Remove padding in tables

skypilotpete · 03-22-2011, 08:31 PM

I am just beginning the process of learning to create an ebook. I am creating it from the ground up, and have experimented with:
- starting in Word, converting to rtf and then to epub using Calibre
- starting in Word, converting to HTML and then to epub
- creating the document directly as an HTML file, using MS Frontpage 2003, and then converting to EPUB.

I need to use tables to display some complex information effectively, and whichever method I use to create the epub, the tables created by Calibre include a lot of white space within the table around the text, as if Calibre has introduced cell padding. The original html documents definitely have no cell padding, and the tables hug the text tightly when viewed in IE and Firefox.

I have looked at the css file created by Calibre, but my knowledge of CSS is extremely minimal and I can't follow what Calibre has done. It seems to have put left and right padding in all of the cells (which I have removed) but I can't see anything that is obviously causing padding above and below the text in each cell.

I have looked through the preferences in Calibre and can't find anything that controls how tables are formatted.

Can any kind person please help me with this?

I am using Calibre 0.7.5.0, Windows 7 64

Manichean · 03-23-2011, 04:47 AM

What format are you using in the first place? Also, I don't think markup snippets of how you created those tables and how Calibre renders them after conversion wouldn't hurt, either.

skypilotpete · 03-24-2011, 01:35 AM

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I have finally realised that I'm not going to be able to create effective epubs "on the fly" and that I need to work through some detailed tutorials and make the effort to understand what is really going on in the epub creation process. So I've abandoned my efforts to get tables to work until I understand a lot more.

03-22-2011, 08:31 PM	#1
skypilotpete Member Posts: 24 Karma: 590 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Device: Prs 350	Remove padding in tables I am just beginning the process of learning to create an ebook. I am creating it from the ground up, and have experimented with: - starting in Word, converting to rtf and then to epub using Calibre - starting in Word, converting to HTML and then to epub - creating the document directly as an HTML file, using MS Frontpage 2003, and then converting to EPUB. I need to use tables to display some complex information effectively, and whichever method I use to create the epub, the tables created by Calibre include a lot of white space within the table around the text, as if Calibre has introduced cell padding. The original html documents definitely have no cell padding, and the tables hug the text tightly when viewed in IE and Firefox. I have looked at the css file created by Calibre, but my knowledge of CSS is extremely minimal and I can't follow what Calibre has done. It seems to have put left and right padding in all of the cells (which I have removed) but I can't see anything that is obviously causing padding above and below the text in each cell. I have looked through the preferences in Calibre and can't find anything that controls how tables are formatted. Can any kind person please help me with this? I am using Calibre 0.7.5.0, Windows 7 64

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
tables or svg?	bobcdy	ePub	18	12-06-2010 02:24 PM
Does Amazon go overboard with padding the number of titles it has	boswd	General Discussions	8	06-27-2010 07:40 AM
Trailing & Padding of Mobi Pocket files	DairyKnight	Kindle Formats	1	09-21-2009 03:27 AM
RFE: Remove remove tags in bulk edit	magphil	Calibre	0	08-11-2009 10:37 AM
Need help with tables	Daithi	Amazon Kindle	2	12-09-2008 02:10 PM

03-23-2011, 04:47 AM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	What format are you using in the first place? Also, I don't think markup snippets of how you created those tables and how Calibre renders them after conversion wouldn't hurt, either.

03-24-2011, 01:35 AM	#3
skypilotpete Member Posts: 24 Karma: 590 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Device: Prs 350	Thank you for taking the time to reply. I have finally realised that I'm not going to be able to create effective epubs "on the fly" and that I need to work through some detailed tutorials and make the effort to understand what is really going on in the epub creation process. So I've abandoned my efforts to get tables to work until I understand a lot more.

Advert