Mobi and Empty Spacing?

KingOfMyWorld · 07-10-2010, 05:30 PM

I have a book that's got spacing between some paragraphs such as this

Quote:

paragragh
Paragraph

A letter to somebody or a news article on tv or in the paper.

Paragraph
paragraph

But instead of the spacing it all runs together as such.

Quote:

paragraph
paragraph
letter
paragraph
paragraph

Does mobipocket and AZW by association not allow spacing in the files? I've tried with Calibre and Book Designer, Calibre either has all spaces between paragraphs or none. Book Designer looks right until I make the file, then it's all smashed up leading me to believe it's a flaw of the mobi files.

Or is there a way that I have somehow missed to allow these "empty" paragraphs to remain.

I've also noticed that when converting there appears to be the last line of a paragraph is spaced funny, is this a problem with my eyes or the program?

Thanks for any help given.

bear4hunter · 07-10-2010, 06:00 PM

You could try editing the HTML file of the book (Notepad ++ or KompoZer are my favourites).

It should look like

paragraph
 
letter
 
paragraph

Also working:
paragraph
<blockquote>letter</blockquote>
paragraph

Using blockquote, the letter indents and there's space before and after. In the lower part of the screen attached, you can see the quote, and a quote with to simulate a verse

Jellby · 07-11-2010, 04:17 AM

You can add vertical space in mobi by using the "height" property:

Normal paragraph

A letter with space above

The next paragraph after the letter has some space above too

And then comes a "scene break", with a larger space, before this paragraph

HarryT · 07-11-2010, 06:06 AM

Jellby's method is the best.

Empty paragraphs (or spans) are a little problematic in Mobi. Most versions of Mobi Reader respect them, and display a blank, but some (most notably the Windows desktop version) do not. Using the "height" attribute is much more reliable.

KingOfMyWorld · 07-11-2010, 06:45 PM

Both options work great, it's easier to replace the

Code:

<div align="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

in html's that are already made with the tag using find and replace, and the other works best on newer documents.

You peeps have been a big help, Thank you.

Now I have to figure out page breaks to make the chapters separate as opposed to all run together...is there a thread anyone can point me to?

bear4hunter · 07-12-2010, 01:50 AM

glad we could help you!

as for the pagebreak:
<mbp:pagebreak/> does the job. It actually doesn't need the closing tag, but some editors close it automatically like <mbp:pagebreak></mbp:pagebreak>

Piscean · 08-09-2010, 11:57 PM

I have a similar issue to KingOfMyWorld's original post.

My mobi formatted ebooks have the correct spacing when I load them into the Kindle for PC reader. But when I load them into FBReader (v 0.9.2) on the PB 360, all the paragraphs are crammed together.

The fact that the Kindle reader displays the formatting correctly leads me to believe it's been created correctly by Calibre and FBReader is not displaying it correctly.

Is there an option or switch for FBReader to alter this behavior?

Thanks.

07-10-2010, 06:00 PM	#2
bear4hunter Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 100148 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Germany, Munich Device: Kindle 3 & DX Graphite, PocketBook 302 & Pro 603	You could try editing the HTML file of the book (Notepad ++ or KompoZer are my favourites). It should look like <p>paragraph</p> <br> <p>letter</p> <br> <p>paragraph</p> Also working: <p>paragraph</p> <blockquote>letter</blockquote> <p>paragraph</p> Using blockquote, the letter indents and there's space before and after. In the lower part of the screen attached, you can see the quote, and a quote with <br> to simulate a verse Attached Thumbnails

07-11-2010, 04:17 AM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	You can add vertical space in mobi by using the "height" property: <p>Normal paragraph</p> <p height="1em">A letter with space above</p> <p height="1em">The next paragraph after the letter has some space above too</p> <p height="2em">And then comes a "scene break", with a larger space, before this paragraph</p>

07-11-2010, 06:45 PM	#5
KingOfMyWorld Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: PRS-350, Touchpad, Kindle 2, Kindle Touch	Both options work great, it's easier to replace the Code: <div align="justify">    </div> in html's that are already made with the <br> tag using find and replace, and the other works best on newer documents. You peeps have been a big help, Thank you. Now I have to figure out page breaks to make the chapters separate as opposed to all run together...is there a thread anyone can point me to?

07-12-2010, 01:50 AM	#6
bear4hunter Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 100148 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Germany, Munich Device: Kindle 3 & DX Graphite, PocketBook 302 & Pro 603	glad we could help you! as for the pagebreak: <mbp:pagebreak/> does the job. It actually doesn't need the closing tag, but some editors close it automatically like <mbp:pagebreak></mbp:pagebreak> Last edited by bear4hunter; 07-12-2010 at 02:25 AM.

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07-11-2010, 06:06 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Jellby's method is the best. Empty paragraphs (or spans) are a little problematic in Mobi. Most versions of Mobi Reader respect them, and display a blank, but some (most notably the Windows desktop version) do not. Using the "height" attribute is much more reliable.

08-09-2010, 11:57 PM	#7
Piscean Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nexus 7, Windows Phone, ASUS tablet	I have a similar issue to KingOfMyWorld's original post. My mobi formatted ebooks have the correct spacing when I load them into the Kindle for PC reader. But when I load them into FBReader (v 0.9.2) on the PB 360, all the paragraphs are crammed together. The fact that the Kindle reader displays the formatting correctly leads me to believe it's been created correctly by Calibre and FBReader is not displaying it correctly. Is there an option or switch for FBReader to alter this behavior? Thanks.

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