From: RAParker (RAParker_at_Quadzilla.NET)
Date: Sat May 14 2005 - 16:47:50 PDT
The following information has been added to the wiki about my=20
experiences while using Newton Press on a large eBook project. As a=20
gift, I've also made available the first of several "Super-Sized"=20
eBooks.
See [ANN]postings for the various titles available.
!! Ron Parker's Tips for Avoiding Crashes in Newton Press
I almost can't believe it! I think I've found a predictable pattern for=20=
when (and how) Newton Press crashes while pasting a graphic into the=20
source. That also means (drum roll please): I've found a fail-proof=20
solution for avoiding it.
First, some important points: I'm using a Power Mac G4/500AGP running=20
OS X 10.2.8 with Newton Press running under Classic mode. OS X seems to=20=
be the most stable OS (between Windows XP, Mac OS 7-8, and OS X) when=20
using Newton Press. The Windows version will crash when modifying tabs=20=
(unacceptable). Also note, Windows formats and Macintosh formats are=20
not inter-changeable. The Windows version of the source cannot read=20
using a Macintosh version of Newton Press and vice versa.
With the tips below, I have been able to completely avoid any crashing=20=
all together under OS X while using Newton Press.
Here's the first secret: Newton Press crashes (consistently, but=20
randomly) when pasting a picture into the source, ''__if you are NOT at=20=
the END OF LINE__'' for that page when you paste the graphic. It has=20
something to do with Newton Press getting confused when trying to=20
figure out how to page break, at that exact moment, when you paste.
There is an exception: If there is no text on the page, technically,=20
you are at the ''first line'' and the ''last line'' and it will also=20
randomly crash.
The solution to avoid crashing:
* ''__DO NOT paste__'' the graphic ''__into the top__'' or ''__into the=20=
middle__'' of any page.
* ''__ONLY paste__'' when the cursor is __at the very end, of the very=20=
last line__, on a page.
* If you wish to paste a graphic into a blank page, add a carriage=20
return (at the top of the page first) before you paste. Again, make=20
sure that you=92re pasting at the end of line and not the top of the =
page.
* Another example: Insert a Page Break at the point where you=92re =
going=20
to paste the graphic and then click back one page. __Note:__ The=20
insertion cursor will default to the beginning of the first line at the=20=
top of the page. DO NOT PASTE! First, click the mouse onto the last=20
blank line, below all the text, at bottom of the page. Your insertion=20
cursor should now be at the ''END OF LINE'' on that page. Now paste=20
your graphic.
Take a look the following screenshot here, it shows where to click the=20=
cursor, prior to pasting:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raparker/13884828/
My experience has also shown that when Newton Press does crash, it=20
sometimes allows you to Cancel and/or Save. Saving is not recommended;=20=
saving after a crash has corrupted a few of my graphics.
If it crashes: ''__Don't Save.__'' Simply re-examine "where" you pasted=20=
the graphic, review the instructions above, and then make sure that you=20=
paste at the very end of line for that page where you are inserting the=20=
graphic.
Yet another type of random crash:
I=92ve also experience another type of crash that is related to line=20
breaks (and page breaks) around an area with styled text (bold, italic,=20=
etc.). Sometimes Newton Press will incorrectly break a line (between=20
words in the middle of a paragraph) and then create (what appears) to=20
be an extra carriage return. This is not really a carriage return and=20
you should be careful when trying to fix it. If there is any styled=20
text (bold, italic, etc.) on the next couple of pages, this funky line=20=
break will create unpredictable results including crashes, if you try=20
to delete it directly.
Take a look at this series of pictures for example of what I referring=20=
to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raparker/13884829/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raparker/13884830/
The solution for this type of instability:
* The first (and most important) step is to reset any styled text that=20=
follows (on the current page and probably the next couple of pages) to=20=
Plain Text; you will be able to fix these later. Do this by dragging=20
over the entire page and press Command-T.
* Next, force a hard return somewhere before the funky return (e.g. the=20=
last word, on some line above). You will use this hard return to=20
visibly =93fit in=94 (as if it were a natural soft return) and fix the =
line=20
break problems on a line before the funky return.
* After you create a hard return, you can delete the funky return. You=20=
must leave the hard return (you created above) or you will re-create=20
the whole problem, having to start all over again.
* You can now fix any styles that were reset to Plain Text, without=20
worrying about corruption and instability.
Other helpful tips:
* Set both (Minimum & Preferred) Get Info->Memory Settings for the=20
Newton Press application very high (10MB & 20MB or more respectfully).
* Start with a clean source.
* Keep the source clean; don't save after crashes.
* Always save along the way, after pasting each graphic successfully,=20
of course.
* Try to do most of your graphic conversions in Graphic Converter=20
first, before pasting them. Don=92t paste any color images or incorrect=20=
bit types where they don=92t belong. Although Newton Press will convert=20=
the images, you will have better control and stability if you prepare=20
your graphics separately.
RonParker, 2005
---- !!Ron Parker's Tips for Converting Large PDF's to Newton Press: PDF=92s are easy to transform into Newton eBooks. Most PDF documents=20 contain a combination of selectable text and scalable graphics. Both=20 elements are easily dealt with using the right tools. # Use Adobe Acrobat and the text selection tool to "Select All" and=20 "Copy" the text (only the text) and then "Paste" it into a new word=20 processing document in AppleWorks or Microsoft Word. This will be your=20= master text document. # Edit and modify the formatting within the master text document, using=20= place holders for where you want graphics to be placed later. Do not=20 place the graphics in this document, they will not import and will have=20= to be pasted later. ** You can set a custom paper size to match the Newton Press document=20 so that it approximates how each page will look like in Newton Press. ** Do a select all and remove all formatting (set to "Plain text") ** Another "Select All" and set the document wide default font (Times=20 or Geneva) ** Another "Select All and set the default font size ** Another "Select All" and set no margins and some default tabs (8=20 maximum) for the whole document ** Do general formatting (bold, italics, chapter breaks, page breaks,=20 etc.) ** Avoid bold & italic together, it doesn't import well # Save your master document as rich text (.rtf) for importing into the=20= Newton Press source # Use the "File" "Add..." option in Newton Press for importing the .rtf=20= document # Look it over for any formatting problems (some bolds & italics will=20 import sort-of-funky) # Use Graphic Converter's to batch process all .PDF pages to .BMP=20 graphics ** First, set your Open PDF preferences to 72 ppi for smaller sized=20 graphics or 100 ppi for larger sized graphics. ** Next, use the "Convert & Modify" to batch process an entire PDF into=20= .BMP or .PICT graphics, page by page. ** Open each (converted) page and then trim/crop each graphic to the=20 absolute minimum ** Add some Sharpening ** Set the colors to 16 shades of gray (or 1 bit for Classic Newton's) ** "Save As" a .PICT or .BMP # You can start pasting your graphics. Although using "File" "Add..."=20 will work, it will only add your graphics to the very end of your eBook=20= and not inline (within) the source. -- RonParker, 2005 -- --- --------------------------------------------- ThinkApple low| BSD for security, |\/|\ end| MacOS for productivity, |/-|/ mac| Windows for solitaire. |\ | @ Quadzilla.NET -------------------------------------------------- A LEM Bumper Snicker --- -- -- --- --------------------------------------------- ThinkApple low| If Your Life |\/|\ end| Doesn't Involve A Macintosh... |/-|/ mac| Get One. |\ | @ Quadzilla.NET -------------------------------------------------- A LEM Bumper Snicker --- -- -- This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/ WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles: http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat May 14 2005 - 18:00:00 PDT