Feature Suggestions for Future Version

Authorspeak · 03-12-2014, 03:39 AM

I am not sure if the developers read or monitor these posts but two features that I would like to see in an updated version of Sigil is a better text editor functionality with the option to choose different fonts, their size, and even allow us to change text different colors. Additionally when I am writing my material I sometimes copy and paste from word, notepad, and other sources and when I paste it into sigil it keeps the exact same font and style formatting without giving us the option to keep the style formatting or just let us paste the plain text. This especially has been getting annoying for me and I don't know if others have had this problem; or a solution would be nice.

What do you all think, am I reaching too far?

Toxaris · 03-12-2014, 04:08 AM

Yes, for multiple reasons. The first reason is that Sigil is unfortunatly no longer actively maintained/supported. There is a big problem finding enough programmers with knowledge and free time to work on it. So, untill there are additional programmers, development is non-existent.

The other is that BookView is not a good way to enter texts for an ePUB. It can be better done in CodeView, but basic HTML knowledge is required. Copy/pasting in BookView is bound to give issues sooner or later with formatting, as the Sigil must make several guesses.

In spiritual successor of Sigil, the standalone editor function of Calibre, I believe that that only codeview is available for editing.

Have you looked at Yutoh? I don't use it myself, but I think it might be more what you want.

BetterRed · 03-12-2014, 04:41 AM

@Authorspeak If you would prefer to always paste plain text, then you could install a clipboard scrubber.

In Windows I use one called Clipboard Fusion. Basically it will remove all the formatting from what's in the clipboard, it also extends the clipboard to have multiple items. It can be used selectively - ie "scrub this and paste", "paste this as is" etc

Google for "clipboard scrubber cleaner" for your OS.

I'm not sure that Sigil or the calibre Book Editor are ideal as a primary e-book creation tool. Likely as not you're already very familiar with a word processor, its probably easier to use it as the primary creation tool, and then convert its native format to EPUB. I find calibres DOCX conversion excellent - providing you use Word as word processor and not as a typewriter.

BR

mrmikel · 03-12-2014, 09:10 AM

Atlantis Word Processor is an option worth considering. It is available for as low as $10 with a coupon on the web, and publishes uncomplicated and usable epubs. It allows cutting and pasting, since it is a word processor.
It doesn't do tables, but tables in epub are a big headache regardless.
I use it myself when I have an epub I want to create by cutting and pasting, etc and then use calibre editor to fix it up for final presentation.

Since it has been months now since the end of support and development has been announced, it is more than unlikely that Sigil will every be revived.

As the calibre editor is part of the calibre program, but which can be run by itself, support for it will not go away any time in the foreseeable future.

radius · 03-12-2014, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Authorspeak

I am not sure if the developers read or monitor these posts but two features that I would like to see in an updated version of Sigil is a better text editor functionality with the option to choose different fonts, their size, and even allow us to change text different colors. Additionally when I am writing my material I sometimes copy and paste from word, notepad, and other sources and when I paste it into sigil it keeps the exact same font and style formatting without giving us the option to keep the style formatting or just let us paste the plain text. This especially has been getting annoying for me and I don't know if others have had this problem; or a solution would be nice.

What do you all think, am I reaching too far?

Hi Authorspeak. I can completely understand why you want that capability to be in Sigil, but I think it is a very difficult programming problem. Remember that Sigil is a cross-platform application that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, all of which have different cut and paste behaviours.

Not only that, even if you could keep the formatting, there is no way for Sigil to guess at semantic content (is this bit of text bold and large because it is a title? what level of title? etc) so you would have to patch up the styles by hand anyway.

Hitch · 03-12-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radius

Hi Authorspeak. I can completely understand why you want that capability to be in Sigil, but I think it is a very difficult programming problem. Remember that Sigil is a cross-platform application that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, all of which have different cut and paste behaviours.

Not only that, even if you could keep the formatting, there is no way for Sigil to guess at semantic content (is this bit of text bold and large because it is a title? what level of title? etc) so you would have to patch up the styles by hand anyway.

This is an important distinction that is completely lost on (new-to-ebooks) people who try to use Sigil to create ePUBS (or any program to create ePUBs, for that matter); that formatting isn't simply what something looks like; your first consideration has to be what something IS. That in HTML, from does indeed follow function.

As my earliest ePUB mentor taught me, "think about what something IS, not what it LOOKS like," and you'll never go wrong. Or, at least, you won't go FAR wrong.

I think Authorspeak would be happier with Scrivener, or Jutoh; possibly AWP, given the font-formatting issue of which s/he speaks.

FWIW,
Hitch

Arios · 03-12-2014, 06:30 PM

Hitch,

I don't know if it's a good idea, but why not create a Thread Starter (or something like that in the Sigil forum) indicating CLEARLY

that Sigil is not anymore in development?

Since this question is often asked, it would save a little time to you all!

Hitch · 03-12-2014, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arios

Hitch,

I don't know if it's a good idea, but why not create a Thread Starter (or something like that in the Sigil forum) indicating CLEARLY

that Sigil is not anymore in development?

