Multiple Text File Problem

teh603 · 04-21-2017, 11:24 PM

I'm having a bit of a problem with Sigil and my writing style. I write in .txt, with each chapter being a separate file. Chapter 001.txt, Chapter 002.txt, and so forth.

When I try the Calibre trick (zipping the files, converting them to an ePUB with Calibre, and then opening the resulting file in Sigil) has gotten me inconsistent results. Calibre seems to only convert what it thinks is the first chapter, and then purges the rest.

I tried the OO import plugin, but it had some stylesheet problems.

Anyone got a solution? Preferably an elegant one?

Tex2002ans · 04-22-2017, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

When I try the Calibre trick (zipping the files, converting them to an ePUB with Calibre, and then opening the resulting file in Sigil) has gotten me inconsistent results. Calibre seems to only convert what it thinks is the first chapter, and then purges the rest.

This seems like a Calibre "issue" and doesn't really have anything to do with Sigil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I write in .txt, with each chapter being a separate file. Chapter 001.txt, Chapter 002.txt, and so forth.

Anyone got a solution? Preferably an elegant one?

A:

Concatenate all of your text files into a single one using the commandline:

http://www.wikihow.com/Merge-Text-(....Command-Prompt

then convert that using Calibre?

B:

Use Calibre to batch convert each text file to EPUBs, then use the EPUB Merge plugin?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=169744

That will merge your Chapter 001 EPUB + Chapter 002 EPUB + [...] together into one.

C:

If using Microsoft Word, there is Import > Object > Text from File:

https://support.office.com/en-us/art...f-3d8b585e03f1

Then save as whatever format (DOCX) and have Calibre convert it for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I tried the OO import plugin, but it had some stylesheet problems.

Stylesheet? Aren't your input files just plain text files? What stylesheet are you talking about?

And since you know your input was plain text, you could just throw out all useless HTML and get yourself back down to this with some Search/Replace:

Code:

<p>Paragraph 1.</p>
<p>Paragraph 2.</p>

Doitsu · 04-22-2017, 03:42 AM

In addition to Tex2002ans's excellent suggestions, you might want to also consider one of the following options:

1. Use a dedicated authoring tool for fiction writers, e.g., Scrivener, which allows you to generate epub and Kindle books.

2. Use an epub editor for users without HTML/CSS skills, e.g. Jutoh or Atlantis Word Processor.

3. If you're not afraid of using the terminal/command line, check out pandoc, which will convert markdown text files to epub files (and many other file formats).

BetterRed · 04-22-2017, 05:47 AM

@teh603 - I'm assuming you use Windows.

For simplicity I would opt for Tex2002ans' option A.

But rather than using the command line I would probably use this gadget - TXTcollector - Text file merging tool

BR

Notjohn · 04-22-2017, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

Anyone got a solution? Preferably an elegant one?

Not elegant, to be sure, but why don't you just open Sigil in Book View and paste your first chapter into it? Then switch to Code View and get rid of the non-breaking spaces (   ) that Sigil puts in.

Now add your style sheet and link to it, something like this, before the <body> tag:

<head>
<title>Your Book Title Here</title>
<link href="../Styles/epub.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
</head>

Now create a new file by placing your mouse cursor after the last character in the file and clicking on the Split at Cursor icon in the second menu line. The new file will contain the <head> tag you created above.

Und so weiter through the book.

DiapDealer · 04-22-2017, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notjohn

Then switch to Code View and get rid of the non-breaking spaces (   ) that Sigil puts in.

That WHO puts in?
I've copied tons of plain text into Book View with no  s being put in.

teh603 · 04-22-2017, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@teh603 - I'm assuming you use Windows.

MacOS, actually.

The reason I'm asking here is because several years ago, I remember being able to convert .txt files to .xhtml within Sigil, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it anymore.

Doitsu- I tend to prefer writing in .txt because "actual" word processors can have up to a full second of lag between when I start typing, and the keystrokes actually showing up on the screen. That's why I haven't been trying harder to fix the OO/LO plugin.

theducks · 04-22-2017, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

MacOS, actually.

The reason I'm asking here is because several years ago, I remember being able to convert .txt files to .xhtml within Sigil, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it anymore.

Doitsu- I tend to prefer writing in .txt because "actual" word processors can have up to a full second of lag between when I start typing, and the keystrokes actually showing up on the screen. That's why I haven't been trying harder to fix the OO/LO plugin.

Get a PC

Seriously: There is something odd going on with your setup.
Are you using a Wireless Keyboard?
Do you have other things (media player) running in background (VLC is playing music as I type this)

Or are you just one of those OMG fast typists

teh603 · 04-22-2017, 11:32 AM

I'm an OMG fast typist. My fiancee won't allow me to have a mechanical keyboard because I make enough noise on a regular one. And on pretty much every system I've had, OO/LO has noticeable typing lag.

That having been said, I also haven't tried "serious" writing in OO/LO since before I upgraded to 8 gigs of RAM, so it could be less of an issue now.

