Repeating table headers

[DrChiper]

Working on a EPUB2 document (not kepub) with a table spanning multiple pages (on my kobo), I figured it would be nice to have the table header repeating itself for the benefit of the reader. Well, I used the obvious setting below, which did not work of course (on my kobo, but also other devices).

thead { display: table-header-group; }

So my question: Has anybody ever been able to make this work? On a kobo? On any device?

[Quoth]

Does anything on this work?
https://www.w3schools.com/html//html_table_headers.asp

It's maybe one of many things that works on websites and not in ebooks.

I don't do text books or similar, really just novels, so I've only experience with tables on websites and that not for years due to using CMS and plugins.

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Does anything on this work?
https://www.w3schools.com/html//html_table_headers.asp

I've seen those, but they won't work. Not when crossing a page boundary. Problem is that repeating table headings are not clearly defined in the CSS specs, lest it is implemented in ereaders. But you never know.

Originally Posted by Quoth

I don't do text books or similar, really just novels, so I've only experience with tables on websites and that not for years due to using CMS and plugins.

I sometimes create my own ebooks and like to include an appendix containing all relevant info, references, etc. By adding them to the book they won't get lost as long as the ebook itself does not get lost

[Karellen]

I've tried to get repeating table headings working on the Libra 2 and never could. I guess the Libra 2 software ignores repeating table headers along with the <tfoot> tag.

I tried with the following...

<thead>
  <tr>
    <th></th>
    <th></th>
  </tr>
</thead>

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/.../Element/thead

[Anak]

I don't suspect it will work but worth a try.
Perhaps it is supported by epub3, convert the file to epub3.

I would also suggest to test the epub3 file with the kepub renderer by changing the file extension from .epub to kepub.epub

If this does work you can at least convert the final epub2 to epub3.

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by Karellen

I've tried to get repeating table headings working on the Libra 2 and never could. I guess the Libra 2 software ignores repeating table headers along with the <tfoot> tag.

Well, Libra 2 works with the <thead>, as my following construct is working for the header:

  thead tr td {
    border-bottom: solid 2px;
    background: #eee;
  }

I found this site also handy.

What is not working is the "zebra" setting (alternate row coloring):

  tbody tr:nth-child(even) {
    background: #eee;
  }

Currently the Libra 2 does not recognize the ":nth-child" selector and such. It does work on the PocketBook app though.
Oh well.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

I've seen those, but they won't work. Not when crossing a page boundary. Problem is that repeating table headings are not clearly defined in the CSS specs, lest it is implemented in ereaders. But you never know.


I sometimes create my own ebooks and like to include an appendix containing all relevant info, references, etc. By adding them to the book they won't get lost as long as the ebook itself does not get lost

Try KePub and see if your table header works there.

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by Anak

I don't suspect it will work but worth a try.
Perhaps it is supported by epub3, convert the file to epub3.

I would also suggest to test the epub3 file with the kepub renderer by changing the file extension from .epub to kepub.epub

If this does work you can at least convert the final epub2 to epub3.

I want to keep clear of KEPUB files as they disable selection and marking on Kobo devices.
EPUB2 >> EPUB3 might work, but I have no clue yet how Kobo's support is for EPUB3 (I suspect very minimal at the moment), but I can give it a shot.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

I want to keep clear of KEPUB files as they disable selection and marking on Kobo devices.

Using kepubify (standalone) or the KoboTouchExtended driver on calibre will allow selection and marking to work as they add the required spans.

Originally Posted by DrChiper

EPUB2 >> EPUB3 might work, but I have no clue yet how Kobo's support is for EPUB3 (I suspect very minimal at the moment), but I can give it a shot.

ePub 3 support by the RMSDK renderer on Kobo ereaders is better but the WebKit renderer used to kepub is still more feature complete. I'd give it a try but would not get overly optimistic.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

ePub 3 support by the RMSDK renderer on Kobo ereaders is better but the WebKit renderer used to kepub is still more feature complete. I'd give it a try but would not get overly optimistic.

ePub 3 support on version of RMSDK used by Kobo is quite poor. Access (ued by KePub) is much better for ePub 3. For example, small-caps does not work with RMSDK but does with Access. small-caps does work with the current version of RMSDK but Kobo uses some version 10 instead of the current version 11.xx

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Access (ued by KePub) is much better for ePub 3.

Just a note that the renderer used by Kobo is no longer ACCESS. The current renderer is based on Readium's WebKit based renderer for which ACCESS is an ancestor.

[DrChiper]

EPUB2 >> EPUB3 does not work for repeating headers and selector "nth-child": I would say kobo Libra 2 behaves further the same.

Now trying the kepub, but first unfreezing Libra 2 as it stopped working (happens from time to time).

Update:
KEPUB does honor selector "nth-child", but does not show repeating headers. So I guess that like most implementations the display: table-header-group; is regarded for printing only, hence not supported.

Update 2:
Kobo's EPUB uses just CSS 2.01: nothing more.
Kobo's KEPUB seems to use CSS 3.x: the selectors I tested (mind not all!) work.
Repeating headers are still a pleasant dream, though.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

EPUB2 >> EPUB3 does not work for repeating headers and selector "nth-child": I would say kobo Libra 2 behaves further the same.

Now trying the kepub, but first unfreezing Libra 2 as it stopped working (happens from time to time).

Update:
KEPUB does honor selector "nth-child", but does not show repeating headers. So I guess that like most implementations the display: table-header-group; is regarded for printing only, hence not supported.

Read this thread. It may help.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=347972

[DrChiper]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Read this thread. It may help.

Interesting, but it does not work for me.

I found this which explained some. Kobo has problems with detecting page-breaks, which is the trigger for the repeating table headers.
Other devices seem to have the same issue.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

Interesting, but it does not work for me.

Maybe it just cannot be done.