Since this question is often asked, it would save a little time to you all!

We'll have to ask our friend Ducky. He's in charge of some of this, (I don't remember who else is a Sigil mod) although I don't know to what extent his moderator powers go, but I concur--a Sticky about this would be useful.

Hitch

Arios · 03-12-2014, 07:00 PM

Hitch, that is funny: so far away, but in the same mood (or at least in a short time)!

I simply sought your opinion, but you're right: see what Ducky (or the good one!) says.

Cheers!

theducks · 03-12-2014, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

We'll have to ask our friend Ducky. He's in charge of some of this, (I don't remember who else is a Sigil mod) although I don't know to what extent his moderator powers go, but I concur--a Sticky about this would be useful.

Hitch

How the sticky look? (I am not much of a writer

)

Hitch · 03-13-2014, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

How the sticky look? (I am not much of a writer

)

I think it looks positively ducky, ducks, and does the trick.

Hitch

Arios · 03-13-2014, 10:29 AM

Well done theducks!

I'd just add to the Thread Starter a stop icon (exclamation) or something like that.

BTW I asked to Hitch because she was the last one in the tread and I was not aware that you were the mod here.

theducks · 03-13-2014, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arios

Well done theducks!

I'd just add to the Thread Starter a stop icon (exclamation) or something like that.

BTW I asked to Hitch because she was the last one in the tread and I was not aware that you were the mod here.

Bang on

03-12-2014, 03:39 AM	#1
Authorspeak Idiot Savant Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: California, United States Device: Kindle Keyboard/Samsung Galaxy Tab 3	Feature Suggestions for Future Version I am not sure if the developers read or monitor these posts but two features that I would like to see in an updated version of Sigil is a better text editor functionality with the option to choose different fonts, their size, and even allow us to change text different colors. Additionally when I am writing my material I sometimes copy and paste from word, notepad, and other sources and when I paste it into sigil it keeps the exact same font and style formatting without giving us the option to keep the style formatting or just let us paste the plain text. This especially has been getting annoying for me and I don't know if others have had this problem; or a solution would be nice. What do you all think, am I reaching too far?

03-12-2014, 06:30 PM	#7
Arios A curiosus lector! Posts: 463 Karma: 2015140 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch	Hitch, I don't know if it's a good idea, but why not create a Thread Starter (or something like that in the Sigil forum) indicating CLEARLY that Sigil is not anymore in development? Since this question is often asked, it would save a little time to you all! Last edited by Arios; 03-12-2014 at 06:37 PM.

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03-12-2014, 04:08 AM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Yes, for multiple reasons. The first reason is that Sigil is unfortunatly no longer actively maintained/supported. There is a big problem finding enough programmers with knowledge and free time to work on it. So, untill there are additional programmers, development is non-existent. The other is that BookView is not a good way to enter texts for an ePUB. It can be better done in CodeView, but basic HTML knowledge is required. Copy/pasting in BookView is bound to give issues sooner or later with formatting, as the Sigil must make several guesses. In spiritual successor of Sigil, the standalone editor function of Calibre, I believe that that only codeview is available for editing. Have you looked at Yutoh? I don't use it myself, but I think it might be more what you want.

03-12-2014, 04:41 AM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,612 Karma: 29710338 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@Authorspeak If you would prefer to always paste plain text, then you could install a clipboard scrubber. In Windows I use one called Clipboard Fusion. Basically it will remove all the formatting from what's in the clipboard, it also extends the clipboard to have multiple items. It can be used selectively - ie "scrub this and paste", "paste this as is" etc Google for "clipboard scrubber cleaner" for your OS. I'm not sure that Sigil or the calibre Book Editor are ideal as a primary e-book creation tool. Likely as not you're already very familiar with a word processor, its probably easier to use it as the primary creation tool, and then convert its native format to EPUB. I find calibres DOCX conversion excellent - providing you use Word as word processor and not as a typewriter. BR

03-12-2014, 09:10 AM	#4
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	Atlantis Word Processor is an option worth considering. It is available for as low as $10 with a coupon on the web, and publishes uncomplicated and usable epubs. It allows cutting and pasting, since it is a word processor. It doesn't do tables, but tables in epub are a big headache regardless. I use it myself when I have an epub I want to create by cutting and pasting, etc and then use calibre editor to fix it up for final presentation. Since it has been months now since the end of support and development has been announced, it is more than unlikely that Sigil will every be revived. As the calibre editor is part of the calibre program, but which can be run by itself, support for it will not go away any time in the foreseeable future.

03-12-2014, 07:00 PM	#9
Arios A curiosus lector! Posts: 463 Karma: 2015140 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch	Hitch, that is funny: so far away, but in the same mood (or at least in a short time)! I simply sought your opinion, but you're right: see what Ducky (or the good one!) says. Cheers!

03-13-2014, 10:29 AM	#12
Arios A curiosus lector! Posts: 463 Karma: 2015140 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch	Well done theducks! I'd just add to the Thread Starter a stop icon (exclamation) or something like that. BTW I asked to Hitch because she was the last one in the tread and I was not aware that you were the mod here.

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