Why are my tab spaces not uniform?

helens · 09-24-2023, 07:25 AM

Hi, I have a question about the tab spaces at the beginning of paragraphs.

In the Word doc, I set the paragraph tabs to 0.50 cm and in Sigil I'm using three spaces.

However, the spaces are not uniform throughout the whole document. Sometimes the space before the first word of the paragraph is larger, although the code is exactly the same. See screenshot for what I mean.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Helen

JSWolf · 09-24-2023, 07:30 AM

You don't want tabs as indents. You want to use a text-indent in CSS. Forget the class para1. You do not need it. Use just for the standard indented paragraphs. Here is some CSS that will do the job and do it well. Also get rid of the spans with span3 and get rid of the tabs.

CSS

Code:

p {
  margin-top: 0;
  margin-bottom: 0;
  text-indent: 0;
}

Jellby · 09-24-2023, 07:45 AM

To answer the question in the title: Because with justified lines the spaces can stretch or shrink to adjust the line length, like any other space between words.

The solution is: either don't justify or (recommended) use text-indent, which is what you actually want.

helens · 09-24-2023, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

To answer the question in the title: Because with justified lines the spaces can stretch or shrink to adjust the line length, like any other space between words.

Thanks - that explains it perfectly. I hadn't thought of that. Doh!

helens · 09-24-2023, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You don't want tabs as indents. You want to use a text-indent in CSS. Forget the class para1. You do not need it. Use just for the standard indented paragraphs. Here is some CSS that will do the job and do it well. Also get rid of the spans with span3 and get rid of the tabs.

CSS

Code:

p {
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
text-indent: 0;
}

Thanks, that helps a lot. Sorry to ask again (I'm not that great with code), but I want the first paragraph of each chapter to NOT be indented. How do I get around that? Do I need to use a <div> for those paragraphs?

helens · 09-24-2023, 11:56 AM

JSWolf, please ignore my last comment. I've worked it out - I've used 

Thanks!

JSWolf · 09-24-2023, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helens

JSWolf, please ignore my last comment. I've worked it out - I've used 

Thanks!

Code:

.firstpara {
  text-indent: 0;
}

Quoth · 09-25-2023, 05:58 AM

If you use a paragraph style in Word or LO Writer you set the indents, margins, padding, font, size and the docx to epub exactly puts that in the CSS.

Never ever in a wordprocessor use:
Tabs
More than one consecutive space
A space at the start or end of a paragraph
Blank lines

Those are all for typewriters.

Only use paragraph styles.

Renate · 10-05-2023, 09:20 AM

What Quoth said.

Also, this span3 stuff is overblown.
You might just have CSS style for or else use multiple classes:

Code:

<p class="firstpara span3">I'm a normal line.</p>

09-24-2023, 07:25 AM	#1
helens Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Scotland Device: Kindle	Why are my tab spaces not uniform? Hi, I have a question about the tab spaces at the beginning of paragraphs. In the Word doc, I set the paragraph tabs to 0.50 cm and in Sigil I'm using three spaces. However, the spaces are not uniform throughout the whole document. Sometimes the space before the first word of the paragraph is larger, although the code is exactly the same. See screenshot for what I mean. Can anyone help? Thanks, Helen Attached Thumbnails

09-24-2023, 07:30 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,013 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You don't want tabs as indents. You want to use a text-indent in CSS. Forget the class para1. You do not need it. Use just <p> for the standard indented paragraphs. Here is some CSS that will do the job and do it well. Also get rid of the spans with span3 and get rid of the tabs. CSS Code: p { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0; } Last edited by JSWolf; 09-24-2023 at 01:58 PM.

09-24-2023, 11:56 AM	#6
helens Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Scotland Device: Kindle	JSWolf, please ignore my last comment. I've worked it out - I've used <p class="firstpara"> Thanks!

10-05-2023, 09:20 AM	#9
Renate Wizard Posts: 2,318 Karma: 9999999 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Nook NST, Glow2, 3, 4, '21, Kobo Aura2, Poke3, Poke5	What Quoth said. Also, this span3 stuff is overblown. You might just have CSS style for <p> or else use multiple classes: Code: <p class="firstpara span3">I'm a normal line.</p>

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09-24-2023, 07:45 AM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	To answer the question in the title: Because with justified lines the spaces can stretch or shrink to adjust the line length, like any other space between words. The solution is: either don't justify or (recommended) use text-indent, which is what you actually want.

09-25-2023, 05:58 AM	#8
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,161 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	If you use a paragraph style in Word or LO Writer you set the indents, margins, padding, font, size and the docx to epub exactly puts that in the CSS. Never ever in a wordprocessor use: Tabs More than one consecutive space A space at the start or end of a paragraph Blank lines Those are all for typewriters. Only use paragraph styles.