Retaining formatting in inline links

[MacEachaidh]

In the ePub I'm working on, I've applied character formatting to parts of each item listed in the ToC.

The problem:

1) Because the items are linked to the head of the chapters they each represent, ADE applies URL formatting (bold, blue and underlined) to each item, which obliterates the character formatting;

but

2) If I apply code to stop the URL formatting, that also wipes out the character formatting.

The code I'm using at the top of the stylesheet is this:

a:link { color: black; text-decoration: none; }
a:visited { color: black; text-decoration: none; }
a:hover { color: black; text-decoration: none; }
a:active { color: black; text-decoration: none; }

Is there code I can use that essentially says "just leave it with the formatting it already has" ?

[mrmikel]

What program are you using to do this? Is this a calibre problem?

[MacEachaidh]

Thanks for the reply.

No, I'm using a program called Jutoh to format it, but Jutoh isn't the one that imposes the URL-style formatting on coded links. ADE does that.

[DiapDealer]

I don't experience the same thing with ADE when using the CSS you supplied. It all behaves as I would expect. But then again, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "character formatting." And what is being obliterated. You seem to imply that your CSS code is working (which means that character formatting is being affected), but then in that case, you suggest that "something" is still being obliterated. What, exactly, are you saying you are "losing" in both of your scenarios?

Note also, that it's not really a good idea to try and force links to be indistinguishable from the regular text (by forcing font-colors and removing the underline). 1) A forced font-color of black could play havoc with many readers' "Night Mode" theme. 2) There's no easy way for a person to know it IS a link. They need to know at a glance that it's something they need to click/tap.

[Tex2002ans]

Sample Images can also speak a thousand words.