A Crack In Creation Epub
Amatista Sheeley
I took a "test", starting from an InDesign file worked for epub 2, containing text and images: I tried to export this file to epub 3 and I saw that the result is not acceptable (for example, the images are overlaid with the text).
I'm using InDesign CC 2019 on macOS High Sierra. When I export in epub 2 (reflowable), the file is perfectly fine (at least, I make some changes in Sigil), and then I vizualize it through iBooks or Calibre.
I have a number of short HTML files (actually they are XHTML) with small problems and answers, which I post on my blog every Sunday, and I'd like to merge some of them in an ebook.I already did it once, just by stripping the headers and footers and merging them together; then I create the epub skeleton with Calibre and tweaked it with Sigil. But since there are a lot of internal links, it is a time-consuming process.
Since you mention you post to your blog each Sunday, if you have or can provide an RSS feed you may find the following online free service useful [removed (see below)]. I've been using it to create ebooks of one of my project blogs. The resulting ebook (I create .mobi books for Kindles) have been readable.
If your files really are genuinely valid XHTML, you could even write an XSLT2 script to do the job yourself. That way you can cater for any idiosyncracies in your XHTML which other systems may not be designed to handle.
What is this resource about? This resource provides a definition and information about developing EPUBs, Selected EPUB3 Best Practices and an Example of creating accessible versions of digital images.
Why is this resource important in higher ed? Accessible EPUBs have the potential to offer robust representations that combine different forms of media. They also engage educator and learner participation and sharing in the open education movement.
Provide multiple means of action and expression: EPUBs, when created with interactive elements, can provide learners with multiple opportunities to express and act on their knowledge and understanding.
The CAST AEM Center has developed Creating Accessible Publications with EPUB, which has additional information about the benefits of EPUB, how to find and read EPUB publications and options for getting started with their creation.
EPUBs are digital books that are viewable on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. EPUB content can include text, images, audio, videos, and interactive elements. When the content is designed with learner variability in mind and uses the accessible features of digital publications, that content becomes a powerful tool in education. EPUBs not only have the potential to offer robust representations that combine different forms of media, but they also engage and affirm educator and learner participation and sharing in the open education movement.
Some learners will need support for text and visuals in the form of a screen reader. A screen reader uses synthesized speech to read aloud the information displayed on the screen. A screen reader can only describe an image when the author has included a text description for it in the code (also known as alternative text).
These best practices are critical in providing access for a variable learner population who differ in the ways that they perceive, understand, and are engaged by digital content contained in an OER or eBook. One of the advantages of the EPUB format is that there are many e-readers on the market that support it, and many of these readers include built-in accessibility features to support learners when content is designed around best practices.
Visual reading is only one way of accessing content. Visual-only cues such as colored text, font size, or positioning should not be used as the only clue to the meaning or importance of a word or section. The meaning of the content should be the same both with and without any styles or formatting applied, whether presented visuall, auditorily, or tactilely.
It is also essential that the content and presentation of a digital book be flexible rather than fixed. Visual styling can and should support those who are more visual readers in identifying the structure of and key points in the content. However, the visual appearance of content should not be the the only means of conveying meaning to readers. Markup, including related style sheets, should provide appropriate user supports. Learners should be able to apply alternate style sheets without any loss of meaning.
An example is the UDL On Campus screen recording of the EPUB version of the Creative Commons: A Shared Culture video, which can be downloaded from GitHub's EPUB 3 Sample repository. The recording shows the EPUB with both its original and user-customized layouts in iBooks. If the original layout has light colored fonts and background. Some learners may choose to read the content in sepia mode rather than retain the original EPUB colors. Giving learners choice in content representation is valuable for those who want to see the content rendered in multiple ways.
By providing complete navigation, authors of EPUBs affirm the importance of access to and organization of the content. Authors develop what is called a logical reading order that shows the structure of a digital publication. For sighted readers, seeing larger, bolder, and/or italicized text may signify important parts or aspects of meaning of the text; but screenreader users will need proper mark-up that differentiates sections and notes semantic inflection. When content is marked up as part of a chapter, glossary, or index, learners should be able to independently navigate through relevant parts of the content with or without screenreaders.
Whether an EPUB is short or long, simple or complex, meaningful structure is integral to navigating and understanding its content. The display of information impacts a learner's executive functioning. Learners can come to a text feeling disorganized, unprepared, and overwhelmed. A good EPUB will contain scaffolds (supports) that keep information organized and meaningful for learners. Some ways to provide this support include the use of graphic organizers that provide a hierarchical overview of the content, lists that outline critical parts of a text, and page numbers that support learners in instructional and social aspects of reading (i.e., uses associated with assigned readings and reading aloud in class). By having such structure, readers are given the tools that prepare them to strategize where to go within an EPUB.
Alt text and long descriptions are critical in providing access for users with visual disabilities and for those with situational disabilities where images aren't visible on an e-reader device. Alt text is a short text description of visual information. It should be brief (under 10 words) and communicate the purpose of the image based on its context. It is used for all images, including photographs, diagrams, charts, screenshots, icons, and more. A long description is a more thorough explanation of an image used for more complex images. When alt text is insufficient to describe fully a more complex image such as a diagram, a long description should be provided. It should be written in a way that is objective and considers the purpose, goal, and context in which the image is being used. When relying heavily on visual content in an EPUB, image descriptions are paramount in providing access to content.
There are many different image formats, and while Portable Network Graphics (PNG) and JPEG are the most common, there is a push towards the use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) because it is based on Extensible Mark-Up Language (XML). SVGs can be scaled without pixelation with the use of special magnifying software.
The Diagram Center's EPUB on accessible images contains several examples that show how to render accessible images in an EPUB. In addition, the Diagram Center's web site has a recommended list of image guidelines for EPUB3.
Tables are used primarily to summarize key points, organize large datasets, and show side-by-side comparisons. They should be clear and readable both vertically and horizontally by screenreaders. It is important that table data to be properly marked up. When data is properly marked up in an OER resource, future creators of EPUBs can update the data within the table and retain its access features when they share the newer versions.
When it comes to providing options for the representation of mathematical expressions, MathML offers the greatest flexibility for learners, including those who use assistive technologies such as screenreaders and refreshable Braille. MathML allows for basic and complex math expressions to be seen and read and supports the language of mathematics and math processes for all users. Variables, symbols and equations are just some of the many mathematical components supported within MathML. MathML expressions should always include alt text as a fallback for when screenreaders do not support MathML natively.
The Accessible Image Sample Book, provided by the DIAGRAM Content Working Group, is a free online resource that shows some of the many options for creating accessible versions of digital images. Here is a sample of the Accessible Image Sample Book on GitHub.
EPUB (currently version 3) is an open standard maintained by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) as a distribution and interchange format standard for digital publications and documents. It aggregates content components into one file and is intended as a single e-book format.
Metadata is information that refers to one or more pieces of information that can exist as separate physical forms (data about data). Any description can be considered metadata. In the information technology world the term is often used to indicate data which refers to digital resources available across a network.
I have seen a question here about reading .epub but I would like to create my own easily from a GUI, what is available for Ubuntu? Even if I have to download something outside the repository, as long as it installs easily and works well, I would also like the software to be able to support the use of .svg images and tables.
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