Table strangeness in epub/iBooks

Psymon · 10-17-2013, 02:30 PM

I'm trying to make a table for my epub, it's three columns wide (one word per cell), but probably 100+ rows long. For some reason when the rows get to the end of the page, the lines get split in half -- they don't wrap as a whole over to the next page, but I end up with the top part of that row (letters/words) at the bottom of the page, with bottom half coming out on the next page.

Please see the attached image and you'll see what I mean.

Anyone know what's going on there? I suppose I could "fix" it, probably, by doing each and every table row as a separate table, but I would think that it should work okay just doing it the normal, usual way.

Any ideas?

Ron

Toxaris · 10-17-2013, 02:37 PM

I think that is an iBooks issue, I haven't seen it in an ePUB. You could try go into the content.opf file and in the spine section add linear="no" to the document that is the table. On iBooks it will then open in its own window.
Be aware that this only works in iBooks!

Psymon · 10-17-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

I think that is an iBooks issue, I haven't seen it in an ePUB. You could try go into the content.opf file and in the spine section add linear="no" to the document that is the table. On iBooks it will then open in its own window.
Be aware that this only works in iBooks!

My epub only renders correctly (with that "olde"-style font) in iBooks anyway!

I suppose that's one way to go, to have it non-linear -- but maybe I'll just try it doing each row as a separate table. Silly that I should have to resort to that, but if that's what it takes to get it to work, well, that's what it'll take!

Thanks for the input/suggestion!

Psymon · 10-17-2013, 03:21 PM

Just to follow up... doing each row as a separate table did the trick!

PeterT · 10-17-2013, 03:24 PM

@Psymon: You might want to look at some of the eBooks from Liz Castro (see http://www.elizabethcastro.com/ ) and her blog http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/ for tips on ePub creation for iBooks.

Her Blog DOES contain a wide range of topics so you might need to fillter by eBooks, or ePubs or iPod or iBooks to find appropriate posts.

mrmikel · 10-17-2013, 04:14 PM

If you only care about ibooks (about 5% of the market), no problem. Tables are a pain in epubs generally since they can be blown up by someone increasing the text size.

If someone does this, it may make your two pages into six or so. It is possible to lose track of what is being referred to. It would be a favor to your reader if you intend to share it at all to break it up into more or less page size hunks, perhaps at the end of the chapter or book so the text flow is not broken trying to skip over the pages the table occupies.

If it is just for your own private use, lay it out however you like.

Psymon · 10-18-2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

@Psymon: You might want to look at some of the eBooks from Liz Castro (see http://www.elizabethcastro.com/ ) and her blog http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/ for tips on ePub creation for iBooks.

Actually, while trying to resolve problems and searching for solutions, I've ended up there quite often (among other places)! But when I'm still stuck, it's easier to ask questions here.

Psymon · 10-18-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmikel

If you only care about ibooks (about 5% of the market), no problem.

Well, whether for good or bad, what I'm doing only works in iBooks (although it works beautifully in that!) -- so I don't have much choice in that matter. But that's okay with me, I'm doing this more for the sake of "art" than "profits".

Quote:

Tables are a pain in epubs generally since they can be blown up by someone increasing the text size.

If someone does this, it may make your two pages into six or so. It is possible to lose track of what is being referred to.

Oh, I understand, and fully agree -- I don't think it should really be an issue for my table, though, as it's basically just three columns, with one word in each column. A person would have to REALLY blow up the text for it to become an issue, and even then it should still work okay in portrait orientation (as opposed to two-page landscape).

Quote:

It would be a favor to your reader if you intend to share it at all to break it up into more or less page size hunks, perhaps at the end of the chapter or book so the text flow is not broken trying to skip over the pages the table occupies.

Yup, that's exactly where I'm putting my table -- at the end!

10-17-2013, 02:30 PM	#1
Psymon Chief Bohemian Misfit Posts: 571 Karma: 462964 Join Date: May 2013 Device: iPad, ADE	Table strangeness in epub/iBooks I'm trying to make a table for my epub, it's three columns wide (one word per cell), but probably 100+ rows long. For some reason when the rows get to the end of the page, the lines get split in half -- they don't wrap as a whole over to the next page, but I end up with the top part of that row (letters/words) at the bottom of the page, with bottom half coming out on the next page. Please see the attached image and you'll see what I mean. Anyone know what's going on there? I suppose I could "fix" it, probably, by doing each and every table row as a separate table, but I would think that it should work okay just doing it the normal, usual way. Any ideas? Ron Attached Thumbnails

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10-17-2013, 02:37 PM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I think that is an iBooks issue, I haven't seen it in an ePUB. You could try go into the content.opf file and in the spine section add linear="no" to the document that is the table. On iBooks it will then open in its own window. Be aware that this only works in iBooks!

10-17-2013, 03:21 PM	#4
Psymon Chief Bohemian Misfit Posts: 571 Karma: 462964 Join Date: May 2013 Device: iPad, ADE	Just to follow up... doing each row as a separate table did the trick!

10-17-2013, 03:24 PM	#5
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,511 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	@Psymon: You might want to look at some of the eBooks from Liz Castro (see http://www.elizabethcastro.com/ ) and her blog http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/ for tips on ePub creation for iBooks. Her Blog DOES contain a wide range of topics so you might need to fillter by eBooks, or ePubs or iPod or iBooks to find appropriate posts.

10-17-2013, 04:14 PM	#6
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	If you only care about ibooks (about 5% of the market), no problem. Tables are a pain in epubs generally since they can be blown up by someone increasing the text size. If someone does this, it may make your two pages into six or so. It is possible to lose track of what is being referred to. It would be a favor to your reader if you intend to share it at all to break it up into more or less page size hunks, perhaps at the end of the chapter or book so the text flow is not broken trying to skip over the pages the table occupies. If it is just for your own private use, lay it out however you like.