Any ways to auto indent on only wanted lines

Taccess · 06-12-2026, 12:01 AM

I created text-only ODT files from LibreOffice Writer. Then, convert it into epub. I use tabs for indents and they are gone when converted to epub. Any things I can do inside Libre Writer, to designate the lines I want indented and will be preserved after the conversion?

Karellen · 06-12-2026, 12:20 AM

What are you using the tabs for? Is it to indent paragraphs, or are you using them to create faux columns?

Depending on your answer, it would be easier to to fix the indent in the epub.

Taccess · 06-12-2026, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

What are you using the tabs for? Is it to indent paragraphs, or are you using them to create faux columns?

Depending on your answer, it would be easier to to fix the indent in the epub.

It's paragraph headings. Technically, you could say I was indenting paragraphs, but only with one line.
For now, I'm doing it the manual way. After conversion, duplicate & rename a css entry, add text.indent. Then back in the body html, find the lines I want, and manually rename their p tags. But that really takes time and it repeats everytime I change the content and convert.

JSWolf · 06-12-2026, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taccess

I created text-only ODT files from LibreOffice Writer. Then, convert it into epub. I use tabs for indents and they are gone when converted to epub. Any things I can do inside Libre Writer, to designate the lines I want indented and will be preserved after the conversion?

The tabs won't work. Replace them with a style that has a paragraph indent. That will work.

retiredbiker · 06-12-2026, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taccess

It's paragraph headings. Technically, you could say I was indenting paragraphs, but only with one line.
For now, I'm doing it the manual way. After conversion, duplicate & rename a css entry, add text.indent. Then back in the body html, find the lines I want, and manually rename their p tags. But that really takes time and it repeats everytime I change the content and convert.

Styles are the way to go. A paragraph style in Writer will convert beautifully to a css rule in the epub. There is Doitsu's ODT import plugin for Sigil which is a bit of magic, if you are not using it already. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=274536

I have a Writer template file with styles to match 95% of what I need in an epub novel. I use this file as a starting point to style text output from OCR, for example. Then it goes into Sigil with virtually no further editing needed. Similar will work in Calibre, if not as smoothly.

Taccess · 06-12-2026, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredbiker

Styles are the way to go. A paragraph style in Writer will convert beautifully to a css rule in the epub. There is Doitsu's ODT import plugin for Sigil which is a bit of magic, if you are not using it already. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=274536

I have a Writer template file with styles to match 95% of what I need in an epub novel. I use this file as a starting point to style text output from OCR, for example. Then it goes into Sigil with virtually no further editing needed. Similar will work in Calibre, if not as smoothly.

Was gonna try out Sigil, but my laptop freezes when opening a few Unity games and unfortunately Sigil as well. So, no Sigil for me, I guess. Please also see my reply below, thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The tabs won't work. Replace them with a style that has a paragraph indent. That will work.

Thanks! Styling with indent works with default english writings. The problem now is, I'm asian and I'm creating epub with vertical writing, top to down & right to left. And I achieve that with a CSS code I found on reddit, as follows:

Quote:

{
line-height: 200%;
}

body{
writing-mode: vertical-rl;
-epub-writing-mode: vertical-rl;
-webkit-writing-mode: vertical-rl;
}

p{
margin: 0;
}

I experimented and found using above code will make the indent (by style) ineffective, big or small. While deleting the code and convert using the exact setup will bring the indent back. I suspect the code has caused that but it can also be an internal problem of the software. Sorry I need even more help

Karellen · 06-12-2026, 06:09 PM

I'm not familiar with r/l and t/b writing modes.
But from your code examples, you have no indent specified.
You need to modify the code and add another class as follows:

p {
display: block;
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
text-indent: 1em;
}
which will indent all paragraphs using the tag. Adjust the indent size to your liking.

and add...

.noindent {
text-indent: 0;
}
which will remove the indent on selected paragraphs. eg...

This is a paragraph that is not indented

Also, what is that line height? There is no class specified for it.

JSWolf · 06-12-2026, 06:21 PM

Whatever that line-height is, it's way too large to be useful for anything.

DNSB · 06-12-2026, 08:32 PM

Jon, try to remember the OP is not using an English style left to right top to bottom language with Latin characters.

Taccess · 06-13-2026, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

I'm not familiar with r/l and t/b writing modes.
But from your code examples, you have no indent specified.
You need to modify the code and add another class as follows:

p {
display: block;
margin-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
text-indent: 1em;
}
which will indent all paragraphs using the tag. Adjust the indent size to your liking.

and add...

.noindent {
text-indent: 0;
}
which will remove the indent on selected paragraphs. eg...

