Question on opening a book for the first time

greyparrot · 04-30-2008, 06:11 PM

I've noticed that whenever I open a new book for the first time it always starts at the first chapter, therefore skipping the cover and table of contents. Is there a option to change this? I'd like to open at the cover or at least the table of contents. (I have 1.0.8 firmware)

Nate the great · 04-30-2008, 06:23 PM

Not that I am aware of, no.

wallcraft · 04-30-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyparrot

I've noticed that whenever I open a new book for the first time it always starts at the first chapter, therefore skipping the cover and table of contents. Is there a option to change this? I'd like to open at the cover or at least the table of contents. (I have 1.0.8 firmware)

In a MOBI (AZW) ebook this is typically controlled by the "Start" guide entry, see Defining guide items. I don't know what MobiPocket Reader (or the Kindle) does if there is no Start entry, but note that the TOC and cover image probably are not at the actual start of the document in recent MOBI (AZW) ebooks. Earlier PRC ebooks had no guide entries and typically did start with an embedded image and an in-line TOC.

This isn't going to help much, because there is no easy way to change the guide metadata in most Kindle compatible ebooks.

MoSo · 04-30-2008, 06:36 PM

As soon as I open a book, I click on the "menu" and go to the cover and go from there, so I make sure I get the TOC and any other material, grumbling (just a tiny bit) to myself as I do it.

I have gotten a few books from Amazon that opened on the TOC or at the title page, though, so it must be set whenever it's converted into the format.

greyparrot · 05-01-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoSo

As soon as I open a book, I click on the "menu" and go to the cover and go from there, so I make sure I get the TOC and any other material, grumbling (just a tiny bit) to myself as I do it.

That's what I've been doing. Maybe they'll make it an option in the future. Thanks everybody.

Lobolover · 05-01-2008, 09:29 AM

hi.Just wanted to welcome you to theese forums,cause I dont know if you've made a welcome thread and inform you that the THING you have in your avatar is the most vicious, anoying,pompous,selfish ,greedy and noisy thing with a rotten personality on the face of the earth.

Patricia · 05-01-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobolover

hi.Just wanted to welcome you to theese forums,cause I dont know if you've made a welcome thread and inform you that the THING you have in your avatar is the most vicious, anoying,pompous,selfish ,greedy and noisy thing with a rotten personality on the face of the earth.

That's a welcome???

Long live parrots and toleration. Welcome to the forum, greyparrot.

JSWolf · 05-01-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobolover

hi.Just wanted to welcome you to these forums,cause I don't know if you've made a welcome thread and inform you that the THING you have in your avatar is the most vicious, annoying,pompous,selfish ,greedy and noisy thing with a rotten personality on the face of the earth.

We have a fairly newish (newish to us) parrot that we've adopted. He is a conjure parrot and his name is Charlie. He's nt yet old enough to speak. He is a very daft bid to be sure. He can be loud at times. He is not greedy. He is not selfish. He is not annoying. He is not pompous. He is not vicious. He has not bitten either of us. Not like hewas trying to attack. He beaks us. But he does it gently. When we got him, he was a bit skittish. Now he's coming to trust us. When we first got him, he didn't like to be touched. But now he allows us to touch him. He is a loving bird. Right now, he's attacking his piggy piñata.

tsgreer · 05-01-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobolover

hi.Just wanted to welcome you to theese forums,cause I dont know if you've made a welcome thread and inform you that the THING you have in your avatar is the most vicious, anoying,pompous,selfish ,greedy and noisy thing with a rotten personality on the face of the earth.

Wow, um, that's a strange thing to say to a new member. I'm assuming you were just teasing a bit, but remember that smiley icons can be helpful when you are kidding around.

Lobolover · 05-01-2008, 05:28 PM

im not teasing,I HAVE that parrot,SADLY-to think we had to drive through half the country to get THAT sob.

greyparrot · 05-01-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobolover

hi.Just wanted to welcome you to theese forums,cause I dont know if you've made a welcome thread and inform you that the THING you have in your avatar is the most vicious, anoying,pompous,selfish ,greedy and noisy thing with a rotten personality on the face of the earth.

My, my you seem to be upset. The parrot in question is 32 years old, and has been with me since age 6 mo. She seems to be very happy.

greyparrot · 05-01-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

We have a fairly newish (newish to us) parrot that we've adopted. He is a conjure parrot and his name is Charlie.

Enjoy your Conure, I had a Sun Conure once. A word of warning, if you have Charlie's wings clipped don't think for a second that he can't fly. They are very good escape artists and can travel quick and far even with clipped wings.

Lobolover · 05-01-2008, 07:43 PM

we have a HIM.Naturaly,he can't stand me.but I had a SHE jarine's parrot-which loved me madly and that I could do anything with-like turn her on her back,put her on the measuring scales-she would always go and make a "sound" when she couldn't see me and she would lean back in the cage,one foot on the wall besides her,with her beak hanging on the "roof"-she was something (stupid) alright.

schulzmc · 05-01-2008, 10:19 PM

Back to topic - I read somewhere that it is the publisher of the book that decides where the book "starts" when opened.

HarryT · 05-02-2008, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schulzmc

Back to topic - I read somewhere that it is the publisher of the book that decides where the book "starts" when opened.

Well, it's the creator of the Mobi file, anyway. A mobi book has a set of navigation links in it called "guide" items - these are links to the cover image, table of contents, etc. One of these is called the "start reading" item, and specifies the point at which the "text proper" of the book begins. Sounds as though the Kindle always opens a book at this point.

Read my "how to create a mobipocket book" tutorial for more info.

04-30-2008, 06:11 PM	#1
greyparrot eBook enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 17 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Device: Kindle DX/Kindle 2/Sony PRS-505	Question on opening a book for the first time I've noticed that whenever I open a new book for the first time it always starts at the first chapter, therefore skipping the cover and table of contents. Is there a option to change this? I'd like to open at the cover or at least the table of contents. (I have 1.0.8 firmware)

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04-30-2008, 06:23 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Not that I am aware of, no.

04-30-2008, 06:36 PM	#4
MoSo Crankier than average Posts: 143 Karma: 345 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern Oregon mountains Device: Kindle #1, Kindle #2; internet appliance - The Chumby.	As soon as I open a book, I click on the "menu" and go to the cover and go from there, so I make sure I get the TOC and any other material, grumbling (just a tiny bit) to myself as I do it. I have gotten a few books from Amazon that opened on the TOC or at the title page, though, so it must be set whenever it's converted into the format.

05-01-2008, 09:29 AM	#6
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	hi.Just wanted to welcome you to theese forums,cause I dont know if you've made a welcome thread and inform you that the THING you have in your avatar is the most vicious, anoying,pompous,selfish ,greedy and noisy thing with a rotten personality on the face of the earth.

05-01-2008, 05:28 PM	#10
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	im not teasing,I HAVE that parrot,SADLY-to think we had to drive through half the country to get THAT sob.

05-01-2008, 07:43 PM	#13
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	we have a HIM.Naturaly,he can't stand me.but I had a SHE jarine's parrot-which loved me madly and that I could do anything with-like turn her on her back,put her on the measuring scales-she would always go and make a "sound" when she couldn't see me and she would lean back in the cage,one foot on the wall besides her,with her beak hanging on the "roof"-she was something (stupid) alright.

05-01-2008, 10:19 PM	#14
schulzmc Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle	Back to topic - I read somewhere that it is the publisher of the book that decides where the book "starts" when opened.

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