Inserting a Table of Contents

ghostyjack · 11-12-2009, 08:13 AM

If the file format you are using (e.g. epub) can have a separate TOC, is there any benefit of also inserting a TOC within the main text area?

Jellby · 11-12-2009, 10:36 AM

Yes, as long as not all reading software support off-line TOCs. In ePUB you can have the linear="no" property for the in-line TOC, hoping that reading software supporting off-line TOCs also support that property and thus hide the in-line TOC from the text flow (as Calibre does).

ghostyjack · 11-12-2009, 04:55 PM

Hmm, ok, I understand what you mean, but I'm not sure how I do this. Could you give me a quick example?

Jellby · 11-13-2009, 08:42 AM

Sure, any of my ePUBs has it. Try The Picture of Dorian Gray, for instance.

It has an external (off-line) TOC, in the toc.ncx file, and it has an in-line TOC too in Contents.xhtml. In the <spine> element of the OPF file, Contents.xhtml is defined as linear="no", so Calibre will not show this in-line TOC when paging forward or backward through the book, but Calibre can read the TOC from the toc.ncx file.

Other readers may not support the external TOC (and I hope they will then ignore the linear="no"). Yet other readers (like ADE) do support the external TOC and ignore the linear="no", so you actually get the two TOCs there.

ghostyjack · 11-13-2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks Jellby.

I'll have alook at that epub.

11-12-2009, 08:13 AM	#1
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	Inserting a Table of Contents If the file format you are using (e.g. epub) can have a separate TOC, is there any benefit of also inserting a TOC within the main text area?

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11-12-2009, 10:36 AM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,549 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Yes, as long as not all reading software support off-line TOCs. In ePUB you can have the linear="no" property for the in-line TOC, hoping that reading software supporting off-line TOCs also support that property and thus hide the in-line TOC from the text flow (as Calibre does).

11-12-2009, 04:55 PM	#3
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	Hmm, ok, I understand what you mean, but I'm not sure how I do this. Could you give me a quick example?

11-13-2009, 08:42 AM	#4
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,549 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Sure, any of my ePUBs has it. Try The Picture of Dorian Gray, for instance. It has an external (off-line) TOC, in the toc.ncx file, and it has an in-line TOC too in Contents.xhtml. In the <spine> element of the OPF file, Contents.xhtml is defined as linear="no", so Calibre will not show this in-line TOC when paging forward or backward through the book, but Calibre can read the TOC from the toc.ncx file. Other readers may not support the external TOC (and I hope they will then ignore the linear="no"). Yet other readers (like ADE) do support the external TOC and ignore the linear="no", so you actually get the two TOCs there.

11-13-2009, 10:57 AM	#5
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	Thanks Jellby. I'll have alook at that epub.

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