EPUBCHECK 3.0b2 won't accept <audio>

Oxford-eBooks · 10-20-2011, 12:47 PM

I'm having a play about with adding audio to ePubs but the new epubcheck won't allow the <audio> element.

The example below audio.xhtml parses just fine in a web browser (using an OGG in that instance, though I'll use an MP3 in the real ePUB).

Am I doing anything really DAFT here???

Andy

Code:

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd'>
<html xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>
<head>
<title></title>
<link rel='StyleSheet' type='Text / css' href='StyleSheet.css' />
<meta http-equiv='Content-Type' content='text/html; charset=utf-8'/>
</head>
<body>

<h2>Audio Test</h2>

<p><img src="images\chapter-i.png" alt="x" width="100px"/></p>

<p><audio src="Audio\sample.ogg" controls="controls">
  Your browser does not support the audio element.
</audio></p>

</body></html>

Jellby · 10-20-2011, 01:09 PM

Well, you declared your document to be XHTML 1.1 in your DOCTYPE, and if I'm not mistaken <audio> is not a recognized XHTML 1.1 element. I don't know if it would work in other conditions. Note that the DOCTYPE is not compulsory, but if you use a DOCTYPE you must comply with it.

Oxford-eBooks · 10-20-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

Well, you declared your document to be XHTML 1.1 in your DOCTYPE, and if I'm not mistaken <audio> is not a recognized XHTML 1.1 element. I don't know if it would work in other conditions. Note that the DOCTYPE is not compulsory, but if you use a DOCTYPE you must comply with it.

Good spot. Firefox just gets on with it and renders the page. So, perhaps epubcheck is a little more careful...

replacing the doctype with

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

still works in firefox, but epubcheck still throws the <audio> tag out.

Confused!

Should I use an HTML file rather than XHTML?

Oxford-eBooks · 10-20-2011, 02:30 PM

Aha....

Look what I found lurking in my OPF file...

Code:

<package xmlns="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf" unique-identifier="bookid" version="2.0">

Changed to 3.0 and now I get a whole load of different and interesting errors - but at least I have it's attention now!

JSWolf · 10-20-2011, 02:31 PM

What is your target audience? Most ePub readers won't work with audio.

Oxford-eBooks · 10-21-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What is your target audience? Most ePub readers won't work with audio.

This is at first for a specific project where the client wants to have audio in the eBook.
They want to make a title for iPad specifically without having to go through the everlasting pain of APP development and submission.

But once I've got that, I can add it as degradable embellishments to just about any title.
I'm lucky in that we have our own imprint (sci-fi-cafe.com) where I can try out all kinds of crazy ideas without upsetting anyone.

JSWolf · 10-21-2011, 05:54 AM

The problem is that in order to add multi-media elements to iBooks, it's not going to pass ePubCheck. So forget validating as it never will.

Oxford-eBooks · 10-21-2011, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem is that in order to add multi-media elements to iBooks, it's not going to pass ePubCheck. So forget validating as it never will.

The file's building properly now, which is good, and I'm upgrading our tools to handle epub3.0 at the same time, so no waste of time there.

But as for failing iBooks, I watched all kinds of videos from Adobe yesterday about adding media to eBooks etc... are all these titles going to fail submission?

Toxaris · 10-21-2011, 07:26 AM

Untill someone changes the validation tools, yes.

Please keep in mind that adding media is only support as of ePUB v3, which is not yet finalized afak.
Until then the support will be minimal and up to the specific interpretation of the reader. That mean that most readers will not support it and that the readers/reader application that does support only support their interpretation of it. It is uncertain that the implementation that iBooks uses is conform the final specs.

Oxford-eBooks · 10-21-2011, 08:36 AM

That's fine.
Tools are now upgraded to deal with the inclusion of media files, it'll be a snap to adjust how the ePUB files are coded to support whatever the outcome is.

But I'll still try to push the envelope with some experimantal inclusion of sound in some new eBooks that we're publishing ourselves through our own product delivery system. Punters buying books through the normal channels will have to put up with the 'safe' version.

Really, it's SO frustrating when you see people like Adobe, Quark etc waving about all these nice media-rich examples when in reality there's no player to play them on and no agreement on the spec.
I sat and listened to a great talk at the London Book Fair by the people from the IDPF about the coming format... I really feel cheated and dissapointed that it's all come to naught.

DaleDe · 10-21-2011, 11:28 AM

Azardi will play ePub 3 and iBooks is close. The specifications are not yet finalized I believe. These things don't happen over night. Pushing the envelope is fine. You can always tell the pioneers by the arrows in their back.

Dale

10-20-2011, 02:30 PM	#4
Oxford-eBooks Zealot Posts: 127 Karma: 12096 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Loads!	Aha.... Look what I found lurking in my OPF file... Code: <package xmlns="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf" unique-identifier="bookid" version="2.0"> Changed to 3.0 and now I get a whole load of different and interesting errors - but at least I have it's attention now!

10-21-2011, 07:26 AM	#9
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Untill someone changes the validation tools, yes. Please keep in mind that adding media is only support as of ePUB v3, which is not yet finalized afak. Until then the support will be minimal and up to the specific interpretation of the reader. That mean that most readers will not support it and that the readers/reader application that does support only support their interpretation of it. It is uncertain that the implementation that iBooks uses is conform the final specs. Last edited by Toxaris; 10-21-2011 at 01:51 PM.

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10-20-2011, 01:09 PM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Well, you declared your document to be XHTML 1.1 in your DOCTYPE, and if I'm not mistaken <audio> is not a recognized XHTML 1.1 element. I don't know if it would work in other conditions. Note that the DOCTYPE is not compulsory, but if you use a DOCTYPE you must comply with it.

10-20-2011, 02:31 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,941 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What is your target audience? Most ePub readers won't work with audio.

10-21-2011, 05:54 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,941 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The problem is that in order to add multi-media elements to iBooks, it's not going to pass ePubCheck. So forget validating as it never will.

10-21-2011, 08:36 AM	#10
Oxford-eBooks Zealot Posts: 127 Karma: 12096 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Loads!	That's fine. Tools are now upgraded to deal with the inclusion of media files, it'll be a snap to adjust how the ePUB files are coded to support whatever the outcome is. But I'll still try to push the envelope with some experimantal inclusion of sound in some new eBooks that we're publishing ourselves through our own product delivery system. Punters buying books through the normal channels will have to put up with the 'safe' version. Really, it's SO frustrating when you see people like Adobe, Quark etc waving about all these nice media-rich examples when in reality there's no player to play them on and no agreement on the spec. I sat and listened to a great talk at the London Book Fair by the people from the IDPF about the coming format... I really feel cheated and dissapointed that it's all come to naught.

10-21-2011, 11:28 AM	#11
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Azardi will play ePub 3 and iBooks is close. The specifications are not yet finalized I believe. These things don't happen over night. Pushing the envelope is fine. You can always tell the pioneers by the arrows in their back. Dale

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