This is a paragraph that is not indented

Also, what is that line height? There is no class specified for it.

Source of the code: SOLUTION for converting Japanese books to kindle (vertical writing and right to left) - Reddit

Then, it seems no automation? If possible, how do I tag and tell the converter, which paragraph is the one I want indented without manual editing afterwards?

theducks · 06-13-2026, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taccess

Source of the code: SOLUTION for converting Japanese books to kindle (vertical writing and right to left) - Reddit

Then, it seems no automation? If possible, how do I tag and tell the converter, which paragraph is the one I want indented without manual editing afterwards?

Pattern matching. Indented always follow this block or symbols (to be removed)
Do not lock your work flow thinking into just Conversion only.
A simple editor session using a previously 'saved search' (change the class in the next following 'xyzfoo' (and remove the 'xyzfoo' mark)

Wham Bam, now convert (or post process after a basic Convert)

Taccess · 06-13-2026, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Pattern matching. Indented always follow this block or symbols (to be removed)
Do not lock your work flow thinking into just Conversion only.
A simple editor session using a previously 'saved search' (change the class in the next following 'xyzfoo' (and remove the 'xyzfoo' mark)

Wham Bam, now convert (or post process after a basic Convert)

You're right! Just like using "find & replace all" or "RegEx" in Notepad++. Thanks for that idea! That'll be good enough for me for now. 1 step rather than 60 steps for me! But of course, it'll be best if that can be fully automated.

Thank you all!

theducks · 06-13-2026, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taccess

You're right! Just like using "find & replace all" or "RegEx" in Notepad++. Thanks for that idea! That'll be good enough for me for now. 1 step rather than 60 steps for me! But of course, it'll be best if that can be fully automated.

Thank you all!

The Calibre book Editor has great S&R, which is why I suggested Convert first, then 'repair'

, so no real need for NPP (just for this task)

DNSB · 06-13-2026, 03:43 PM

For what it may be worth, I use Sigil for most of my ePub editing tasks partially because I make quite a bit of its ability to save search/search & replace in groups. Click on the search group and watch the searches run. No typing, no typos during the typing, just the computer doing repetitive tasks.

Taccess · 06-13-2026, 05:50 PM

Just found this out, I used style in Libre Writer to effectively tag all lines I want into one group. Then, the converter will generate a new p tag name for each group. Then I simply add "text-indent: 1.5em;" to the css of the desired p tag. Done! Not even find&replace is needed. Even faster! Smaller room for error.

Thank you for all the help again!

06-12-2026, 12:01 AM	#1
Taccess Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2026 Device: Lenovo J607F (SD750g)	Any ways to auto indent on only wanted lines I created text-only ODT files from LibreOffice Writer. Then, convert it into epub. I use tabs for indents and they are gone when converted to epub. Any things I can do inside Libre Writer, to designate the lines I want indented and will be preserved after the conversion?

06-12-2026, 06:09 PM	#7
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,846 Karma: 9600930 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	I'm not familiar with r/l and t/b writing modes. But from your code examples, you have no indent specified. You need to modify the <p> code and add another class as follows: p { display: block; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 1em; } which will indent all paragraphs using the <p> tag. Adjust the indent size to your liking. and add... .noindent { text-indent: 0; } which will remove the indent on selected paragraphs. eg... <p class="noindent">This is a paragraph that is not indented</p> Also, what is that line height? There is no class specified for it.

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06-12-2026, 12:20 AM	#2
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,846 Karma: 9600930 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	What are you using the tabs for? Is it to indent paragraphs, or are you using them to create faux columns? Depending on your answer, it would be easier to to fix the indent in the epub.

06-12-2026, 06:21 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 83,741 Karma: 153649587 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Whatever that line-height is, it's way too large to be useful for anything.

06-12-2026, 08:32 PM	#9
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 52,419 Karma: 180944990 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Jon, try to remember the OP is not using an English style left to right top to bottom language with Latin characters.

06-13-2026, 03:43 PM	#14
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 52,419 Karma: 180944990 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For what it may be worth, I use Sigil for most of my ePub editing tasks partially because I make quite a bit of its ability to save search/search & replace in groups. Click on the search group and watch the searches run. No typing, no typos during the typing, just the computer doing repetitive tasks.

06-13-2026, 05:50 PM	#15
Taccess Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2026 Device: Lenovo J607F (SD750g)	Just found this out, I used style in Libre Writer to effectively tag all lines I want into one group. Then, the converter will generate a new p tag name for each group. Then I simply add "text-indent: 1.5em;" to the css of the desired p tag. Done! Not even find&replace is needed. Even faster! Smaller room for error. Thank you for all the help again!

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