Tables: what is the best way to render them on ebooks?

[RbnJrg]

Originally Posted by Tex2002ans

If you want to read more of the pros/cons of all different methods of displaying tables, there's also the discussion in "How to Control Fonts in SVG Images of Charts and Tables?".

IMHO, the best way to use SVG tables, is the method described here:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...9&postcount=10

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...0&postcount=12

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...0&postcount=16

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=18

[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by RbnJrg

IMHO, the best way to use SVG tables, is the method described here:

Remember discussing the cons of SVG tables all those years ago in that "SVG Tables" thread?

Compared to HTML, one of the largest is it doesn't follow user fonts/colors (many devices displayed black-on-black text).

Compared to images, then is no pan-and-scan support.

[RbnJrg]

Originally Posted by Tex2002ans

Remember discussing the cons of SVG tables all those years ago in that "SVG Tables" thread?

Compared to HTML, one of the largest is it doesn't follow user fonts/colors (many devices displayed black-on-black text).

Compared to images, then is no pan-and-scan support.

If you read my previous comment, I didn't say that svg tables are the best. Just I said, that if the OP decides to use them, the best way to implement them is by importing a .pdf, built it with Excel, inside Inkscape. I don't dispute your assertions; moreover, I agree with them.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by RbnJrg

If you read my previous comment, I didn't say that svg tables are the best. Just I said, that if the OP decides to use them, the best way to implement them is by importing a .pdf, built it with Excel, inside Inkscape. I don't dispute your assertions; moreover, I agree with them.

Anddddd...what is Hitch gonna say? (WWHD?)

SVG does not work for older Kindle devices, so if you go that route, you gotta use JPG or PNG or GIF tables as the fallbacks, with hidden.

Just a heads' up for poor victims that haven't tried this yet. As this is the workshop, I didn't want to presume that we were discussing ePUB format only.

Hitch

[Quoth]

Basically there isn't any universal solution for tables. It's very dependant on the content, number of columns and width of the table.
Some reformatting may be needed as has already been suggested.

Hence my approach, in creating content, rather than conversion from non-ebook sources, is to try and avoid them!

Also having two or more columns to simulate (or import) a magazine or newspaper is to be avoided. I noticed that early HP paper books had the newspaper extracts in twin column but later book(s) (or last?) use a single longer column.

[RbnJrg]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Anddddd...what is Hitch gonna say? (WWHD?)

SVG does not work for older Kindle devices, so if you go that route, you gotta use JPG or PNG or GIF tables as the fallbacks, with hidden.

I don't dispute that either. My comment aimed about how to generate a svg table, in case of the OP would want to use them. If the user wants a "ring to rule all rings", an only solution for all kind of devices, he should use an image (I go with a .png or .gif). since K1 doesn't support tables.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by FrustratedReader

Basically there isn't any universal solution for tables. It's very dependant on the content, number of columns and width of the table.
Some reformatting may be needed as has already been suggested.

Indeedy.

Hence my approach, in creating content, rather than conversion from non-ebook sources, is to try and avoid them!

Lucky you. I don't have that luxury, as I frequently lament, but of course, it is my vocation. :-) I have little business lamenting such things!

Also having two or more columns to simulate (or import) a magazine or newspaper is to be avoided. I noticed that early HP paper books had the newspaper extracts in twin column but later book(s) (or last?) use a single longer column.

I'm still surprised at how often we're asked to do this and it must be from folks who don't use eReaders or who use iPads (fullsize) and don't use dedicated devices or read on smartphones. I mean..we've done it (and we've created reflowable sidebars) but to steal a line from Jeff Goldblum's character in Jurassic Park, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Originally Posted by RbnJrg

I don't dispute that either. My comment aimed about how to generate a svg table, in case of the OP would want to use them. If the user wants a "ring to rule all rings", an only solution for all kind of devices, he should use an image (I go with a .png or .gif). since K1 doesn't support tables.

I know that sweetie. I didn't mean to sound as though I were chastizing you--I wasn't. It was simply one of those things that was obvious to those of us who've been doing this for a while, but was unsaid in the thread. I try to remember that newbies and first-timers, etc., won't know all the cruft we carry around in our heads and slap those warning labels on there, to save them some time, that's all. :-)

Hitch