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Writer's Haven => Formatter's Forge [Public] => Topic started by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on March 15, 2025, 11:04:09 PM

Title: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on March 15, 2025, 11:04:09 PM
I've been updating a blurb, which looks fine in the editing section, but when it goes 'live' the spacing isn't quite right, or it's bold where it shouldn't be  :icon_rolleyes: I've re-done it three times already. I have visions of some poor minion rolling their eyes and tutting as I make yet another edit.
I wish we could preview how it will look on Amazon.    :confused:
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: TimothyEllis on March 15, 2025, 11:08:44 PM
Is this from the KDP dashboard, or Author Central?
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on March 15, 2025, 11:10:09 PM
Is this from the KDP dashboard, or Author Central?

I only make changes on the KDP dashboard.  :)
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: TimothyEllis on March 15, 2025, 11:18:06 PM
Is this from the KDP dashboard, or Author Central?

I only make changes on the KDP dashboard.  :)

They must have played with the editor again. A while back when they changed it, it removed all the formatting on everything. I'm still getting goof reports and finding I need to totally redo the blurb because of that, and it was years ago now.

My advice is go simple.

Copy the entire blurb to notepad, which will remove all formatting, delete it off KDP, then copy and paste back from notepad. Then reapply any bolding and formatting.

Most likely, you've got some bad characters in there somewhere hidden, and you'll never find them.
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on March 15, 2025, 11:37:26 PM
Is this from the KDP dashboard, or Author Central?

I only make changes on the KDP dashboard.  :)

They must have played with the editor again. A while back when they changed it, it removed all the formatting on everything. I'm still getting goof reports and finding I need to totally redo the blurb because of that, and it was years ago now.

My advice is go simple.

Copy the entire blurb to notepad, which will remove all formatting, delete it off KDP, then copy and paste back from notepad. Then reapply any bolding and formatting.

Most likely, you've got some bad characters in there somewhere hidden, and you'll never find them.

Many thanks.  :Tup2:
I was considering typing the whole thing straight into the editing section so I can't carry over any hidden characters.
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: LilyBLily on March 16, 2025, 12:09:04 AM
One thing I've been doing for a while is to put two spaces between sentences (the old style, remember?). It saves the embarrassment of two sentences mashed together. Readers will notice that error while they might not notice the lack of bolds or italics.
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: Bill Hiatt on March 16, 2025, 02:06:39 AM
It would be nice if Amazon had a preview mode for that.
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on March 16, 2025, 02:13:21 AM
It would be nice if Amazon had a preview mode for that.

That was my thinking  :icon_rolleyes: :)
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: alhawke on March 16, 2025, 02:41:58 AM
Summary format problems used to only occur when you entered the info on Author Central. Mine worked fine and was added last week on KDP.

What a pain, Jan. Hope this fixes for you soon.
Title: Re: Why can't we 'preview' the blurb?
Post by: Bill Hiatt on March 16, 2025, 05:21:13 AM
As I recall, part of the problem was that Author Central (at least back in the day) used to allow different html than the KDP editor did. At that point, CreateSpace also used different html as well.

It's too bad all these different elements couldn't be part of one company. Oh, wait--they are! They just act as if they aren't.