How to reformat an epub so I can split it at each chapter?

[MarjaE]

Hi,

I have an epub which I can't split at each chapter. Reading previous posts, I need to add formatting before I can split it. What formatting, and is there any easy way to do this without too much formatting?

[theducks]

I simply find a 'trap-able' phrase/sequence in the book and selectively insert
(the trap may be triggered in some other locations. Thus find or Replace next, is used)

My split 'trigger'
<div class="split_here"> </div>

Then I use the split at multiple locations on the trigger

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by MarjaE

I have an epub which I can't split at each chapter. Reading previous posts, I need to add formatting before I can split it. What formatting, and is there any easy way to do this without too much formatting?

Are you trying to use the split at multiple locations tool by right clicking in the code pane? That tool does require that you set up an expression for where to split though the wizard is pretty decent at walking you through the procedure.

Or are you trying to use the split at cursor tool at the bottom of the preview pane? Using the split at cursor tool, I've split epubs at random points and no issues if the epub does not have pre-existing errors. If the epub has errors, fix them and then try splitting again

[retiredbiker]

If the book already has a chapter heading with some unique style, there is no problem using the split at multiple locations tool. Even if there is some searchable way of finding such split points, it is easy to use regex S&R to put in splitable code, like looking for <p>"CHAPTER something"</p> and changing the <p> to <p class="chapter">, then using the split tool on that.

But if I have to search through the document for split points, it is easier to just split the file manually, using the preview pane tool, as I go through it to find the boundaries. This also has the advantage of letting me spot rocks I might miss trying a more automated approach.

[MarjaE]

I've tried cursor and multiple, neither one would work with the epub. Judging by earlier posts on the issue, ebook-edit requires more formatting, such as code for chapter breaks, and this one only has text and <br/>.

Even adding the "split here," the cursor split doesn't work, nothing happens, and I don't understand how to use the multiple to select the middle of that code.

[retiredbiker]

Originally Posted by MarjaE

I've tried cursor and multiple, neither one would work with the epub. Judging by earlier posts on the issue, ebook-edit requires more formatting, such as code for chapter breaks, and this one only has text and <br/>.

If all you have is text and <br/>, no wonder it won't split. Probably the first thing to do is search for <br/> and replace-all with </p><p>. That will at least turn all chunks of text between the breaks into paragraphs. You'll probably have to add a <p> at the very start manually, and possibly a </p> at the very end. Then use the "fix html" and "beautify" tools to make it more readable, and catch any possibly remaining bare text.

Once you have that, you will find you can break it with one of the methods mentioned...the files can only be split on <p>s or <div>s or <hn>s, I think. And from there, you can style it any way you like.

[MarjaE]

Thank you, that fixes it.