Workflow for Revisions

AshleyLynn · 04-26-2013, 02:13 PM

Hi everybody,
I have a question about how to do revisions for an ePub book.

Let's say you've laid out the text and images in InDesign, exported to ePub, and then tweaked the code to add additional edits (putting in some horizontal rules, maybe making something have a background color, etc.). It's ready, so you send it over to the client to look at it.

Let's say the client has requested an image be full-page, instead of just half the page.

How would you go about editing this? My understanding is that if you made the edit in InDesign, you would then have to export it again as an ePub, and then you'd have to re-code everything.

If there's a way to do it in the code, how would you go about doing it?

Thanks everyone for your help!

Penforhire · 04-26-2013, 04:21 PM

If you have additional processing steps after InDesign I don't see a happy ending in terms of revision control and ease of changes.

I maintain a product catalog in QuarkExpress and I make sure the final output comes straight from Quark. If something needs a tweak that I can't do in Quark I do it to the source artwork (e.g. in Photoshop, Creo, or Lightwave) and re-import it. Source art is easier to Rev control with just file names.

Your example post processing -- adding a horizontal rule, resizing an image, changing a background color -- should all be doable within InDesign because I can do all those in Quark (which I am told is currently a slightly inferior page layout program).

Arios · 04-26-2013, 10:19 PM

Or you can use Sigil: http://code.google.com/p/sigil/downloads/list
to edit the epub and make changes.

...And ask questions here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=203

Dr. Drib · 04-27-2013, 09:44 AM

You do realize that we have a calbre and sigil forum, don't you?

-- Your thread has now been moved.

Please take the time to look around our site.

Don
(Moderator)

mrmikel · 04-27-2013, 10:08 AM

The issue seems to be that there is no program that handles everything to produce an epub and print version.

Seems like the only way to maintain version control is to make sure you keep the same file names in both versions and always work on one after the other.

Of course, if you just are producing an epub, fix it up in Sigil once it is out of InDesign and do all further edits in Sigil. It is quite capable and powerful for epubs and designed for the job.

exaltedwombat · 04-27-2013, 05:21 PM

If the end result is to be an ebook, why start in InDesign? This is a page layout program, which will encourage you to do things inappropriate to an epub.

Pour the raw text into Sigil. Apply epub-appropriate formatting (i.e. not much). Job done.

DaleDe · 05-03-2013, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmikel

The issue seems to be that there is no program that handles everything to produce an epub and print version.

Seems like the only way to maintain version control is to make sure you keep the same file names in both versions and always work on one after the other.

Of course, if you just are producing an epub, fix it up in Sigil once it is out of InDesign and do all further edits in Sigil. It is quite capable and powerful for epubs and designed for the job.

Actually Atlantis comes pretty close to doing both. It is word compatible and makes a clean ePub although not all features are supported, most are.

04-26-2013, 02:13 PM	#1
AshleyLynn Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: none	Workflow for Revisions Hi everybody, I have a question about how to do revisions for an ePub book. Let's say you've laid out the text and images in InDesign, exported to ePub, and then tweaked the code to add additional edits (putting in some horizontal rules, maybe making something have a background color, etc.). It's ready, so you send it over to the client to look at it. Let's say the client has requested an image be full-page, instead of just half the page. How would you go about editing this? My understanding is that if you made the edit in InDesign, you would then have to export it again as an ePub, and then you'd have to re-code everything. If there's a way to do it in the code, how would you go about doing it? Thanks everyone for your help!

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04-26-2013, 04:21 PM	#2
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	If you have additional processing steps after InDesign I don't see a happy ending in terms of revision control and ease of changes. I maintain a product catalog in QuarkExpress and I make sure the final output comes straight from Quark. If something needs a tweak that I can't do in Quark I do it to the source artwork (e.g. in Photoshop, Creo, or Lightwave) and re-import it. Source art is easier to Rev control with just file names. Your example post processing -- adding a horizontal rule, resizing an image, changing a background color -- should all be doable within InDesign because I can do all those in Quark (which I am told is currently a slightly inferior page layout program).

04-26-2013, 10:19 PM	#3
Arios A curiosus lector! Posts: 463 Karma: 2015140 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch	Or you can use Sigil: http://code.google.com/p/sigil/downloads/list to edit the epub and make changes. ...And ask questions here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=203

04-27-2013, 09:44 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,743 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	You do realize that we have a calbre and sigil forum, don't you? -- Your thread has now been moved. Please take the time to look around our site. Don (Moderator)

04-27-2013, 10:08 AM	#5
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	The issue seems to be that there is no program that handles everything to produce an epub and print version. Seems like the only way to maintain version control is to make sure you keep the same file names in both versions and always work on one after the other. Of course, if you just are producing an epub, fix it up in Sigil once it is out of InDesign and do all further edits in Sigil. It is quite capable and powerful for epubs and designed for the job.

04-27-2013, 05:21 PM	#6
exaltedwombat Guru Posts: 878 Karma: 2457540 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	If the end result is to be an ebook, why start in InDesign? This is a page layout program, which will encourage you to do things inappropriate to an epub. Pour the raw text into Sigil. Apply epub-appropriate formatting (i.e. not much). Job done.

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