[countwordsmith]

Is there a way to add sub-headers in the table of contents? I see that the software automatically adds chapters, but in some chapters I have three or more sub-headers inside it. How can I get them to show in the TOC? Thanks.

 

[atree]

When PC?
There are 8-10x as many PC authors globally as there are Mac-based. (I know because I lead writing groups)
When PC?

 

[Brad Andalman]

Vellum uses KindleGen when compiling to mobi. I noticed KindleGen has not been updated since 2014 and appears to be a 32 bit unix executable. I was wondering if the software engineers have heard anything from amazon about if and when they plan on updating it?

We haven't heard anything from Amazon about this, though you can read our short blog post about this issue here:
https://blog.vellum.pub/2019/01/warnings-from-kindlegen-on-mojave/

Is there a way to add sub-headers in the table of contents? I see that the software automatically adds chapters, but in some chapters I have three or more sub-headers inside it. How can I get them to show in the TOC? Thanks.

Vellum doesn't currently offer a way to list subheads in the TOC. We do have a suggestion on file for this feature, though we don't currently have a time frame for when we might get to it. Sorry!

 

[countwordsmith]

Okay, thanks.

 

[david_macrae]

There actually is a 64 bit version of kindlegen. It is distributed with kindle previewer 3

the location is here: /Applications/Kindle\ Previewer\ 3.app/Contents/MacOS/lib/fc/bin/kindlegen

when i ran a file command on it the result was: Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64

Amazon probably just never got around to updating the download link page

note: I copied the file from there and replaced the one vellum downloads here: /Users/yourname/Library/Containers/co.180g.Vellum/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Vellum/KindleGen/kindlegen

it works fine and without popup.

 

[WDR]

There actually is a 64 bit version of kindlegen. It is distributed with kindle previewer 3

the location is here: /Applications/Kindle\ Previewer\ 3.app/Contents/MacOS/lib/fc/bin/kindlegen

when i ran a file command on it the result was: Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64

Amazon probably just never got around to updating the download link page

note: I copied the file from there and replaced the one vellum downloads here /Users/yourname/Library/Containers/co.180g.Vellum/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Vellum/KindleGen/kindlegen

it works fine and without popup.

Oooo! Good heads-up, Dave!

I jumped over to Amazon and downloaded the new Kindle Preview app for MacOS. While they don't label it as such on the webpage, it does download the newest Kindle Preview 3---and that includes the new 64-bit version of kindlegen.

For those looking to update and can't remember where Amazon hides it:

On your KDP account page, in the block titled Create A New Book, click on the link Get started with Kindle content creation tools. The link to download Kindle Previewer is on the resulting page.

(I didn't link directly to it for two reasons: One, Amazon could change the location at anytime. Two, security---posting a link where you expect to log in could be a phishing trap. Best you log into your account manually/cleanly to get that program.)

 

[Brad Andalman]

There actually is a 64 bit version of kindlegen. It is distributed with kindle previewer 3

the location is here: /Applications/Kindle\ Previewer\ 3.app/Contents/MacOS/lib/fc/bin/kindlegen

when i ran a file command on it the result was: Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64

Amazon probably just never got around to updating the download link page

note: I copied the file from there and replaced the one vellum downloads here: /Users/yourname/Library/Containers/co.180g.Vellum/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Vellum/KindleGen/kindlegen

it works fine and without popup.

Hi David,

We are aware that a 64-bit version of kindlegen is bundled with Amazon's Kindle Previewer application. However, this is not an officially released kindlegen version. In fact, if you query its version, it reports that it's a development build:

Amazon kindlegen(MAC OSX) V2.9 build 0000-kdevbld

This doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, so we aren't recommending the copy-kindlegen-out-of-Kindle-Previewer route to our users.

Since there is nothing wrong with running a 32-bit version of kindlegen on Mojave, we think the best option is simply to dismiss this dialog. It should only appear occasionally -- about once every 30 days. And it shouldn't affect how Vellum generates your Kindle files at all.

