Explanation about chapters

CptCatarro · 08-08-2012, 08:40 AM

Hello there, I am new of this forum.
I am here because I would like to understand how chapter marking works in Sigil - Calibre - Kindle.

I know that it is a very common question, but reading from others posts, I cannon understand clearly the answer, so I'll try to put the question another time, hoping to understand (thank you in advance).

So I have this book that I am trying to edit. I have 4 XHTML files insides. From my experience, every XHTML files, generates a chapter in my Kindle, either if there is no HEADING mark. I've never known other ways to have a chapter different from breaking my book into a lots of XHTML files.
For the first time I've noticed that with this book chapters are created in Kindle also without breaking the book into multiples XHTML files. But I still don't understand.
The 1st XHTML file consists just of a word with a <H1> tag.
The 2nd XHTML files consists of a word with a <H2> and a series of <H3> tags. The same for the 3rd XHTML file and the 4th HTMLS file.
I cannot understand why the result (after converting the file with Calibre) in my Kindle is to have a chapter for the H1 tag, a chapter for the H2 tag, and a chapter for every H3 tag for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XHTLM file. In the last one something is different because I have just the chapter for the H2 tag and not for the H3 tag. I have a correct TOC in Sigil (every H3 tag is selected) and a correct TOC in my Kindle, but, when I click on the Kindle TOC on a H3 TAG of the last file, it is linked with the last H2 tag and so it is not working correctly
I hope you understand and help me understand too.
Thanks in advance!!!

DiapDealer · 08-08-2012, 09:18 AM

I suspect your problem is with calibre's conversion and not really Sigil (or ePub) related.

theducks · 08-08-2012, 09:22 AM

Sigil is about EPUB,
not the Kindle or the Ipad's warped versions.

Files do not define 'chapters' (although many of us put a chapter/section per file for ease of maitainence, that does not make it a 'chapter').

Sigil (not EPUB) used H tags as markers to the auto-generator to define hierarchical TOC Levels (that most folk think of as Book/Part/Chapter) that are then coded into the NCX file. (

you can hand code the NCX and never use a H tag ).

Take some time and reverse engineer (with Sigil) some of the EPUBS found in the MR Library and figure out how things work for each book that you like the styling.

Quiss · 08-12-2012, 09:59 AM

I'd like to add to the original question, if I may.

I noticed that, when opening an ePub that I converted with calibre, it opens broken down into individual files corresponding to each chapter, so I guess it was split whenever there was an H2 tag.

However, when I save the original HTM (filtered) file in Word and then open in Sigil for editing, I get only one file.

Does this matter in any way? Can I just leave it as one file? (I haven't added the cover yet)

Q.

theducks · 08-12-2012, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiss

I'd like to add to the original question, if I may.

I noticed that, when opening an ePub that I converted with calibre, it opens broken down into individual files corresponding to each chapter, so I guess it was split whenever there was an H2 tag.

However, when I save the original HTM (filtered) file in Word and then open in Sigil for editing, I get only one file.

Does this matter in any way? Can I just leave it as one file? (I haven't added the cover yet)

Q.

It matters to some devices if your file (inside the EPUB is bigger than 260K) (calibre has various rules it can/will invoke to break files)

There are many MR threads discussing file size and reflow performance
IMHO
K.I.S.S. Keep It Small (and) Simple

Except for possibly doing 'edits', I can't see any any advantage for a single, huge file

Quiss · 08-12-2012, 01:21 PM

NM this post - I'll start a new thread. Doesn't really belong here

CptCatarro · 08-20-2012, 04:58 AM

Maybe I can help someone as I found the problem.
The problem was actually with the Sygil "heading_id#" tag, so my H3 title was tagged <H3 heading_id#>TITLE</H3>. To quicky make an H3 title I've cut and pasted the first H3 TITLE for all the H3 title in the xhtml file. So every H3 title was tagged with the same heading_id# creating a problem for Sygil in the TOC creation. Every H3 title was so linked with the first H3 title.
Thank you all by the way!!!

theducks · 08-20-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptCatarro

Maybe I can help someone as I found the problem.
The problem was actually with the Sygil "heading_id#" tag, so my H3 title was tagged <H3 heading_id#>TITLE</H3>. To quicky make an H3 title I've cut and pasted the first H3 TITLE for all the H3 title in the xhtml file. So every H3 title was tagged with the same heading_id# creating a problem for Sygil in the TOC creation. Every H3 title was so linked with the first H3 title.
Thank you all by the way!!!

