Step by Step ePub

Make working file

  1. Export from InDesign

  2. open file in Sigil

    • double-check page numbers are present
    • double-check toc is present and complete
    • double-check there are no stray images/asides/captions/text at the end of the file. If so go back and anchor them properly
    • re-export from InDesign if necessary.
    • add Sigil split markers and split files
    • rename files (see filename list)
      chapters are sequentially named chapter-01, chapter-02, etc.
      opening images are sequentially named opening-01, opening-02, etc.
    • move nav.xhtml to just below cover.xhtml

  3. Run run_clean_fiction.py or run_clean_non-fiction.py

  4. Rename and then open file in Sigil

Make Clean file

  1. Rename FILE_NAME_clean_rev.epub to FILE_NAME_rev.epub
  2. Open epub in Sigil.

CSS (non-fiction)

Check CSS stylesheet pages for extra CSS

cover.xhtml

  1. Add cover alt text
  2. copy title to <title>Cover of BOOK_TITLE</title>

digitalrights.xhtml

  1. reorder file:
    • after halftitle.xhtml if present
    • before titlepage.xhtml otherwise
  2. double check css stylesheet has been applied
  1. copy title to Landmarks <a href="chapter-01.xhtml" epub:type="bodymatter">BOOK_TITLE</a>
  2. add in extra front and backmatter ToC links (see filename list)
  3. run Sigil plugin: PageList
    • double-check that page numbers aren’t screwed up

halftitle.xhtml, titlepage.xhtml

  • add logo files if necessary
  • delete fonts
  • Add title fonts
    • convert .ttf to .otf if possible
    • Soundings: Confidential-Regular.otf
    • Currents: Sweeper.otf
    • Fiction: LucidaConsole.otf (chapter title)
    • Non-fiction: check indd file
  • add font names to css and to classes: .titlepage, .halftitlepage, .chapter-title, .author

copyright.xhtml

  • check bold and smallcaps were done
  • change </p><p> to <br/> where appropriate

dedication.xhtml

  • check line spacing
  • remove extra <i>s if necessary

chapter-01.xhtml etc.

  • fix <title>s if necessary
  • double check aria-labelledby
  • check context breaks
    • if they use images, add image file break.png
  • check xml:lang
  • check uppercase/strong
  • check for blockquotes
  • check for lists
  • check for <em>s embedded in <i>s. They should be roman which can be done by removing the closing and opening <i>s around the <em>s. e.g. <i>Bob <em>can</em> run.</i>

Non-fiction

  • asides
    • format
    • assign aria-labels: run Run_Increment_aside-ID.py
  • figures and figcaptions
    • fix figcaption placement
    • choose center or full

backmatter pages

  • double-check ids and aria-labelledby in backmatter

about-the-author.xhtml

  • add author name to alt text: <img alt="A black and white photo of the author, ADD_NAME_HERE"
  • double check <p class="no-indent">
  • fix css for class="author-name" if necessary
  • check for web links and add hrefs if necessary

glossary.xhtml

  • move any anchors or spans to the end of the glossary item
  • run Epub scripts/Run_Glossary_Links.py
    • check new file in BBEdit and make necessary changes to original.
    • rerun script

resources.xhtml

  • update style for <h2 class="resources">s
  • check <i>s are <cite>s
  • add href's for links

index.xhtml

  • check index classes
  • run Epub scripts/Run_index.py
  • check section letters: <section aria-label="Letter XXX">
  • check to see that dates/numerals etc. were not made in to links i.e. Covid-19

content.opf

  • copy metadata from BX api
  • check to see if index is present. Add schema <meta property="schema:accessibilityFeature">index</meta>
  • remove nav from spine

Alt text

  • run RUN_alttext_extract to create blank xlsx file
  • update alt text in xlsx file
  • run RUN_alttext_update to update epub

Finish Up

  • check all colour contrasts: 4:1 with https://contrastchecker.com/
  • delete/update fonts (subsets, encryption and ttfs)
  • run Mend and Prettify all HTML Files
  • generate ncx Guide
  • rename all image files in Sigil
    • select all images
    • right click > ReGex Rename
    • search for [^a-z0-9._-] , replace with _
      replaces everything not basic ascii with _ (underscore)

Check files

  • epubchecker
  • Ace by Daisy
  • Kindle Previewer
    • use Media Query to removed css rotations etc. if they don't display right in Kindle

Future?

Abbreviations:

  • <abbr title="National Aeronautics and Space Administration">NASA</abbr>