Three Tables of Contents?

[SigilBear]

The epub I'm working on has two tables of contents. One is the TOC that drops down when you click the icon at the top of your epub reader. The other TOC is something I created manually in a file named introduction.xhtml, which also includes a few other things (Preface, Introduction, etc.).

I just realized that the HTML for the automatically generated TOC is in a file named nav.xhtml, not in toc.ncx (which I thought was the file associated with the auto-TOC).

So if my TOC content is in nav.xhtml, then what's the purpose of toc.ncx?

I'm working with Sigil on a Mac, by the way.

[jhowell]

The nav file is for reading devices that support EPUB 3. The ncx is a fallback for EPUB 2 readers.

[SigilBear]

Ah, that explains it.

This is the content right now:

    <text>Unknown</text>
  </docTitle>
  <navMap>
    <navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
      <navLabel>
        <text>Start</text>
      </navLabel>
      <content src="Text/introduction.xhtml"/>
    </navPoint>
  </navMap>

So if I wanted to add a link to Chapter 1, would I just change it to this?

    <text>Unknown</text>
  </docTitle>
  <navMap>
    <navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
      <navLabel>
        <text>Start</text>
      </navLabel>
      <content src="Text/introduction.xhtml"/>
      <content src="Text/chapter1.xhtml"/>
    </navPoint>
  </navMap>

[jhowell]

No, there is a particular structure that must be followed. And you want to keep all of the TOC copies in sync. I recommend using a TOC tool in an EPUB editor.

[SigilBear]

Hmmm...Sigil apparently allows me to only make an Epub 3.0 auto-TOC and/or an HTML TOC. So I need to use a different software program to create a TOC for Epub 2.0?

Actually, I should do some research on Epub 2.0 before I go any further. Is it still popular enough to really merit wasting time on it?

Thanks.

[PeterT]

I think it's safe to say that more eReaders support epub 2 than 3

[SigilBear]

Wow, I thought I read that Epub 2.0 was dying out.

OK, what are some software programs that can create TOC's for Epub 2.0?

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by SigilBear

Wow, I thought I read that Epub 2.0 was dying out.

OK, what are some software programs that can create TOC's for Epub 2.0?

Not by a long shot. For most ebooks ePUB2 is sufficient...

Now, for programs that can create TOC's. Sigil and Calibre for sure. You can also do it by hand, it is not that hard. It is just some XML.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by SigilBear

OK, what are some software programs that can create TOC's for Epub 2.0?

You can use Sigil for that. Generate/update the Nav TOC and then select:

Tools > Epub3 Tools > Generate NCX from Nav

If your book also contains a regular HTML TOC for older Kindle devices also select:

Tools > Table of Contents > Create HTML Table of Contents

[Notjohn]

Originally Posted by jhowell

The nav file is for reading devices that support EPUB 3. The ncx is a fallback for EPUB 2 readers.

Thank you! A very economical and helpful rule of thumb.

@Sigilbear: simply set epub2 as the default in Sigil. Edit > Preferences > General Settings > Version 2.

[JSWolf]

ePub 2 is actually more in use as more programs read ePub 2 and not ePub 3. Also, ePub 2 is easier to make and unless you actually need some features of ePub 3, you'd be best to stick to ePub 2.

With ePub 2 you only NEED one ToC. That ToC being the NCX ToC.

[jhowell]

EPUB 3 navigation was defined in such a way that the table of contents that appears within the document flow can also be used as the logical table of contents by adding extra mark up. In practice this is rarely done. So instead of reaching the intended goal of a single TOC, now there are typically three in an EPUB.

[SigilBear]

Wow, good tips; lots to think about.

I try my best to keep up with the latest technology, so Epub 3.0 seemed the way to go. But I'll have to take another look at it.

Anyway, I now have three tables of contents.

P.S. Now I remember why I was so fixated on Epub 3.0. I watched a series of InDesign tutorials @ Lynda.com, and I think the instructions were to choose Epub 3.0. I imagine the folks at Adobe would favor Epub 3.0 because it shows off whatever InDesign is supposed to do better than 2.0.

[DaleDe]

For a sample of the ePub 3 TOC see EPub_3#Navigation in our wiki.

Dale