Trouble creating toc

FDG · 08-13-2015, 05:06 PM

Hiya, I am using calibre to convert a manuscript into an ebook. For the life of me, I cannot generate a table of contents.

I've looked at the user manual, I've read people's blogs, I've come at the table of contents a dozen different ways, and the net result is I've lost about five hours of work.

I'm usually pretty intuitive with this stuff, but at this point I wish there was something online that walked me through every last little tiny step of toc creation.

Just on a wild shot, I even put a table of contents in the manuscript, thinking maybe the conversion process needed something to work with in the original doc. No go.

I am utterly stymied. Suggestions?

Thanks!

eschwartz · 08-13-2015, 05:47 PM

All you need to do is make sure chapter headings are marked using the header tags: "<h2>" (or h1 or h3 etc.)

calibre or Sigil both have the ability to generate a ToC based on those.

What is your source document? DOCX? EPUB?
For DOCX use the header styles.

FDG · 08-13-2015, 05:53 PM

Thank you very much. One of the things I already tried was: I marked all the chapter headings <h1> Heading </h1> and all the sub chapter headings <h2> subchapter heading </h1> then saved that docx as a filtered HTML and used the filtered HTML as the source. It didn't work. Apparently I missed something.

eschwartz · 08-13-2015, 06:05 PM

You can convert a DOCX to EPUB with calibre -- whoever told you to use filtered HTML should be punished!

I am not even going to try to guess what filtered HTML will result in.

Just convert DOCX ==> EPUB.
Or better yet, calibre's Edit Book feature can open DOCX and save as EPUB, and if you want to tweak the HTML it is a better route -- conversion is intended as the last step before reading a book, and makes certain assumptions (flattened CSS) that don't help you edit the ebook.

EDIT: When you say "marked all the chapter headings <h1> Heading </h1>" I assume you mean "marked all the chapter headings with the header 1 style".

FDG · 08-13-2015, 10:30 PM

Thanks! ��

eschwartz · 08-14-2015, 12:02 AM

Did that fix it, then?

PeterT · 08-14-2015, 12:19 AM

A little suggestion; next time why not attach a sample of what you are converting; it makes it a whole lot easier for people to look at and diagnose the issue.

FDG · 08-14-2015, 10:01 AM

Thanks again everyone. You have been great. After a couple more hours struggle, I think I might go another route than Calibre. I have a learning disability, and I'm finding Calibre impossible, after hours of trying and a couple of techie friends spending hours with me on it.

I might upgrade my Page Plus X5. I used PPX5 to lay out my last couple of books, so I know it's easy for me to use, in terms of the learning disability. Don't get me wrong, people find Calibre really good for them, but my brain is wired a certain way.

i'm not going to make any decision yet. After 10 hours of wasted work in two days, and more hours before that, I need some time to let the mental dust settle before I decide if I'm going to try PPX8 or retry Calibre or what.

Thanks again for your generous help !!! Calibre is clearly a great tool!

08-13-2015, 05:06 PM	#1
FDG Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: None	Trouble creating toc Hiya, I am using calibre to convert a manuscript into an ebook. For the life of me, I cannot generate a table of contents. I've looked at the user manual, I've read people's blogs, I've come at the table of contents a dozen different ways, and the net result is I've lost about five hours of work. I'm usually pretty intuitive with this stuff, but at this point I wish there was something online that walked me through every last little tiny step of toc creation. Just on a wild shot, I even put a table of contents in the manuscript, thinking maybe the conversion process needed something to work with in the original doc. No go. I am utterly stymied. Suggestions? Thanks!

08-13-2015, 06:05 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	You can convert a DOCX to EPUB with calibre -- whoever told you to use filtered HTML should be punished! I am not even going to try to guess what filtered HTML will result in. Just convert DOCX ==> EPUB. Or better yet, calibre's Edit Book feature can open DOCX and save as EPUB, and if you want to tweak the HTML it is a better route -- conversion is intended as the last step before reading a book, and makes certain assumptions (flattened CSS) that don't help you edit the ebook. EDIT: When you say "marked all the chapter headings <h1> Heading </h1>" I assume you mean "marked all the chapter headings with the header 1 style". Last edited by eschwartz; 08-13-2015 at 06:08 PM.

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08-13-2015, 05:47 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	All you need to do is make sure chapter headings are marked using the header tags: "<h2>" (or h1 or h3 etc.) calibre or Sigil both have the ability to generate a ToC based on those. What is your source document? DOCX? EPUB? For DOCX use the header styles.

08-13-2015, 05:53 PM	#3
FDG Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: None	Thank you very much. One of the things I already tried was: I marked all the chapter headings <h1> Heading </h1> and all the sub chapter headings <h2> subchapter heading </h1> then saved that docx as a filtered HTML and used the filtered HTML as the source. It didn't work. Apparently I missed something.

08-13-2015, 10:30 PM	#5
FDG Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: None	Thanks! ��

08-14-2015, 12:02 AM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Did that fix it, then?

08-14-2015, 12:19 AM	#7
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,505 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	A little suggestion; next time why not attach a sample of what you are converting; it makes it a whole lot easier for people to look at and diagnose the issue.

08-14-2015, 10:01 AM	#8
FDG Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: None	Thanks again everyone. You have been great. After a couple more hours struggle, I think I might go another route than Calibre. I have a learning disability, and I'm finding Calibre impossible, after hours of trying and a couple of techie friends spending hours with me on it. I might upgrade my Page Plus X5. I used PPX5 to lay out my last couple of books, so I know it's easy for me to use, in terms of the learning disability. Don't get me wrong, people find Calibre really good for them, but my brain is wired a certain way. i'm not going to make any decision yet. After 10 hours of wasted work in two days, and more hours before that, I need some time to let the mental dust settle before I decide if I'm going to try PPX8 or retry Calibre or what. Thanks again for your generous help !!! Calibre is clearly a great tool!

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