Jelby and all,
I have attached a few pages of the sample file I have, the conversion and font change have moved a few things around but generally there is a margin note for each paragraph. Since this is a study guide book book it's important that the note be with each paragraph. As you can see they are generally small. I have had the conversation with the client about view on a small device or smartphone and they are convinced this is not an issue for this application, they are targeting the read to the larger format of the Nook or iPad.
I've been in the design biz for close to 30 years so I am very familiar with the process of trying to convince a client that their request might mot be the best option, but I also teach on a college level and I know a bit about how academia thinks, so I am trying to find an acceptable middle ground here.
I was wondering if one of two options will work?
1. Could I do each chapter in a two column table with the left hand column being narrow, an inch or less. I would have to make each paragraph a row, but a table does translate correctly in the ePub format, doesn't it?
2. Could each note be an anchored frame that breaks the beginning of each paragraph and hangs, so much like a first word Drop Cap that is hanging. So here the left margin would be wider but not as much as option 1. I see this as the same as inserting a small image and wrapping text around it, so assume it would work as well.
Thanks for all your input.
karen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jellby
Can we see a sample page of what kind of information there is in the sidenotes? Would it really be that much of a problem if the sidenotes were presented before the paragraph, in a smaller font, with a frame, and with a generous left margin, for instance?
Sometimes the clients want what the clients want, sure, but part of your work is explaining to the clients why what they want might not be a good idea. If you were an architect and a client asked you for something unreasonable (insecure, too expensive, too hot in summer, against local law, hard to maintain...) you'd be expected to explain it to your client, and make sure it's what he really wants, no matter what.
In this case, an ePUB book is not something that will be read on a Nook or iPad and that's all. No, it's something that someone, somewhere, will want to read on a smartphone, someone else will need to read with a 24pt font, and another person will need a text-to-speech system to read it. The best solution for a printed book is often not the best solution for an ebook.
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