As we mentioned in our blog post, we are also currently investigating ways to create ebooks for Kindle without triggering this warning.

 

[Marseille France or Bust]

Is there a way to add "lines" that will stay formatted correctly? I'm turning a nonfiction book into a workbook and adding lines for people to write notes down.

 

[Brad Andalman]

Is there a way to add "lines" that will stay formatted correctly? I'm turning a nonfiction book into a workbook and adding lines for people to write notes down.

Vellum doesn't offer a built-in way to add lines for workbooks. However, you could create a flush-left Alignment Block and fill it with some lines that are made up solely of underscores, e.g.:
________________________________________

Hope that helps,
Brad

 

[scott.marmorstein]

Hi Brads,

Here's a request that could really help non-fiction authors out.

I love the Endnotes feature. However, I find its limitations a bit frustrating. Is there a way to implement the option to add endnotes as footnotes so that these appear at the back of the book in their own separate section, rather than at the end of each chapter? If this is already an option I could not find it on your website or in any of the settings.

I've been using Vellum itself to write an MS that is non-fiction and am enjoying it. I did use Scrivener at one point and when I imported to Vellum, all the endnotes became footnotes on their own separate page at the back of the book. I just didn't want to use two pieces of software when the one suffices well enough. In other words, it seems like a lot of unnecessary back and forth between two pieces of software to achieve one basic maneuver.

I hope this makes sense and that I'm not the only one trying to figure out a more streamlined solution.
Thanks.

 

[Brad West]

Hi Brads,

Here's a request that could really help non-fiction authors out.

I love the Endnotes feature. However, I find its limitations a bit frustrating. Is there a way to implement the option to add endnotes as footnotes so that these appear at the back of the book in their own separate section, rather than at the end of each chapter? If this is already an option I could not find it on your website or in any of the settings.

I've been using Vellum itself to write an MS that is non-fiction and am enjoying it. I did use Scrivener at one point and when I imported to Vellum, all the endnotes became footnotes on their own separate page at the back of the book. I just didn't want to use two pieces of software when the one suffices well enough. In other words, it seems like a lot of unnecessary back and forth between two pieces of software to achieve one basic maneuver.

I hope this makes sense and that I'm not the only one trying to figure out a more streamlined solution.
Thanks.

Hi Scott,

To gather all of your endnotes at the end of the book, you can add an Endnotes element. You'll find this in the Add Element section of the Chapter menu. More about this element can be found here:
https://help.vellum.pub/elements/endnotes/

Vellum automatically adds an Endnotes element when importing a manuscript that includes endnotes. If you're adding endnotes manually in Vellum, though, you'll need to add this yourself.

Hope that helps.

 

[scott.marmorstein]

Hi Scott,

To gather all of your endnotes at the end of the book, you can add an Endnotes element. You'll find this in the Add Element section of the Chapter menu. More about this element can be found here:
https://help.vellum.pub/elements/endnotes/

Vellum automatically adds an Endnotes element when importing a manuscript that includes endnotes. If you're adding endnotes manually in Vellum, though, you'll need to add this yourself.

Hope that helps.

Yes, I somehow did not see that, and this was super helpful, thank you!

 

[Jake Needham]

I'm formatting a book that has an unusually long title. On both the title page and the half title, Vellum insists on breaking the words of my title into two lines in a way that is both awkward and different from the layout on the cover.

I can't find any way to control the phrasing of the title on the title page so that the layout will break the way I want it to break. Am I missing something, or is there simply no way to control that?

 

[ShayneRutherford]

When PC?
There are 8-10x as many PC authors globally as there are Mac-based. (I know because I lead writing groups)
When PC?

I'm pretty sure the Brads have said they'd rather focus on making the Mac version the best it can be, rather than splitting their focus on a PC version.