Note: If you had a chapter per file, all the ID numbers could have been the same because there would only be one occurrence per file eg id="c_2"

Jabby · 08-20-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Note: If you had a chapter per file, all the ID numbers could have been the same because there would only be one occurrence per file eg id="c_2"

Thanks Ducks
I've wondered about that but was to lazy to ask.

Regards - John

08-08-2012, 08:40 AM	#1
CptCatarro Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: Kindle	Explanation about chapters Hello there, I am new of this forum. I am here because I would like to understand how chapter marking works in Sigil - Calibre - Kindle. I know that it is a very common question, but reading from others posts, I cannon understand clearly the answer, so I'll try to put the question another time, hoping to understand (thank you in advance). So I have this book that I am trying to edit. I have 4 XHTML files insides. From my experience, every XHTML files, generates a chapter in my Kindle, either if there is no HEADING mark. I've never known other ways to have a chapter different from breaking my book into a lots of XHTML files. For the first time I've noticed that with this book chapters are created in Kindle also without breaking the book into multiples XHTML files. But I still don't understand. The 1st XHTML file consists just of a word with a <H1> tag. The 2nd XHTML files consists of a word with a <H2> and a series of <H3> tags. The same for the 3rd XHTML file and the 4th HTMLS file. I cannot understand why the result (after converting the file with Calibre) in my Kindle is to have a chapter for the H1 tag, a chapter for the H2 tag, and a chapter for every H3 tag for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XHTLM file. In the last one something is different because I have just the chapter for the H2 tag and not for the H3 tag. I have a correct TOC in Sigil (every H3 tag is selected) and a correct TOC in my Kindle, but, when I click on the Kindle TOC on a H3 TAG of the last file, it is linked with the last H2 tag and so it is not working correctly I hope you understand and help me understand too. Thanks in advance!!!

08-12-2012, 01:21 PM	#6
Quiss Spits infinitives Posts: 43 Karma: 493600 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Canada Device: Sony	NM this post - I'll start a new thread. Doesn't really belong here Last edited by Quiss; 08-12-2012 at 01:48 PM.

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08-08-2012, 09:18 AM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,546 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I suspect your problem is with calibre's conversion and not really Sigil (or ePub) related.

08-08-2012, 09:22 AM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,779 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Sigil is about EPUB, not the Kindle or the Ipad's warped versions. Files do not define 'chapters' (although many of us put a chapter/section per file for ease of maitainence, that does not make it a 'chapter'). Sigil (not EPUB) used H tags as markers to the auto-generator to define hierarchical TOC Levels (that most folk think of as Book/Part/Chapter) that are then coded into the NCX file. ( you can hand code the NCX and never use a H tag ). Take some time and reverse engineer (with Sigil) some of the EPUBS found in the MR Library and figure out how things work for each book that you like the styling.

08-12-2012, 09:59 AM	#4
Quiss Spits infinitives Posts: 43 Karma: 493600 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Canada Device: Sony	I'd like to add to the original question, if I may. I noticed that, when opening an ePub that I converted with calibre, it opens broken down into individual files corresponding to each chapter, so I guess it was split whenever there was an H2 tag. However, when I save the original HTM (filtered) file in Word and then open in Sigil for editing, I get only one file. Does this matter in any way? Can I just leave it as one file? (I haven't added the cover yet) Q.

08-20-2012, 04:58 AM	#7
CptCatarro Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: Kindle	Maybe I can help someone as I found the problem. The problem was actually with the Sygil "heading_id#" tag, so my H3 title was tagged <H3 heading_id#>TITLE</H3>. To quicky make an H3 title I've cut and pasted the first H3 TITLE for all the H3 title in the xhtml file. So every H3 title was tagged with the same heading_id# creating a problem for Sygil in the TOC creation. Every H3 title was so linked with the first H3 title. Thank you all by the way!!!

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