Two Columns of Text per Page Possible?

Blaineoreski · 06-06-2023, 04:23 AM

Hi,

In converting from Epub or other popular formats, is it possible to have the text come out as two columns?

Sincerely,

Blaine

Blaineoreski · 06-06-2023, 11:31 AM

Hello Super Kovid!

Ah! Please file this post under "Unwarranted Sense of Originality!" If I had only take the time to SEARCH, I'd'a SEEN that this very same question had JUST been asked!

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=354322

Well...please feel free to delete my own duplicate of the question here. But, please could you help with one thing. In your reply there you wrote:

"But you could probably achieve it by using some CSS columns in extra css."

Please could you sort of map out what that would look like and where we should place it.

I have an idea. Tell me what you think. It's pretty funny to think that TWO users could have been thinking the SAME thing, on pretty much the same day! That may be a sign of how useful this wee option could be. An evolutionary step? Especially, as the poster there notes, W I D E screens are pretty common. I wouldn't know where to start on the css code - History major here! But, please...if you could see it as a new option of layout and help us to make it possible...I think it would be a REALLY welcome thing.

How does that sound?

Sincerely,

Blaine

kovidgoyal · 06-06-2023, 11:42 AM

You would do something like

body { column-count: 2 }

in the extra css section of the conversion dialog. Whether and how well it works is input document dependent. And conversion to multiple columns only makes sense for PDF output

Blaineoreski · 06-06-2023, 11:34 PM

Hello Kovid!

Ah! Got it! Okey doke. I'll give it a try.

I know what you mean - just to PDF. That works for me. Fingers crossed.

I'll post results.

Hope you're doing GREAT! SINCEREST thanks, again, for all your hard work. Calibre is the essence of EXCELLENCE!

Sincerely,

Blaine

Quoth · 06-07-2023, 06:47 AM

If all else fails convert/export ebook to docx or rtf and edit in LO Writer (saving as odt). Make page size(s), page types, headers, footers, page numbers, columns, headers, footnotes as desired (save odt for later edits) and File -> Export -> PDF

Results will be perfect.

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 06:53 AM

Hi Dr. K!

Ah! I gave it a go. Annnnnnd... EPUB to PDF WORKED! Looks kinda ULTRA slick, too!

There was a bit of a bug:
ValueError: The number of header/footers pages (381) != number of document pages (762)

If I take OUT the Header I'm using

<header style="justify-content: center; color: black; font-size: x-small;padding-top: 5px;padding-bottom:10px;"><p>Part _TOP_LEVEL_SECTION_, Chapter _SECTION_</p></div></header>

it works.

What do you think is happening?

Sincerely,

Blaine

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 06:55 AM

Hiya, Quoth!

Just was posting as you replied. GOOD to hear from you! Yeah - but ckeck'it OUT! IT WORKS! Kinda awesome, eh? Now if I can just get the header thing worked out.

All the best,

Blaine

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 07:07 AM

Hi Kovid & Quoth!

Tried THIS code below using only odd pages,and code cleaned up a bit.

Same error:
ValueError: The number of header/footers pages (381) != number of document pages (762)

<header style="justify-content: center; color: black; font-size: x-small;padding-top: 5px;padding-bottom:10px;">
<div class="odd-page"><p>Part _TOP_LEVEL_SECTION_, Chapter _SECTION_</p></div>
</header>

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 07:16 AM

A N D . . . just as bit of a FURTHER mind boggler, try THIS:

body { column-count: 3 }

Good STUFF!

Fingers crossed on the header!

Sincerely,

Blaine

kovidgoyal · 06-07-2023, 07:20 AM

does your header fail only with column-count? Or even without it?

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 07:22 AM

Only with. Without it works.

kovidgoyal · 06-07-2023, 07:35 AM

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...e888987ffd8f42

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 07:46 AM

Hiya, Kovid!!

YOU: https://media.giphy.com/media/DujlSV...SUEY/giphy.gif

I can see the link: src/calibre/ebooks/pdf/html_writer.py

How should I proceed? Download & install in some way? Or, reach this file on my own and apply the edit?

SINCEREST thanks,

Blaine

kovidgoyal · 06-07-2023, 08:03 AM

wait for the next release. or run calibre from source https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/develop.html

Blaineoreski · 06-07-2023, 08:10 AM

Hi Kovid,

Ah! Roger THAT!

For REALS! What, WHAT can Calibre NOT DO?!! : )))

Encourage you to check out the THREE columns

It is sort of a thing of elegance. I've got some text-ONLY wordy GIANT books that this is REALLY going to help with. BLESS YOU, mate.