Doitsu · 04-22-2017, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I'm an OMG fast typist. My fiancee won't allow me to have a mechanical keyboard because I make enough noise on a regular one. And on pretty much every system I've had, OO/LO has noticeable typing lag.

AFAIK, there are lots of distraction-free editors for macOS with Markdown support and Markdown files can be easily converted to epubs with pandoc and calibre.

KevinH · 04-22-2017, 01:32 PM

Have you tried Sigil's "Add Existing Files" (right click in FileBrowser) and then change the Filter to "All Files" and then muli-select the text files.

Does that work?

teh603 · 04-22-2017, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH

Have you tried Sigil's "Add Existing Files" (right click in FileBrowser) and then change the Filter to "All Files" and then muli-select the text files.

Does that work?

It imports them successfully, but they go into the Misc folder. Even when I move them into the correct folder, I can't find an obvious way to convert them to .xhtml.

I guess this is where a plugin would be nice, but I haven't written functional code since the Apple II was still a thing.

BetterRed · 04-22-2017, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

MacOS, actually.

The scarcity of 'gadgets' like TXTCollector is one of the main reasons I would never buy an Apple Mac.

BR

KevinH · 04-22-2017, 06:08 PM

OSX is a full BSD unix,

cd YOURFOLDER
cat *.txt > ../combined.txt

Will concatinate the files in file name sort order. If you want a different order you can do things one by one as well.

Tex2002ans · 04-23-2017, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notjohn

Not elegant, to be sure, but why don't you just open Sigil in Book View and paste your first chapter into it?

Indeed, that is also one of the helpful uses of Book View.

You could either copy/paste one chapter at a time, or concatenate and paste the entire text file into Book View. That should get you the very basic <p> tags, then you could work from there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

Doitsu- I tend to prefer writing in .txt because "actual" word processors can have up to a full second of lag between when I start typing, and the keystrokes actually showing up on the screen. That's why I haven't been trying harder to fix the OO/LO plugin.

It definitely isn't normal to have such a delay between keystrokes. Do you have a wireless keyboard? Does it happen in any other programs?

And which plugin are you talking about exactly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I'm an OMG fast typist. My fiancee won't allow me to have a mechanical keyboard because I make enough noise on a regular one.

Mechanical keyboards can be quiet. Just avoid getting the super loud clicky ones (like MX Blues)!

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalK...oard_overviews

Your fingers will thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

The scarcity of 'gadgets' like TXTCollector is one of the main reasons I would never buy an Apple Mac.

There are plenty of tools for all OSes. And you can always find ways to run other tools if needed (like using Wine in Linux to run a ton of Windows stuff).

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

That WHO puts in?
I've copied tons of plain text into Book View with no  s being put in.

Could be because of the initial   in a blank document:

Code:

<body>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</body>

When I copy/pasted this post from Notepad++ into Book View, it kept it:

Code:

<p>&nbsp;blahblahblah</p>

but one of the first steps I ever do when I work on a book is convert any and all   -> normal spaces.

04-21-2017, 11:24 PM	#1
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	Multiple Text File Problem I'm having a bit of a problem with Sigil and my writing style. I write in .txt, with each chapter being a separate file. Chapter 001.txt, Chapter 002.txt, and so forth. When I try the Calibre trick (zipping the files, converting them to an ePUB with Calibre, and then opening the resulting file in Sigil) has gotten me inconsistent results. Calibre seems to only convert what it thinks is the first chapter, and then purges the rest. I tried the OO import plugin, but it had some stylesheet problems. Anyone got a solution? Preferably an elegant one?

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04-22-2017, 03:42 AM	#3
Doitsu Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,583 Karma: 22735033 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle PW2	In addition to Tex2002ans's excellent suggestions, you might want to also consider one of the following options: 1. Use a dedicated authoring tool for fiction writers, e.g., Scrivener, which allows you to generate epub and Kindle books. 2. Use an epub editor for users without HTML/CSS skills, e.g. Jutoh or Atlantis Word Processor. 3. If you're not afraid of using the terminal/command line, check out pandoc, which will convert markdown text files to epub files (and many other file formats).

04-22-2017, 05:47 AM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,553 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@teh603 - I'm assuming you use Windows. For simplicity I would opt for Tex2002ans' option A. But rather than using the command line I would probably use this gadget - TXTcollector - Text file merging tool BR

04-22-2017, 11:32 AM	#9
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I'm an OMG fast typist. My fiancee won't allow me to have a mechanical keyboard because I make enough noise on a regular one. And on pretty much every system I've had, OO/LO has noticeable typing lag. That having been said, I also haven't tried "serious" writing in OO/LO since before I upgraded to 8 gigs of RAM, so it could be less of an issue now.

04-22-2017, 01:32 PM	#11
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 7,635 Karma: 5433388 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Have you tried Sigil's "Add Existing Files" (right click in FileBrowser) and then change the Filter to "All Files" and then muli-select the text files. Does that work?

04-22-2017, 06:08 PM	#14
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 7,635 Karma: 5433388 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	OSX is a full BSD unix, cd YOURFOLDER cat *.txt > ../combined.txt Will concatinate the files in file name sort order. If you want a different order you can do things one by one as well.

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