Does .pdf conversion support indexOf()?

[eschwartz]

That is cli 101.

Just link to http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html

[EbokJunkie]

Thanks, but that was not obvious. In the same command line other quotes, external to javascript code, do not need escaping.

[eschwartz]

Again, that is because of standard bash escaping rules -- calibre has no need to include a bash scripting guide in the cli docs. People using the cli should know these rules beforehand.

The question here was not "how do I use ebook-convert" it was "how do I pass a parameter in bash when it contains quotes". Thus -- it is not an appropriate topic for the calibre manual (though links to bash tutorials may be).

[EbokJunkie]

Hmm, this is cli in windows, not linux. I never used javascript in my rather long life :-)
How could I even figure out that bash is in paly here?
How could I figure out that parameter contains quotes, not limited by quotes?
Hint in documentation would do no harm.
BTW, same "unescaped" quotes work perfectly well in Calibre GUI.

[eschwartz]

Sorry, I saw you use "ebook-convert" not "ebook-convert.exe" and jumped to a conclusion.

I am sure windows batch has similar rules for escaping though.

calibre GUI does not pass strings through any sort of command shell, everything is handled safely through the backend... so naturally it need not be escaped.


When people use the cli to create solutions it is usually assumed they already know the ins and outs of scripting. Either way, regardless of the specific shell used, no program should include scripting guides, there are already far better resources out there.

Questions are of course welcome. (Here or on any one of a number of general programming/scripting help sites e.g. http://superuser.com and sister sites.)

[BetterRed]

Maybe we need a sticky thread - Calibre scripting tips and tricks.

IMO the calibre manual is deficient when it comes to examples. Most people who read books are not syprogs, sysadms or softineers - any more than most listeners to music are composers, songwriters or trombone players

BR

[eschwartz]

True, but most of them also don't use the cli.

However, far be it from me to stop you from creating a thread.
So, what are you going to put in it?

[BetterRed]

I can't recall ever creating a script for calibre that I've regretted throwing away. I usually create scripts on the desktop and I sweep the desktop clean at least once a day.

If EbokJunkie wants to make a thread with his script attached I'll use it to kickoff a sticky thread - a'la the one for templates etc.

BR

[EbokJunkie]

Will experiment with the CLI script that removes headers at the first chapter page (based on Kovid's suggestions). If it succeeds will add it to my standard Windows batch converting ePub to pdf. Than we'll see

[EbokJunkie]

The following script (based on Kovid's suggestion of testing chapter title presence on screen) works as expected in command line:

<script>
function IsChapter(){
	chapter = document.getElementsByClassName(\"h2a\");
	var nc = chapter.length; 
	while(nc--){
	    var br = chapter[nc].getBoundingClientRect();
	    var on_current_page = br.left + 20 > window.pageXOffset && br.right - 20 < window.pageXOffset + window.innerWidth; 
	    if (on_current_page==true) {
		document.getElementById(\"header\").style.display = \"none\";
	    }
        }
}
IsChapter()
</script>

In my example html class name for all chapter titles was "h2a".
User must dig out and substitute book specific class name for "h2a".
Header template id name must be "header".

Example of simple header template combined with javascript code (valid for CLI):

   --pdf-header-template "<div id="header" style="font-size:x-small"><p style="text-align:right"><span class="even_page">_AUTHOR_</span><span class="odd_page"><i>_TITLE_</i></span></p></div><script>function IsChapter(){chapter = document.getElementsByClassName(\"h2a\");var nc = chapter.length; while(nc--){    var br = chapter[nc].getBoundingClientRect();var on_current_page = br.left + 20 > window.pageXOffset && br.right - 20 < window.pageXOffset + window.innerWidth; if (on_current_page==true) {document.getElementById(\"header\").style.display = \"none\";}}}IsChapter();</script>"