< ol > "start attribute issue

eclecticguy · 06-07-2010, 01:20 PM

Well, I completed conversion of my manuscript to ePub format. We are targeting the iPad for our first foray in to electronic books. I ran through epubcheck (1.0.5) and fixed a few minor problems. However, I am using numbered lists for footnotes - which I am putting at the bottom of each page. I thought using <ol start="x"> (where x= the first footnote number on that page) should work. It runs fine on the iPad. However, the validator generates an error saying "attribute "start" not allowed at this point; ignored.

Rather than hardcoding the numbers for the footnotes, is there a way to deal with this? I liked using <ol> since I get the correct wrapping behavior for long lines of footnote text. I had been using custom style code to do the same but it required quite a few lines of code to do what <ol> does succinctly.

I am also using this tag and attribute to create step numbers (this is a how to book on building fly fishing reels). It would be very painful to have to hard code those step numbers.

Apparently, the "start" attribute is deprecated but there is no suitable style defined to replace it.

cheers,
Michael

zelda_pinwheel · 06-07-2010, 01:23 PM

Hi Michael, i've edited your title because otherwise the html code makes the forum spy go a bit crazy.

good luck getting your code sorted ; i'm sure someone will be able to give you a solution to your problem.

Jellby · 06-08-2010, 07:06 AM

We have already discussed it here. I think there's no good solution.

AlexBell · 06-08-2010, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclecticguy

Apparently, the "start" attribute is deprecated but there is no suitable style defined to replace it.

cheers,
Michael

So far as I can tell if the underlying HTML does not pass W3C validation it won't pass EPubcheck either. In fact I think EPubcheck is more demanding than browsers.

For what it is worth I had no problems with numbered footnotes within a chapter using <p></p> in 'Rosser, Ellen: The City of God, and Hamas' which I uploaded recently.

Regards, Alex

eclecticguy · 06-08-2010, 11:46 AM

Alex, thanks. However, your footnote text does not exhibit the wrapping behavior I am looking for. Basically, I want wrapped lines to align underneath the start of the previous line and not underneath the footnote number. <ol> does this nicely. I had some style code that did this but it was pretty verbose.

cheers,
Michael

Jim Lester · 06-08-2010, 01:41 PM

The start attribute (for ol elements) is not valid XHTML, so it's not valid for ePubs. The correct way to handle this is through appropriate use of CSS - look at counter-reset for instance.

However before you get your hopes too far up, I will note that ADE does not handle this particular bit of CSS even though it should.

06-07-2010, 01:20 PM	#1
eclecticguy Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Massachusetts Device: iPad	< ol > "start attribute issue Well, I completed conversion of my manuscript to ePub format. We are targeting the iPad for our first foray in to electronic books. I ran through epubcheck (1.0.5) and fixed a few minor problems. However, I am using numbered lists for footnotes - which I am putting at the bottom of each page. I thought using <ol start="x"> (where x= the first footnote number on that page) should work. It runs fine on the iPad. However, the validator generates an error saying "attribute "start" not allowed at this point; ignored. Rather than hardcoding the numbers for the footnotes, is there a way to deal with this? I liked using <ol> since I get the correct wrapping behavior for long lines of footnote text. I had been using custom style code to do the same but it required quite a few lines of code to do what <ol> does succinctly. I am also using this tag and attribute to create step numbers (this is a how to book on building fly fishing reels). It would be very painful to have to hard code those step numbers. Apparently, the "start" attribute is deprecated but there is no suitable style defined to replace it. cheers, Michael Last edited by eclecticguy; 06-07-2010 at 01:24 PM.

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06-07-2010, 01:23 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	Hi Michael, i've edited your title because otherwise the html code makes the forum spy go a bit crazy. good luck getting your code sorted ; i'm sure someone will be able to give you a solution to your problem.

06-08-2010, 07:06 AM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,515 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	We have already discussed it here. I think there's no good solution.

06-08-2010, 11:46 AM	#5
eclecticguy Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Massachusetts Device: iPad	Alex, thanks. However, your footnote text does not exhibit the wrapping behavior I am looking for. Basically, I want wrapped lines to align underneath the start of the previous line and not underneath the footnote number. <ol> does this nicely. I had some style code that did this but it was pretty verbose. cheers, Michael

06-08-2010, 01:41 PM	#6
Jim Lester Evangelist Posts: 416 Karma: 14682 Join Date: May 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Device: Nook HD, Nook for Windows 8	The start attribute (for ol elements) is not valid XHTML, so it's not valid for ePubs. The correct way to handle this is through appropriate use of CSS - look at counter-reset for instance. However before you get your hopes too far up, I will note that ADE does not handle this particular bit of CSS even though it should.