 

[Jen Peters]

Is there a way to add an extra blank line space between paragraphs without triggering the ornamental break?  Or is there a way to turn off the ornamental break for the style I'm using? (Kindred)

Im formatting a novel for an author friend, who insists on getting rid of orphans in the print version.  Vellum takes care of widows but says that, according to a typographic manual, orphans are now allowed.  She cites CMOS, which still says that orphans are to be avoided. 

We're looking for options, the first of which is just to add an extra line space before the orphan line, moving it to the next page.  But when I do, it triggers the ornamental break.  I can't find a way to choose "none" or to turn it off.

On a side note, I'd love to be able to add line spaces in other places, to occasionally add more white space between alignment blocks for visual effect in print.

Thanks!

 

[D. Zollicoffer]

I'm a little worried because I no longer have access to the email tied to my Vellum account. I keep switching Macs so I don't have one registered right now, but when I do get one again, will I be able to activate the program if I can't get into that email?

 

[Brad Andalman]

I'm formatting a book that has an unusually long title. On both the title page and the half title, Vellum insists on breaking the words of my title into two lines in a way that is both awkward and different from the layout on the cover.

I can't find any way to control the phrasing of the title on the title page so that the layout will break the way I want it to break. Am I missing something, or is there simply no way to control that?

Hi Jake. We answered this via email, but just in case other people have the same issue: the solution is to use a non-breaking space, which will keep the words around it on the same line. To use one:

[list type=decimal]
[*]Go to the Title or Subtitle field and delete the space between two words that shouldn't be broken up
[*]Enter a non-breaking space by holding down the Option key (⌥) as you press the space bar
[*]Press return to commit your change
[/list]

With the non-breaking space in place, the two words on either side of the non-breaking space will not be placed on different lines.

Is there a way to add an extra blank line space between paragraphs without triggering the ornamental break? Or is there a way to turn off the ornamental break for the style I'm using? (Kindred)

Im formatting a novel for an author friend, who insists on getting rid of orphans in the print version. Vellum takes care of widows but says that, according to a typographic manual, orphans are now allowed. She cites CMOS, which still says that orphans are to be avoided.

Hi Jen,

Hitting return in Vellum to add an empty line will not add an Ornamental Break. It will, however, add a Scene Break. If that Scene Break appears at the beginning or end of a page, then it will be clarified (i.e. it will appear as three small dots) so that it is clear to the reader that there is a scene break at that location. You can read more about Scene Breaks here:
https://help.vellum.pub/text-features/scene-break/

There is no way to change this behavior.

Vellum prevents widows (when the last line of a paragraph appears at the top of a page), but has always allowed orphans (when the first line of a new paragraph appears at the bottom of a page). This is in keeping both with Bringhurst's The Elements of Typographic Style, as well as the Chicago Manual of Style. In fact, here's what the latter has to say on the topic:

A page should not begin with the last line of a paragraph unless it is full measure. (A page can, however, end with the first line of a new paragraph.)
- Chicago Manual of Style, 2.113, Sixteenth Edition

Hope that clarifies (ha!) things,
Brad

 

[GirlWriter]

Hi. I'm getting an error trying to generate a mobi for kindle.
All other platforms, including PDF generate fine.


Error: Encountered an error running KindleGen

Mac info:
Vellum: Direct Version 2.5.1 (Build 25100)
macOS: Version 10.14.3 (Build 18D109)

Help?

 

[Brad Andalman]

Hi. I'm getting an error trying to generate a mobi for kindle.
All other platforms, including PDF generate fine.

Error: Encountered an error running KindleGen

Mac info:
Vellum: Direct Version 2.5.1 (Build 25100)
macOS: Version 10.14.3 (Build 18D109)

Help?

Kindlegen can be a little finicky, and these errors almost always disappear on the next run. If you continue to encounter problems, though, please send us your Vellum file and we'll look into it. The best way to send us your file is by using the Attach a File link on our contact page.

Best,
Brad

 

[SA_Soule]

Just did an update and now the software has a darker screen, which I hate. I cannn't find anything on the website or in preferences to revert back to the lighter, white screen. Please help!