Version 1.6.1 'Max Columns' Auto setting does not seem logical

Patrick S.
Patrick S. Member Posts: 766
edited November 21 in English Forum

I just upgraded to 1.6.1 and when I went to continue to read the book I was reading 'The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God' I saw (with iPad in portrait mode) it now had two columns?!? What gives? Also happened with other books.

On checking Settings I saw the new 'Max Columns' option, it was set to 'Auto'. It seemed strange to me that a book would be set to two columns — that only allowed 5-7 words per column and was uncomfortable reading.

The only way to get it back was to force columns to 1, but then when I change the iPad to horizontal it stays as one (very wide) column. If I put it back to Auto and change to horizontal the book goes to 3 columns!!

I'm not sure what was the intentional and rationale of the max columns — auto — setting but it seems not logical to make a book in portrait mode be in two columns. I don't even read my Bibles on the iPad in two columns — no sense to me. But if I had the iPad in horizontal mode I (and most people I think) would like two columns.

Can this please be reconsidered as this seems a backward step, certainly out of step with every other ebook reader software. If the auto setting is going to stay it should be 1 column vertical, 2 horizontal.

"I want to know all God's thoughts; the rest are just details." - Albert Einstein

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Comments

  • Jacob Hantla
    Jacob Hantla MVP Posts: 3,871

    I agree that there should be the ability to manually define the preferred width of columns; however, I believe the logic of auto-columns is that for most people (and I suspect you too if you give it the time to get used to it), reading speed is maximized with a word-per-line count in the range you referenced 5-7 (probably more like 7-10 for me depending on word length). This is the way that the page view in Logos desktop software works and I think the same type of algorithm is at work on your iPad. The purpose is to speed up reading.

    The auto-mode has to have cutoffs, and your portrait mode with your text size is probably just wide enough to justify two columns, but it is probably just barely so, which makes it feel like cramped two columns. Perhaps try changing your text size a little smaller (or a little larger) to see if it auto defaults to a more comfortable two column view (or a one-column view if you make the text larger). 

    I personally am a big fan of the multi-column reading view, which I view not as out-of-step with other ebook softare, but a rather a huge advance over the ones that don't multi-column, especially in landscape mode (or the wide screen with small text like is possible on the iPad).

    Jacob Hantla
    Pastor/Elder, Grace Bible Church
    gbcaz.org

  • Patrick S.
    Patrick S. Member Posts: 766
    https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/214894#Comment_214894

    I agree that there should be the ability to manually define the preferred width of columns; however, I believe the logic of auto-columns is that for most people (and I suspect you too if you give it the time to get used to it)...

    ...Perhaps try changing your text size a little smaller (or a little larger) to see if it auto defaults to a more comfortable two column view (or a one-column view if you make the text larger). 

    I personally am a big fan of the multi-column reading view, which I view not as out-of-step with other ebook softare, but a rather a huge advance over the ones that don't multi-column, especially in landscape mode (or the wide screen with small text like is possible on the iPad).

    Trouble is I like the font size just as it is, it is quite comfortable for reading. I don't want to mess around with font sizes just to get two columns — counter intuitive. And I don't want two columns in portrait mode in any font size, to be honest it looks silly — but that of course is simply my personal preference (but one which I suspect a number of others will have).

    I can see the good intention, but if Logos is going to do something like this they are going to need to put more settings in there, for example 'auto' starting point in portrait being 1/2/3 columns or something. At the moment for me auto is broken, and manual (being stuck on one column for both) is annoying (in landscape).

    Kindle, iBook both automatically change from 1 — 2 columns / portrait — landscape.

    I don't mind multi-column either — in landscape viewing.

    "I want to know all God's thoughts; the rest are just details." - Albert Einstein

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