Creating Professional Looking Epubs

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mrmikel

It seems to me an inline TOC does no harm and since it is only electrons we are wasting, why not, if the creator wishes. If someone doesn't want to bother to read it, then they can use epub toc to jump directly to the first chapter.

I think it may provide the new ereader user with some level of comfort by being similar to what they are already familiar with.

Most fiction pBooks do not actually have a ToC between the cover. So really, a ToC is an added luxury and since it wasn't there in the first place, the reader could not have gotten used to it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dwig

Yes there is a reason. The inliine ToC serves as an addenda to the title page by giving an easily read list of the several titles included in the collection. Its purpose is not so much to the a linked ToC, in fact I don't feel links are necessary. If a title page is not a "waste of space" then inline a ToC of this nature isn't a waste either.

The external ToC works very well for "giving an easily read list of the several titles included in the collection".

+Book 01
+Book 02
+Book 03
+book 04

Then when you go to Book 01 and expand it, you get all the ToC entries for that book. It's a lot easier then having to jump around to 4 different internal ToCs. Plus, it looks nicer, works better and is easier to get to.

The way you suggest means we have to go to the external ToC to then have to jump to a page in the book to then jump to someplace else. That's extra hassle not needed at all.

[dwig]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The external ToC works very well for "giving an easily read list of the several titles included in the collection"....
The way you suggest means we have to go to the external ToC to then have to jump to a page in the book to then jump to someplace else. ...

You seem to have totally misunderstood my posts. I'm sorry if I worded them poorly.

• I am not suggesting that the "inline" ToC be in any way a replacement for the "proper" ToC.
• I am not suggesting that the "proper" ToC be in any way reduced or abbreviated so that jumping to the inline Toc is ever necessary.
• I am not suggesting that the "inline" ToC necessarily has active links; its having them is merely added functionality.

What I'm advocating is that omnibus editions and collections of short works have a secondary title page in the form of a list of the included titles, the "contents" of the edition, and that this text exist in the primary flow of the book just following the main title page. This way the reader encounters the list without having to even know the book is a collection and without having to take the several step action required with most readers to access the "proper" ToC.

[DaleDe]

What you suggest is perfectly ok. JSWolf always gets way out of shape at the mere mention of an inline TOC and of course everyone in the world should always agree with him.

Dale

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

What you suggest is perfectly ok. JSWolf always gets way out of shape at the mere mention of an inline TOC and of course everyone in the world should always agree with him.

Dale

In an ePub, there is no link to an internal ToC like there can be for Mobipocket. So the internal ToC isn't very useful. The external ToC has a nice easy way to get to it.

[huebi]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In an ePub, there is no link to an internal ToC like there can be for Mobipocket. So the internal ToC isn't very useful.

Please read the user manual of your PRS 650 again.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by huebi

Please read the user manual of your PRS 650 again.

What are you on about? If there is an internal ToC (page of links) there is no easy way to get to it like there it with the external (toc,ncx) ToC. If you think I am wrong, prove it.

[Jellby]

There is the possibility of having a "toc" item in the "guide" of an ePub, but I don't know if there is any reader/program that makes use of it.