Javascript in ePub.

Vijay · 11-19-2010, 11:20 PM

How to embed javascript in ePub, anybody having samples or any resource.

Jellby · 11-20-2010, 05:12 AM

Javascript is not supported by the ePUB spec, nor by most ePUB readers.

Vijay · 11-21-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

Javascript is not supported by the ePUB spec, nor by most ePUB readers.

so its not feasible to make animation or playing media in a ePub??

wannabee · 11-22-2010, 12:51 AM

Probably not what you want to do. Try this

charleski · 11-22-2010, 06:49 AM

As Jellby said, the current standard doesn't provide for embedded media or scripting. There are a couple of non-standard solutions, though they should only be used if you are only targeting a specific reading device.

Here's Liza Daly's post on using JavaScript with iBooks. As with the other link, this will only work on the iPad.

Adobe's reading system will recognise flash elements, there's an example here. This won't work on the majority of device implementations, but does work on the desktop reader.

jharker · 11-22-2010, 08:30 AM

Liza Daly's example (linked by charleski above) is a great place to start.

Two important things to note:

Inline scripts do not work in iBooks. You must write your script in a separate file and embed it using
Code:
```
<script type="text/javascript" src="script.js"></script>
```
Scripts aren't allowed to access remote files.

Also, I think I recall that you're limited to embedding ONE javascript file in your html. But I could be wrong about that.

whbenson · 11-22-2010, 07:57 PM

FWIW, the following sample code works in both Sigil and iBooks.

Code:

 <?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"
  "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
  <title></title>
  <script type="text/javascript">
  //<![CDATA[
  alert("screen width=" + screen.width);
  //]]>
  </script>
</head>

<body>
</body>
</html>

Also, a workaround to editing javascript files in Sigil is to give the file a .css extension and put it in the Styles folder. Both iBooks and Sigil are happy with this.
-Bill

Vijay · 11-24-2010, 02:20 PM

i tried with monocle reader, its too supporting javascript.
@ Bill. your example is good, i tried with that its working. thnks..

killercatfish · 09-27-2011, 09:26 PM

Hello!

I have watched liza's video and am pumped about the prospects for education. Any advice on where to read up/find examples on actually putting together an ePub with javascript and interactivity?

Thanks!

wannabee · 09-27-2011, 10:31 PM

G'gay Killa' welcome to the forums.
You could try Liz Castro's comments.
Be aware that adding Java to an ePub will limit your audience. I don't think many reading devices will support it.

gus_ · 11-07-2011, 06:46 AM

bill, i have tried the exact code you posted, and it crashes sigil.

the alert window pops up twice, then a fatal error occurs.

i am using windows 7 64 bit and sigil 0.4.2

any ideas what may cause this behavior?

Toxaris · 11-07-2011, 07:20 AM

Could be anything. Javascript is not supported as far as I know and it is still not in the specifications of ePUB. So it is kind of hit and miss.

whbenson · 11-07-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gus_

bill, i have tried the exact code you posted, and it crashes sigil.

the alert window pops up twice, then a fatal error occurs.

i am using windows 7 64 bit and sigil 0.4.2

any ideas what may cause this behavior?

gus - you're right (though I think it worked before). In any case this was just to demonstrate inline javascript was ok. More typically you'd put functions in the header and call them from the text. The sample below works in sigil 0.4.2, at least on the Mac. You could also invoke this from a link with the href attribute. <a href="javascript:hitme()">hit me</a>

Code:

<head>
  <title></title>
  <script type="text/javascript">
  //<![CDATA[
function hitme() {
  alert("screen width=" + screen.width);
}
  //]]>
  </script>

</head>

<body>
  <p onclick="hitme()">hit me</p>
</body>
</html>

Jim Lester · 11-08-2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Could be anything. Javascript is not supported as far as I know and it is still not in the specifications of ePUB. So it is kind of hit and miss.

Javascript is allowed in EPUB3 documents, but not EPUB2 documents. Any Reader that is not using WebKit (ie Adobe RMSDK) will only handle EPUB2 documents, and that's the vast overwhelming majority right now. As mentioned above, iBooks is the closest to an EPUB3 reader that is out there right now.

whbenson · 11-08-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Lester

Javascript is allowed in EPUB3 documents, but not EPUB2 documents. Any Reader that is not using WebKit (ie Adobe RMSDK) will only handle EPUB2 documents, and that's the vast overwhelming majority right now. As mentioned above, iBooks is the closest to an EPUB3 reader that is out there right now.

Just for the record, one other webkit based reader with Javascript is the Kobo app for iOS.

11-19-2010, 11:20 PM	#1
Vijay Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: ADE	Javascript in ePub. How to embed javascript in ePub, anybody having samples or any resource.

11-22-2010, 08:30 AM	#6
jharker Developer Posts: 345 Karma: 3473 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Device: iRex iLiad v1, Blackberry Tour, Kindle DX, iPad.	Liza Daly's example (linked by charleski above) is a great place to start. Two important things to note: Inline scripts do not work in iBooks. You must write your script in a separate file and embed it using Code: <script type="text/javascript" src="script.js"></script> Scripts aren't allowed to access remote files. Also, I think I recall that you're limited to embedding ONE javascript file in your html. But I could be wrong about that.

11-22-2010, 07:57 PM	#7
whbenson Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 493532 Join Date: May 2010 Device: ipad	FWIW, the following sample code works in both Sigil and iBooks. Code: <?xml version="1.0"?> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <title></title> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ alert("screen width=" + screen.width); //]]> </script> </head> <body> </body> </html> Also, a workaround to editing javascript files in Sigil is to give the file a .css extension and put it in the Styles folder. Both iBooks and Sigil are happy with this. -Bill

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11-20-2010, 05:12 AM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,542 Karma: 19001583 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Javascript is not supported by the ePUB spec, nor by most ePUB readers.

11-22-2010, 12:51 AM	#4
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,381 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	Probably not what you want to do. Try this

11-22-2010, 06:49 AM	#5
charleski Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1281258 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	As Jellby said, the current standard doesn't provide for embedded media or scripting. There are a couple of non-standard solutions, though they should only be used if you are only targeting a specific reading device. Here's Liza Daly's post on using JavaScript with iBooks. As with the other link, this will only work on the iPad. Adobe's reading system will recognise flash elements, there's an example here. This won't work on the majority of device implementations, but does work on the desktop reader.

11-24-2010, 02:20 PM	#8
Vijay Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: ADE	i tried with monocle reader, its too supporting javascript. @ Bill. your example is good, i tried with that its working. thnks..

09-27-2011, 09:26 PM	#9
killercatfish Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: iPad	Hello! I have watched liza's video and am pumped about the prospects for education. Any advice on where to read up/find examples on actually putting together an ePub with javascript and interactivity? Thanks!

09-27-2011, 10:31 PM	#10
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,381 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	G'gay Killa' welcome to the forums. You could try Liz Castro's comments. Be aware that adding Java to an ePub will limit your audience. I don't think many reading devices will support it.

11-07-2011, 06:46 AM	#11
gus_ Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: ipad	bill, i have tried the exact code you posted, and it crashes sigil. the alert window pops up twice, then a fatal error occurs. i am using windows 7 64 bit and sigil 0.4.2 any ideas what may cause this behavior?

11-07-2011, 07:20 AM	#12
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Could be anything. Javascript is not supported as far as I know and it is still not in the specifications of ePUB. So it is kind of hit and miss.