Random page

Diten Retni · 09-11-2011, 10:02 PM

Hi,

I would like to create an ebook with one poem per page, and in which when you turn a page, the next will be random (but non repeating itself before going randomly throuhg all of them). Is it possible and how?
I hope my question is clear enough (more than my english anyway).
Thank you.

(macbook pro & ipad)

susan_cassidy · 09-11-2011, 11:32 PM

Not without creating an app.

Quexos · 09-12-2011, 08:51 AM

If somehow you manage to create a random turning of pages, wouldn't you risk that in the process of reading the book, previously read poems will just return and be read again ?

elcreative · 09-12-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quexos

If somehow you manage to create a random turning of pages, wouldn't you risk that in the process of reading the book, previously read poems will just return and be read again ?

That's why the OP wrote "non-repeating itself before going randomly through all of them"

Would need to done as some type of app as would require an indicator/counter to keep track of this process...

Quexos · 09-12-2011, 10:00 AM

Oops, my mistake.
Also the app you suggest should be compatible with nowadays e-readers. I assume a firmware update could do the trick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

That's why the OP wrote "non-repeating itself before going randomly through all of them"

Would need to done as some type of app as would require an indicator/counter to keep track of this process...

susan_cassidy · 09-12-2011, 01:31 PM

One other issue is that you cannot know what size a "page" is. If the user has the font size jacked up really high, it might take 2 or more screens to display an entire poem.

Edited to add: and the size of the screen varies among ereaders. Example: K3 vs. iPad.

kjk · 09-12-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

One other issue is that you cannot know what size a "page" is. If the user has the font size jacked up really high, it might take 2 or more screens to display an entire poem.

Edited to add: and the size of the screen varies among ereaders. Example: K3 vs. iPad.

Probably would have to make each poem a "chapter", then randomize the chapters. I could see each chapter having a link at the end that sent you to a random unread chapter.

Diten Retni · 09-12-2011, 02:27 PM

And using images instead of text?But anyway, only the app way to achieve the random unread page feature then?

susan_cassidy · 09-12-2011, 04:12 PM

Images would be bad for poetry.

Yes, an app is the only way. There is no facility in either ePub or Mobipocket format (or any other format, that I know of), to select random pages. And "pages" don't exist, per se, in ebooks.

anamardoll · 09-12-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk

Probably would have to make each poem a "chapter", then randomize the chapters. I could see each chapter having a link at the end that sent you to a random unread chapter.

This smells like it should be feasible. I'd be interested in this.

I don't think you could confine a random link to "not yet accessed" though. I could be wrong.

emellaich · 09-13-2011, 12:15 AM

I'd think it would be pretty easy as an HTML/Web app. Say you have 100 poems. Put each on it's own web page with a next poem button.

Name each poem numerically 1.html, 2.HTML, ...

Now use javacript to select a random number from one to one hundred. Stick this into the target address for the next poem button. So the next poem might take you to:
"http:\\www.mypoems.com\" + random-number + ".html". Which might translate to:

http:\\www.mypoems.com\56.html

elcreative · 09-13-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emellaich

I'd think it would be pretty easy as an HTML/Web app. Say you have 100 poems. Put each on it's own web page with a next poem button.

Name each poem numerically 1.html, 2.HTML, ...

Now use javacript to select a random number from one to one hundred. Stick this into the target address for the next poem button. So the next poem might take you to:
"http:\\www.mypoems.com\" + random-number + ".html". Which might translate to:

http:\\www.mypoems.com\56.html

Since the OP doesn't want a repeat of any poem until a complete run through, it is necessary to keep a list of every number used and not allow a reuse until all used, this could lead to a long hunt time after 98 poems while your random number generator generates used numbers. Better approach is a list of the 100 poems and as a number is used then delete from list and drop random number generator by one...

MartinC · 09-14-2011, 04:52 PM

If it were a Kindle you could save the poems as images and use the screensaver.

JSWolf · 09-14-2011, 04:54 PM

It might be able to be done in iBooks with javascript.

Jellby · 09-15-2011, 03:59 AM

With an ePUB, it can be as easy as shuffling the items in the <spine> section of the OPF. It wouldn't be hard to create a script (python, perl, bash...) to randomize the book. This wouldn't be "on the fly" on the reader, but off-line before copying the file to the reader (or after).

09-11-2011, 10:02 PM	#1
Diten Retni Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Ipad	Random page Hi, I would like to create an ebook with one poem per page, and in which when you turn a page, the next will be random (but non repeating itself before going randomly throuhg all of them). Is it possible and how? I hope my question is clear enough (more than my english anyway). Thank you. (macbook pro & ipad)

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09-11-2011, 11:32 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Not without creating an app.

09-12-2011, 08:51 AM	#3
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	If somehow you manage to create a random turning of pages, wouldn't you risk that in the process of reading the book, previously read poems will just return and be read again ?

09-12-2011, 01:31 PM	#6
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	One other issue is that you cannot know what size a "page" is. If the user has the font size jacked up really high, it might take 2 or more screens to display an entire poem. Edited to add: and the size of the screen varies among ereaders. Example: K3 vs. iPad.

09-12-2011, 02:27 PM	#8
Diten Retni Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Ipad	And using images instead of text?But anyway, only the app way to achieve the random unread page feature then?

09-12-2011, 04:12 PM	#9
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Images would be bad for poetry. Yes, an app is the only way. There is no facility in either ePub or Mobipocket format (or any other format, that I know of), to select random pages. And "pages" don't exist, per se, in ebooks.

09-13-2011, 12:15 AM	#11
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	I'd think it would be pretty easy as an HTML/Web app. Say you have 100 poems. Put each on it's own web page with a next poem button. Name each poem numerically 1.html, 2.HTML, ... Now use javacript to select a random number from one to one hundred. Stick this into the target address for the next poem button. So the next poem might take you to: "http:\\www.mypoems.com\" + random-number + ".html". Which might translate to: http:\\www.mypoems.com\56.html

09-14-2011, 04:52 PM	#13
MartinC Hanger on Posts: 148 Karma: 1355233 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dorset, UK Device: Kindle 3, Galaxy S, Sony PRS-505, Sony tablet	If it were a Kindle you could save the poems as images and use the screensaver.

09-14-2011, 04:54 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,576 Karma: 129670952 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It might be able to be done in iBooks with javascript.

09-15-2011, 03:59 AM	#15
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 19000001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	With an ePUB, it can be as easy as shuffling the items in the <spine> section of the OPF. It wouldn't be hard to create a script (python, perl, bash...) to randomize the book. This wouldn't be "on the fly" on the reader, but off-line before copying the file to the reader (or after).

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