All the best,

Blaine

06-06-2023, 04:23 AM	#1
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Two Columns of Text per Page Possible? Hi, In converting from Epub or other popular formats, is it possible to have the text come out as two columns? Sincerely, Blaine

06-06-2023, 11:31 AM	#2
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hello Super Kovid! Ah! Please file this post under "Unwarranted Sense of Originality!" If I had only take the time to SEARCH, I'd'a SEEN that this very same question had JUST been asked! https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=354322 Well...please feel free to delete my own duplicate of the question here. But, please could you help with one thing. In your reply there you wrote: "But you could probably achieve it by using some CSS columns in extra css." Please could you sort of map out what that would look like and where we should place it. I have an idea. Tell me what you think. It's pretty funny to think that TWO users could have been thinking the SAME thing, on pretty much the same day! That may be a sign of how useful this wee option could be. An evolutionary step? Especially, as the poster there notes, W I D E screens are pretty common. I wouldn't know where to start on the css code - History major here! But, please...if you could see it as a new option of layout and help us to make it possible...I think it would be a REALLY welcome thing. How does that sound? Sincerely, Blaine Last edited by Blaineoreski; 06-06-2023 at 11:34 AM.

06-06-2023, 11:34 PM	#4
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hello Kovid! Ah! Got it! Okey doke. I'll give it a try. I know what you mean - just to PDF. That works for me. Fingers crossed. I'll post results. Hope you're doing GREAT! SINCEREST thanks, again, for all your hard work. Calibre is the essence of EXCELLENCE! Sincerely, Blaine Last edited by Blaineoreski; 06-07-2023 at 06:28 AM.

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06-06-2023, 11:42 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,994 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You would do something like body { column-count: 2 } in the extra css section of the conversion dialog. Whether and how well it works is input document dependent. And conversion to multiple columns only makes sense for PDF output

06-07-2023, 06:47 AM	#5
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,565 Karma: 87456643 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	If all else fails convert/export ebook to docx or rtf and edit in LO Writer (saving as odt). Make page size(s), page types, headers, footers, page numbers, columns, headers, footnotes as desired (save odt for later edits) and File -> Export -> PDF Results will be perfect.

06-07-2023, 06:53 AM	#6
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi Dr. K! Ah! I gave it a go. Annnnnnd... EPUB to PDF WORKED! Looks kinda ULTRA slick, too! There was a bit of a bug: ValueError: The number of header/footers pages (381) != number of document pages (762) If I take OUT the Header I'm using <header style="justify-content: center; color: black; font-size: x-small;padding-top: 5px;padding-bottom:10px;"><p>Part _TOP_LEVEL_SECTION_, Chapter _SECTION_</p></div></header> it works. What do you think is happening? Sincerely, Blaine

06-07-2023, 06:55 AM	#7
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hiya, Quoth! Just was posting as you replied. GOOD to hear from you! Yeah - but ckeck'it OUT! IT WORKS! Kinda awesome, eh? Now if I can just get the header thing worked out. All the best, Blaine

06-07-2023, 07:07 AM	#8
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi Kovid & Quoth! Tried THIS code below using only odd pages,and code cleaned up a bit. Same error: ValueError: The number of header/footers pages (381) != number of document pages (762) <header style="justify-content: center; color: black; font-size: x-small;padding-top: 5px;padding-bottom:10px;"> <div class="odd-page"><p>Part _TOP_LEVEL_SECTION_, Chapter _SECTION_</p></div> </header>

06-07-2023, 07:16 AM	#9
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	A N D . . . just as bit of a FURTHER mind boggler, try THIS: body { column-count: 3 } Good STUFF! Fingers crossed on the header! Sincerely, Blaine

06-07-2023, 07:20 AM	#10
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,994 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	does your header fail only with column-count? Or even without it?

06-07-2023, 07:22 AM	#11
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Only with. Without it works.

06-07-2023, 07:35 AM	#12
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,994 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibr...e888987ffd8f42

06-07-2023, 07:46 AM	#13
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hiya, Kovid!! YOU: https://media.giphy.com/media/DujlSV...SUEY/giphy.gif I can see the link: src/calibre/ebooks/pdf/html_writer.py How should I proceed? Download & install in some way? Or, reach this file on my own and apply the edit? SINCEREST thanks, Blaine

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06-07-2023, 08:03 AM	#14
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,994 Karma: 22669822 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	wait for the next release. or run calibre from source https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/develop.html

06-07-2023, 08:10 AM	#15
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi Kovid, Ah! Roger THAT! For REALS! What, WHAT can Calibre NOT DO?!! : ))) Encourage you to check out the THREE columns It is sort of a thing of elegance. I've got some text-ONLY wordy GIANT books that *this is REALLY going to help with.* BLESS YOU, mate. All the best, Blaine