txt to mobi - dashes becoming ?

cybmole · 10-14-2010, 08:38 AM

I have a txt document that I want converted into mobi.

it converts OK except that any dash character is rendered as a ? inside of a black diamond?
what is causing this & is there an easy workaround ?

e.g.where txt input, in notepad looks like this:
"From each sensor a lead, fine as gossamer, ran to the sole object — apart from the steel chair and two other chairs, both softly padded — that might be said to furnish the room."

the mobi output ( in calibre reader) displays as:
" From each sensor a lead, fine as gossamer, ran to the sole object � apart from the steel chair and two other chairs, both softly padded � that might be said to furnish the room"

I've worked around the problem like this: I don't find that long dash mark anywhere on my keyboard but I open the txt file in notepad, paste that dash into the find replace box then go replace all to change it to " - ". that comes out as expected in .mobi.

I'd still be grateful for an explanation of the original bug/issue though, please

GRiker · 10-14-2010, 09:09 AM

The hyphens in your source file are probably endashes or emdashes, not hyphens. They look very similar. See this discussion of dashes in wikipedia.

G

cybmole · 10-14-2010, 09:58 AM

thanks - I thought that .txt files only contained standard characters i.e. those found on a keyboard. - I guess that's not quite right.

GRiker · 10-14-2010, 10:07 AM

It depends upon the strictness of the authoring application. My guess is that your original file is encoded in cp1252 - I'm guessing your dashes are #150 or #151 as shown here.

G

cybmole · 10-14-2010, 10:58 AM

I'm happy enough with my work around, but let's say that I fussily wanted the Calibre .mobi output to look exactly like the .txt input i.e. to contain those same emdash thingies -

Is there a way to make that happen by tweaking calibre preferences ?

Starson17 · 10-14-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

I'm happy enough with my work around, but let's say that I fussily wanted the Calibre .mobi output to look exactly like the .txt input i.e. to contain those same emdash thingies -

Is there a way to make that happen by tweaking calibre preferences ?

In Look & Feel tell it the correct input character encoding - probably cp1252.

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10-14-2010, 08:38 AM	#1
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	txt to mobi - dashes becoming ? I have a txt document that I want converted into mobi. it converts OK except that any dash character is rendered as a ? inside of a black diamond? what is causing this & is there an easy workaround ? e.g.where txt input, in notepad looks like this: "From each sensor a lead, fine as gossamer, ran to the sole object — apart from the steel chair and two other chairs, both softly padded — that might be said to furnish the room." the mobi output ( in calibre reader) displays as: " From each sensor a lead, fine as gossamer, ran to the sole object � apart from the steel chair and two other chairs, both softly padded � that might be said to furnish the room" I've worked around the problem like this: I don't find that long dash mark anywhere on my keyboard but I open the txt file in notepad, paste that dash into the find replace box then go replace all to change it to " - ". that comes out as expected in .mobi. I'd still be grateful for an explanation of the original bug/issue though, please Last edited by cybmole; 10-14-2010 at 08:44 AM.

10-14-2010, 09:09 AM	#2
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	The hyphens in your source file are probably endashes or emdashes, not hyphens. They look very similar. See this discussion of dashes in wikipedia. G

10-14-2010, 09:58 AM	#3
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	thanks - I thought that .txt files only contained standard characters i.e. those found on a keyboard. - I guess that's not quite right.

10-14-2010, 10:07 AM	#4
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	It depends upon the strictness of the authoring application. My guess is that your original file is encoded in cp1252 - I'm guessing your dashes are #150 or #151 as shown here. G

10-14-2010, 10:58 AM	#5
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	I'm happy enough with my work around, but let's say that I fussily wanted the Calibre .mobi output to look exactly like the .txt input i.e. to contain those same emdash thingies - Is there a way to make that happen by tweaking calibre preferences ?

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