02-23-2016, 08:42 AM | #1 |
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HTML TOC listed in .ncx?
Hi,
I've got an .epub validating nicely, all coded from scratch. My question is: should the html toc be listed as an element in the .ncx? Or would that be considered redundant. Also, is it acceptable to have the TOC for a fiction book at the back, considering the reader has a button letting them see it anytime? Thanks for your help. Dave Edit: Oops, forgot to say it's ePub 2.0 Last edited by brahms; 02-23-2016 at 08:50 AM. |
02-23-2016, 11:21 AM | #2 |
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Before John joins in... Is there a specific reason you want a html toc? It isn't strictly necessary. If you do want it, it must be present in the opf but is not required in the ncx.
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02-23-2016, 01:28 PM | #3 |
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Thanks for replying.
I was assuming that for the widest range of platforms a parallel HTML version would be useful. Can all devices handle .ncx? |
02-23-2016, 04:25 PM | #4 |
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All ePub complaint software can handle the NCX. So you don't need an HTML ToC in order to have a working ToC. Most Readers such as Kobo use a version of RMDSK (ADE) and that does handle an NCX ToC no problem.
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02-23-2016, 05:37 PM | #5 |
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Thanks JSWolf.
Do mobi readers all cope without as well? |
02-23-2016, 05:44 PM | #6 |
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02-24-2016, 07:36 PM | #7 |
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KF8 mobi's work fine without it but KF7 cannot use the NCX so the TOC would be missing except the very start of the file. Of course many books don't really need a TOC anyway but you will have to judge that. Amazon recommends a inline TOC but seems to no longer requires it.
Dale |
02-24-2016, 09:04 PM | #8 |
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FWIW, Actually both mobi 7 and mobi 8 do have a table of contents index section that is generated from the ncx or nav by kindlegen. Kindleunpack even unacks this section to recreate the ncx.
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02-25-2016, 02:23 AM | #9 |
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There are some reasons for an HTML ToC:
You want to sell the converted ePub @Amazon. A good ToC may help your readers, but a liust of Chapter1 Chapter2 Chapter 3... isnt helpful. If you have a good ToC it should be in the front of the book so its visible when the readers choose the preview. If its just a simple flat representation of the NCX its redundant. |
02-25-2016, 08:01 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
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02-25-2016, 08:04 AM | #11 |
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You can put in an HTML ToC for an ePub that you want to use to convert to sell on Amazon and use a version of the ePub without the HTML ToC to sell the eBook as an ePub.
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02-25-2016, 08:50 AM | #12 |
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Many thanks all.
The book is a novel, and in this case a TOC listing chapters is meaningless. I am using Kindlegen, so perhaps I can leave out the TOC altogether and let KG create a TOC from the .ncx? |
02-25-2016, 09:25 AM | #13 |
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No. Please stop making "definitive" statements that are simply wrong.
Mobi is a container file extension and KF7 and KF8 are formats for files that can be stored in .mobi containers. Both can even be stored in the same container. KevinH |
02-25-2016, 11:14 AM | #14 | |
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Quote:
Mobi is also short for Mobipocket which is the format you incorrectly call KF7. |
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02-25-2016, 11:16 AM | #15 |
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Kindlegen does not create the ToC from the NCX. So you do need an HTML ToC when making eBooks with Kindlegen or you won't have a proper ToC.
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