Too much left indent!

Barty · 11-08-2010, 04:40 PM

I notice that books with 5% text-indent end up with huge indent, like 50%, on k3. Ditto with blockquotes.

Since these are epubs converted to mobi via calibre, I don't know if there's a problem with calibre, a problem with the mobi format, a problem with my settings, or some kind of bug with k3 firmware (3.0.3). Anyone knows?

Corran006 · 11-08-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

I notice that books with 5% text-indent end up with huge indent, like 50%, on k3. Ditto with blockquotes.

Since these are epubs converted to mobi via calibre, I don't know if there's a problem with calibre, a problem with the mobi format, a problem with my settings, or some kind of bug with k3 firmware (3.0.3). Anyone knows?

This is nothing new, you have to edit the Style Sheet file look at all the left margin values and change them to zero.

You could also use Sigil. With Sigil just open the epub and save it and it should fix it. I don't like how it removes the indent though.

JeremyR · 11-08-2010, 06:16 PM

This seems to be a bug in Calibre in how it handles the margins specified in the CSS file in the epub when converting to mobi.

I could never figure out what to change, so I just open it in Sigil, delete the CSS file and save. Seems to do the trick, though presumably I lose whatever else was in the CSS file (but not worth worrying about, I think).

kovidgoyal · 11-08-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

This seems to be a bug in Calibre in how it handles the margins specified in the CSS file in the epub when converting to mobi

No, it's a limitation of the MOBI format. You can only get left margins in increments of 2em on the Kindle with MOBI.

Corran006 · 11-08-2010, 08:55 PM

Speaking of Sigil, I find when I open a Epub and save it, it does fix the indent issue or rather the left Margin, does anyone know how to make Sigil keep the indent of each paragraph?

fastesthamster · 11-09-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

No, it's a limitation of the MOBI format. You can only get left margins in increments of 2em on the Kindle with MOBI.

It may be a limitation, but doesn't change the fact that the conversion results in books that are an eyesore to read on a Kindle.

Love your software, but this is rather annoying. Programmers have to work around bad format limitations, and in my humble opinion the conversion from epub to mobi in Calibre should account for this limitation and remove the left margin values.

kovidgoyal · 11-09-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastesthamster

It may be a limitation, but doesn't change the fact that the conversion results in books that are an eyesore to read on a Kindle.

Love your software, but this is rather annoying. Programmers have to work around bad format limitations, and in my humble opinion the conversion from epub to mobi in Calibre should account for this limitation and remove the left margin values.

If I did that, I'd have a bunch of (perhaps slightly slower hamsters) complaining about how the conversion from EPUB to MOBI ignores their left margins.

fastesthamster · 11-09-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

If I did that, I'd have a bunch of (perhaps slightly slower hamsters) complaining about how the conversion from EPUB to MOBI ignores their left margins.

*grumble grumble*

Guess you're right. But I'd rather they were inconvenienced, rather than me.

kovidgoyal · 11-09-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastesthamster

*grumble grumble*

Guess you're right. But I'd rather they were inconvenienced, rather than me.

It is on my TODO list to try and detect the case of brain dead input documents that specify the same left/right margin for every p/div tag and remove it, but this is a non-trivial bit of code, so it will be a while before it is implemented.

fastesthamster · 11-09-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It is on my TODO list to try and detect the case of brain dead input documents that specify the same left/right margin for every p/div tag and remove it, but this is a non-trivial bit of code, so it will be a while before it is implemented.

That is good news! I'm sure it will be worth the wait.

Thanks

Barty · 11-09-2010, 01:30 PM

I'm honored to get a reply from the author himself! Thanks for your fantastic work.

Whatever the technical issues, it seems to me text-indent: 5% shouldn't result in a huge 50% indent. Since the main reason for epub to mobi conversion is the kindle, and since the kindle is not exactly a fringe product, I think it's worthwhile to at least have toggleable options to fix these special cases. Think of all the hassles you will save people from having to manually edit epubs.

desertblues · 11-09-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

I'm honored to get a reply from the author himself! Thanks for your fantastic work..........

And Calibre is such a fantastic program.

Bittybye · 11-09-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

No, it's a limitation of the MOBI format. You can only get left margins in increments of 2em on the Kindle with MOBI.

Tech idoit here, if that's the case why aren't all of them like that? I'd say 95% of my books are fine on my Kindle screen.

Also I had the same problem when I converted a book to ePub for my Kobo.

Note: Not a complaint, I love your software, just curious.

11-08-2010, 04:40 PM	#1
Barty doofus Posts: 2,543 Karma: 13088847 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	Too much left indent! I notice that books with 5% text-indent end up with huge indent, like 50%, on k3. Ditto with blockquotes. Since these are epubs converted to mobi via calibre, I don't know if there's a problem with calibre, a problem with the mobi format, a problem with my settings, or some kind of bug with k3 firmware (3.0.3). Anyone knows?

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11-08-2010, 06:16 PM	#3
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	This seems to be a bug in Calibre in how it handles the margins specified in the CSS file in the epub when converting to mobi. I could never figure out what to change, so I just open it in Sigil, delete the CSS file and save. Seems to do the trick, though presumably I lose whatever else was in the CSS file (but not worth worrying about, I think).

11-08-2010, 08:55 PM	#5
Corran006 Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 7080 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kindle 3	Speaking of Sigil, I find when I open a Epub and save it, it does fix the indent issue or rather the left Margin, does anyone know how to make Sigil keep the indent of each paragraph?

11-09-2010, 01:30 PM	#11
Barty doofus Posts: 2,543 Karma: 13088847 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	I'm honored to get a reply from the author himself! Thanks for your fantastic work. Whatever the technical issues, it seems to me text-indent: 5% shouldn't result in a huge 50% indent. Since the main reason for epub to mobi conversion is the kindle, and since the kindle is not exactly a fringe product, I think it's worthwhile to at least have toggleable options to fix these special cases. Think of all the hassles you will save people from having to manually edit epubs.

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