eBooks that have widows and orphans and you can edit them by hand in the editor. There aren't that many eBooks that have widows and orphans.

Yesterday, 03:38 PM	#15
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 53,407 Karma: 181843001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Strictly speaking, setting widows & orphans to 1 is the best way to guarantee widows and orphans. For instance, one book I recently read where the last page of one chapter ended with 'rain.' as the sole item at the top of the page so a classic example of a widow (alone at the end). Also note that if widows and orphans are not set in the CSS, most renderers default to 2.