Problem with paragraph indents converting to mobi

Spa2004 · 07-25-2018, 12:49 PM

I have used Calibre for years and converted lots of epub files to mobi with no issues. The latest book has block paragraphs, i.e. spaces between them and no first line indentation. When I convert it to mobi I am getting the paragraphs with no space between them and first line indentation.

I know there is an option in "Look and Feel", "Layout" to set "Remove spacing between paragraphs" but this is not set yet it's behaving as if it is. If I convert using Kindle Previewer it all works fine so this does appear to be some sort of issue with the settings in Calibre. I am using Calibre 3.28.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

theducks · 07-25-2018, 12:58 PM

Remember

PREFERENCES are the FIRST TIME (conversion) defaults

Once converted: all options are tied to that book and need to be adjusted ON the conversion start screen

Spa2004 · 07-25-2018, 01:55 PM

I can see there are overall Preferences/Common options/Look and feel/Layout which has "Remove spacing between paragraphs" turned off. And there's Convert Books (with MOBI selected as the output format) and Look and feel/Layout which also has the same option turned off. So I'm thinking I have it all covered, yet I am still getting the paragraphs without spacing and with first line indents.

The "Remove spacing between paragraphs" seems to be "on" some how but I just can't see why. I may be wrong but the output looks exactly as if this option has been set.

BetterRed · 07-25-2018, 05:10 PM

@Spa2004 - in Conversion try pressing the Restore Defaults button (bottom left) before pressing OK.

BR

Spa2004 · 07-26-2018, 10:39 AM

Thanks, that sounded like a really good idea and I was hopeful it would fix it. Unfortunately it hasn't. I even tried removing the book completely from Calibre and then reloading the epub, then following your suggestion of using "Restore Defaults", but the mobi file it creates has no space between paragraphs and first line indents on it.

If I convert using Kindle Previewer it's fine - proper block paragraphs.

It feels like there is some setting being cached which doesn't get cleared out properly. It's just really odd as I have never seen it before. I am going to try loading Calibre onto a different PC and see if I get the same problem.

kovidgoyal · 07-26-2018, 10:50 AM

Convert to azw3 and you will get similar results to kindle previewer. (kindle previewer's mobi files are basically azw3 files with an additional mobi bit for legacy compatibility)

jhowell · 07-26-2018, 10:50 AM

When you convert to MOBI using the Kindle Previewer you are actually converting to a “Master MOBI”, which includes KF8/azw3 format within it. That has essentially the same capabilities as EPUB 2. When you use calibre to convert to MOBI you are converting to the old Mobipocket format, which has only primitive formatting capability.

In old MOBI a paragraph indent of zero is equivalent to the default indent of a few spaces.

Edit: ninja’d!

07-25-2018, 12:49 PM	#1
Spa2004 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2018 Device: none	Problem with paragraph indents converting to mobi I have used Calibre for years and converted lots of epub files to mobi with no issues. The latest book has block paragraphs, i.e. spaces between them and no first line indentation. When I convert it to mobi I am getting the paragraphs with no space between them and first line indentation. I know there is an option in "Look and Feel", "Layout" to set "Remove spacing between paragraphs" but this is not set yet it's behaving as if it is. If I convert using Kindle Previewer it all works fine so this does appear to be some sort of issue with the settings in Calibre. I am using Calibre 3.28. Any ideas? Thanks.

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07-25-2018, 12:58 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,778 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Remember PREFERENCES are the FIRST TIME (conversion) defaults Once converted: all options are tied to that book and need to be adjusted ON the conversion start screen

07-25-2018, 01:55 PM	#3
Spa2004 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2018 Device: none	I can see there are overall Preferences/Common options/Look and feel/Layout which has "Remove spacing between paragraphs" turned off. And there's Convert Books (with MOBI selected as the output format) and Look and feel/Layout which also has the same option turned off. So I'm thinking I have it all covered, yet I am still getting the paragraphs without spacing and with first line indents. The "Remove spacing between paragraphs" seems to be "on" some how but I just can't see why. I may be wrong but the output looks exactly as if this option has been set.

07-25-2018, 05:10 PM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,550 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@Spa2004 - in Conversion try pressing the Restore Defaults button (bottom left) before pressing OK. BR

07-26-2018, 10:39 AM	#5
Spa2004 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2018 Device: none	Thanks, that sounded like a really good idea and I was hopeful it would fix it. Unfortunately it hasn't. I even tried removing the book completely from Calibre and then reloading the epub, then following your suggestion of using "Restore Defaults", but the mobi file it creates has no space between paragraphs and first line indents on it. If I convert using Kindle Previewer it's fine - proper block paragraphs. It feels like there is some setting being cached which doesn't get cleared out properly. It's just really odd as I have never seen it before. I am going to try loading Calibre onto a different PC and see if I get the same problem.

07-26-2018, 10:50 AM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,839 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Convert to azw3 and you will get similar results to kindle previewer. (kindle previewer's mobi files are basically azw3 files with an additional mobi bit for legacy compatibility)

07-26-2018, 10:50 AM	#7
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,496 Karma: 84420419 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Device: Kindles	When you convert to MOBI using the Kindle Previewer you are actually converting to a “Master MOBI”, which includes KF8/azw3 format within it. That has essentially the same capabilities as EPUB 2. When you use calibre to convert to MOBI you are converting to the old Mobipocket format, which has only primitive formatting capability. In old MOBI a paragraph indent of zero is equivalent to the default indent of a few spaces. Edit: ninja’d!

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