Tweak epub and Simple CSS Editor

[Shadowman123]

Hello,

Maybe somebody can help with with the following question:
I have tried to use the new functionality "Tweak Epub" and opened the CSS file with Wordpad.
I would like to change some of the font sizes but I'm a bit confused with all the sections in the CSS and what they refer to in the "real" document.
It seems the sections are numbered. For example:

.calibre1 {
font-size: 1.125em
}
.calibre2 {
font-size: 1em
}
.calibre3 {
font-size: 0.75em
}
.calibre4 {
display: block;
page-break-before: always
}
.calibre5 {
color: windowtext;
display: none;
text-decoration: none
}

Is there a simple Editor with Preview where I can see the result of the changes I make in the CSS without having to rebuild the epub every time??

Thank you for your help.

[Manichean]

I can't help you with your editor search, but I have to ask this: Why is everyone always using text processors like Wordpad or Word or something like that for editing text files like HTML, CSS sheets or such? It's better to use a text editor that doesn't support text formatting, like the built-in editor or some free alternative. (The reason being that text processors, as opposed to text editors, support text formatting and, if you're not very careful, want to save any formatting into the document, rendering it unusable in case of markup or programming languages.)

[Agama]

Tweak ePub is very handy if you are familiar with the structure of ePub documents and the types of files which they contain. If you are new to ePub then you may find it easier to use Sigil after generating your ePub with calibre. This is a WYSIWIG-style editor for ePubs and can also show you the 'raw' ePub data, which can be helpful in learning what calibre does with CSS. Changes made in the text edit mode of Sigil can be shown immediately in the WYSIWIG view. Once you are confident with ePubs you will be better prepared for Tweak ePub, at which point, (as Manichean says), you should not use a text-processing type editor but a plain text editor. Pick one that has good support for regular expressions and you will save yourself a lot of time. Most also have colour coding for different file types, (CSS, HTML etc.)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Shadowman123

Hello,

Maybe somebody can help with with the following question:
I have tried to use the new functionality "Tweak Epub" and opened the CSS file with Wordpad.
I would like to change some of the font sizes but I'm a bit confused with all the sections in the CSS and what they refer to in the "real" document.
It seems the sections are numbered. For example:

.calibre1 {
font-size: 1.125em
}
.calibre2 {
font-size: 1em
}
.calibre3 {
font-size: 0.75em
}
.calibre4 {
display: block;
page-break-before: always
}
.calibre5 {
color: windowtext;
display: none;
text-decoration: none
}

Is there a simple Editor with Preview where I can see the result of the changes I make in the CSS without having to rebuild the epub every time??

Thank you for your help.

CSS is like paint by the numbers pictures.
You look at the picture, and find the number (or word. technically "string") attached (class=" string") to the text you want to modify.

Be reminded that the "C" in CSS stands for Cascade.. Your text "class" may be affected by changes on the layers surrounding you layer of interest , and there could possibly still be more inner layers that will be affected.
Going back to your original Stylesheet: (which did not show the standard outermost layer: "calibre", which sets the basic overall L+F of the "page".

3 font sizes called out. with no other attributes
No clues here.

[Shadowman123]

First of all thank you all for your quick responses.

Maybe my question got kind of lost in all the explaining.

If I open the CSS with Notepad I can't even tell the different sections apart. (That's why I used Wordpad).

I realize that I shouldn't be using WordPad to edit the CSS that's why I'm asking for a different Editor.

[Manichean]

Well, if you don't want to use Sigil, use Notepad++. It has syntax highlighting and everything.

[Shadowman123]

Thank you, I will try that.

BTW, It's not that I don't want to use Sigil. I just thought there was quick way through "Tweak epub" to edit the CSS and change the font size (and see what I'm doing).

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by Shadowman123

Thank you, I will try that.

BTW, It's not that I don't want to use Sigil. I just thought there was quick way through "Tweak epub" to edit the CSS and change the font size

Yes and yes...

Originally Posted by Shadowman123

(and see what I'm doing).

... and, to my knowledge, no- at least not with Sigil.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Shadowman123

If I open the CSS with Notepad I can't even tell the different sections apart. (That's why I used Wordpad).

You did not see a CSS like the example you showed?
Just 1 long line? "Unix line end format
Notepad++. will fix that. It can convert between Unix,Dos,Mac line ends (which does not hurt the file).


I tried to explain about matching the Class names in your document to the stylesheet

[Agama]

Originally Posted by Shadowman123

Thank you, I will try that.

BTW, It's not that I don't want to use Sigil. I just thought there was quick way through "Tweak epub" to edit the CSS and change the font size (and see what I'm doing).

Tweak ePub keeps it within calibre, (Notepad++ is great here), but you can only see the results when you rebuild the ePub. Sigil will let you change CSS font size and see the results immediately - but it's outside of calibre.

Notepad++ will convert your end of line format or let you display a long line in wrapped mode. It will also colour code your CSS.

Maybe we need another option in Tweak ePub: "Tweak ePub in Sigil"!

[GRiker]

There's actually another previewing approach with Tweak ePub.

If you make a change to the CSS file and save it, then open the HTML file using the native browser, it will render the file with the adjusted CSS.

- Explode ePub
- Edit CSS
- Open an HTML file with default application (IE, Safari, Firefox, etc)
- Make further edits on CSS until satisfied/bored/frustrated, refreshing browser window after each CSS edit
- Rebuild ePub

G

[Shadowman123]

Again thank you all.

I have tried notepad++ and I think I found a way:

- Tweak epub
- open CSS with notepad++
- open one of the "document files" with notepad++
(this gives me two tabs and I can find the correct CSS-class)
- change CSS values (and save)
- open document file with Firefox
- repeat and refresh as necessary.

I know it's not the best but it works.

BTW I found out that there is a Plug-in for notepad++ called CSS-eXplorer that might do
what I'm looking for. The plug-in is not working at the moment but I'll keep checking.

And yes Agama: keeping it within calibre is what I like.

Sorry GRiker: I took so long writing my post that I missed yours. But I guess that shows that I'm on the right track. Thank you