A Minor Peeve re PDFs

[Anonymous]

I find double-columned pdfs a bit of a pain to read: scroll down to the bottom of the page for one column, scroll back up for the next. Any chance of a single column approach?

 

[-Daniel-]

Interesting, not been a problem for me. I wonder if it could be a screen size issue, I can read the page at 100% on my computer thus only needing to "scroll" to change pages. Do you have to zoom in to get the text large enough to read?

 

[MongooseMatt]

I find double-columned pdfs a bit of a pain to read: scroll down to the bottom of the page for one column, scroll back up for the next. Any chance of a single column approach?

Given the effort to re-layout the entire book, this is unlikely - however, I'll make the suggestion to the graphics guys and, if they do not kill me on the spot, we'll see if it is possible!

 

[Ifandbut]

I find double-columned pdfs a bit of a pain to read: scroll down to the bottom of the page for one column, scroll back up for the next. Any chance of a single column approach?

Given the effort to re-layout the entire book, this is unlikely - however, I'll make the suggestion to the graphics guys and, if they do not kill me on the spot, we'll see if it is possible!

Here is another suggestion that might cause the graphics guys to kill you: Put the pages in landscape orientation instead of portrait. The reason: PDFs are viewed on screens and most people use 16:9 screens.

 

[-Daniel-]

Here is another suggestion that might cause the graphics guys to kill you: Put the pages in landscape orientation instead of portrait. The reason: PDFs are viewed on screens and most people use 16:9 screens.

Interesting, I see more tablets at the game table now days. So they are looking at PDFs in portrait just like a book. I wonder what the ratio of tablet vs computer users is today and what it will be in the next few years. Interesting thing to think about.

 

[Rockymountainnavy]

Better yet, once the final version comes out have multiple formats like PDFs for notebook users and ePub for tablets.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

My biggest concern about the double-columns is when you insert large graphics, like the Character Generation Flow Chart that crosses 2 pages. Make sure they line up right in a printed book so that you can see both sides of the flow-chart at the same time.

When I put the PDF into 2-page viewing mode, the flow-chart was not readable; so I question how that is going to workl...

 

[-Daniel-]

My biggest concern about the double-columns is when you insert large graphics, like the Character Generation Flow Chart that crosses 2 pages. Make sure they line up right in a printed book so that you can see both sides of the flow-chart at the same time.

When I put the PDF into 2-page viewing mode, the flow-chart was not readable; so I question how that is going to workl...

That is because 99% of PDF readers treat page 1 as a left side page. But if you indicate the first page is a cover it allows the rest to pair up correctly.

In Adobe Reader the selection is "Show Cover Page in Two Page View". Not sure what the selection would be in other readers. But I am sure it will be something similar. :mrgreen:

 

[CaptainOrs]

Personally, I prefer the 2 column layout. I read most RPG PDFs on my tablet on the go. The older I get, the worse my vision gets, so with a two column pdf, I can expand it so it's easier to read without having to pan left and right to read each line. Having multiple version might be nice, but I imagine doing multiple layouts would add to the cost and upset some people.

If you had to go with one format, I would definitely prefer two columns. I also think it just breaks up the text better as well.

 

[CosmicGamer]

When I put the PDF into 2-page viewing mode

That is because 99% of PDF readers treat page 1 as a left side page. But if you indicate the first page is a cover it allows the rest to pair up correctly.

In Adobe Reader the selection is "Show Cover Page in Two Page View". Not sure what the selection would be in other readers. But I am sure it will be something similar. :mrgreen:

Good tip, but in this instance not the case as the pdf does not include the cover and does start at the actual page 1.

 

[CosmicGamer]

I find double-columned pdfs a bit of a pain to read: scroll down to the bottom of the page for one column, scroll back up for the next. Any chance of a single column approach?

Given the effort to re-layout the entire book, this is unlikely - however, I'll make the suggestion to the graphics guys and, if they do not kill me on the spot, we'll see if it is possible!

Was nice knowing you.

 

[-Daniel-]

When I put the PDF into 2-page viewing mode

That is because 99% of PDF readers treat page 1 as a left side page. But if you indicate the first page is a cover it allows the rest to pair up correctly.

In Adobe Reader the selection is "Show Cover Page in Two Page View". Not sure what the selection would be in other readers. But I am sure it will be something similar. :mrgreen:

Good tip, but in this instance not the case as the pdf does not include the cover and does start at the actual page 1.

Ok, let me change the words to help as it worked just fine for me.

In this PDF the first page is the TOC. That is being treated as a left hand page thus throwing your two page view off. As there is no way to tell a PDF reader to treat the first page as a right hand page, you fake it out by telling it to see the first page as a cover. It then starts the PDF's second page as a left hand page and your two page spreads look right.

It works just fine on mine, thus setting up the view the way the real book would be printed.

 

[CosmicGamer]

In Adobe Reader the selection is "Show Cover Page in Two Page View". Not sure what the selection would be in other readers. But I am sure it will be something similar. :mrgreen:

Ok, I had to grab a physical book to fully get this. Page 1 is a right hand page. So whatever my concept of a cover (just the outside or the cover has an inside and a outside) or the fact that there were no cover pages in the pdf, I had to make the reader display all even number pages on the left and odd number pages on the right.

As you said, changing the cover page option for two page view did switch things so that things worked out correctly. For me, it was under View - Page Display - Show Cover Page During Two Up

 

[-Daniel-]

Ok, I had to grab a physical book to fully get this. Page 1 is a right hand page. So whatever my concept of a cover (just the outside or the cover has an inside and a outside) or the fact that there were no cover pages in the pdf, I had to make the reader display all even number pages on the left and odd number pages on the right.

As you said, changing the cover page option for two page view did switch things so that things worked out correctly. For me, it was under View - Page Display - Show Cover Page During Two Up

:mrgreen:

Now the page spreads read the way we both want them to.

 

[tonieee]

Better yet, once the final version comes out have multiple formats like PDFs for notebook users and ePub for tablets.

I'd like to add another vote for an epub version. It's better not just for tablets but would also make it readable on an ereader and a smart phone. I know this would make it harder/impossible to have a nice looking fixed format layout but I'd prefer readability over attractiveness.