epub3 Sigil Poetry(fixed layout)

Giggleton · 04-02-2011, 01:16 PM

Hello,

I am wondering if you think epub3 will be good for fixed layout books such as poetry? And if so will Sigil support this type of book creation??

Jellby · 04-03-2011, 05:26 AM

I don't think it will support fixed layouts, but it might include some features that help in creating poetry. However, I'm pretty sure whatever new feature it includes, it will be a long time until it is supported by widespread readers. As for Sigil, I'm also pretty sure it will try to support the full ePUB 3 spec, when it's out.

DaleDe · 04-04-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giggleton

Hello,

I am wondering if you think epub3 will be good for fixed layout books such as poetry? And if so will Sigil support this type of book creation??

How would you think this would work? Like PDF? Why not use PDF? I think poetry needs to flow so that it can be read if the text overflows the page you can still read it. Generally CSS can make a reasonable page and if you need fixed layout exactly you can always use an image or use the PRE tag.

Dale

sourcejedi · 04-04-2011, 01:12 PM

I agree with most of the responses here, but I'd just add one thing. The CSS3 media queries might come in handy. If you can't get a single layout to work perfectly on e.g. both the iPhone and iPad, you can define several different layouts in what seems like a very nice standard way.

JSWolf · 04-04-2011, 01:15 PM

Don't use the PRE tag at all. If the text runs past the edge of the screen, it's gone.

sourcejedi · 04-04-2011, 01:26 PM

That's your e-readers fault for implementing PRE as if it were a web browser, and then leaving out the horizontal scroll bar that made PRE issues recoverable :-P.

I think it would be nice to have extra CSS properties which could be applied to change PRE to use hanging indents. AFAIK you can re-enable line-breaking, but you can't set an indent. That would let wrappable poetry use PRE, rather than putting each line inside it's own <P> tag (with custom styles), which can work well but is a bit of a hack.

DaleDe · 04-04-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Don't use the PRE tag at all. If the text runs past the edge of the screen, it's gone.

Also true of any fixed layout which is why I said it is better not to use one for poetry. At least an image scales down. You might not be able to read it but it doesn't run off the page

Dale

Jellby · 04-04-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourcejedi

That would let wrappable poetry use PRE, rather than putting each line inside it's own <P> tag (with custom styles), which can work well but is a bit of a hack.

It's a hack, but it works pretty well. It can handle indents nicely too. I only wish one could have wrapped lines aligned to the right instead of hang-indented.

By wrapping everything inside a div, and using CSS child selectors, the hack is not so ugly as it could be.

04-02-2011, 01:16 PM	#1
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	epub3 Sigil Poetry(fixed layout) Hello, I am wondering if you think epub3 will be good for fixed layout books such as poetry? And if so will Sigil support this type of book creation??

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04-03-2011, 05:26 AM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,540 Karma: 19001081 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I don't think it will support fixed layouts, but it might include some features that help in creating poetry. However, I'm pretty sure whatever new feature it includes, it will be a long time until it is supported by widespread readers. As for Sigil, I'm also pretty sure it will try to support the full ePUB 3 spec, when it's out.

04-04-2011, 01:12 PM	#4
sourcejedi Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Britania Device: Android	I agree with most of the responses here, but I'd just add one thing. The CSS3 media queries might come in handy. If you can't get a single layout to work perfectly on e.g. both the iPhone and iPad, you can define several different layouts in what seems like a very nice standard way.

04-04-2011, 01:15 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 77,280 Karma: 138625598 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Don't use the PRE tag at all. If the text runs past the edge of the screen, it's gone.

04-04-2011, 01:26 PM	#6
sourcejedi Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Britania Device: Android	That's your e-readers fault for implementing PRE as if it were a web browser, and then leaving out the horizontal scroll bar that made PRE issues recoverable :-P. I think it would be nice to have extra CSS properties which could be applied to change PRE to use hanging indents. AFAIK you can re-enable line-breaking, but you can't set an indent. That would let wrappable poetry use PRE, rather than putting each line inside it's own <P> tag (with custom styles), which can work well but is a bit of a hack.

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