Footnotes backlink, how to?

theant · 02-04-2018, 05:18 AM

Hello, how to get backlink for footnotes? Is there a simple way to do it?

Notjohn · 02-04-2018, 10:39 AM

For me, the simple way is to finish up the book in Word, convert the footnotes to endnotes (it's a one-click process), and then clean up the html before opening it in Sigil. Word does a splendid job with this particular task.

I do however generally move the anchor back to the beginning of the paragraph or anyhow the sentence, because Kindle especially has a tendency to return the reader simply to the footnote number, which hangs disconcertingly at the top left of the screen. If the endnote is at all lengthy or interesting, the reader might well have forgetten the context.

I also get rid of the superscript, instead enclosing the number in square brackets for visibility. Superscripts irritatingly increase the spacing between the line they're on and the line above, which to me looks sloppy.

Tex2002ans · 02-04-2018, 11:13 AM

Best to keep the code very simple.

This would go in your text:

Code:

<p>This is an example sentence.<a href="#fn1" id="ft1">[1]</a></p>

And this would go at the bottom of your file:

Code:

<p><a href="#ft1" id="fn1">[1]</a> This is a footnote.</p>

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notjohn

I also get rid of the superscript, instead enclosing the number in square brackets for visibility.

Using brackets instead of superscript is a good recommendation. It also makes it much easier to click, and it is better for Accessibility reasons (poor eyesight).

GrannyGrump · 02-05-2018, 01:56 AM

I have also seen a few ebooks (from a free website, but can't remember whose) which enclose the link in "less-than / greater-than" signs: < >.

I have not decided if this is brilliance or lunacy.

BetterRed · 02-05-2018, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrannyGrump

I have also seen a few ebooks (from a free website, but can't remember whose) which enclose the link in "less-than / greater-than" signs: < >.

I have not decided if this is brilliance or lunacy.

I'd vote for the latter.

When I want to dispense with the superscript numbers, I enclose it in '«' and '»'. I used brackets for a while, but when reading the text I tended to parse it as an array index named by the preceding word

The guillemets work for me on English texts, but they would look a bit weird in languages that use them to mark dialogue, such as French - who said '14 (quatorze)'.

BR

roger64 · 02-05-2018, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex2002ans

Using brackets instead of superscript is a good recommendation. It also makes it much easier to click, and it is better for Accessibility reasons (poor eyesight).

I too add brackets with a plain regex and I have this with Epub3 produced with writer2xhtml (1.6. alpha)

in the references

Code:

  <body>
    <section epub:type="rearnotes">
      <h1>Notes</h1>
      <aside epub:type="rearnote" id="ftn1">
        <p class="note"><a class="noteSymbol" href="../Text/chapter6.xhtml#bodyftn1">1</a> <i>Tamerlan le Grand</i> drame en deux actes de Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593). <i>(N.d.T)</i></p>
      </aside>
       .../...

and in the text, you find this

Code:

 Grand<span class="noteanchor"><a epub:type="noteref" href="../Text/chapter49.xhtml#ftn1" id="bodyftn1">[1]</a></span> avec ...

Tex2002ans · 02-05-2018, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

When I want to dispense with the superscript numbers, I enclose it in '«' and '»'. [...] The guillemets work for me on English texts, but they would look a bit weird in languages that use them to mark dialogue, such as French - who said '14 (quatorze)'.

Probably not the best solution because of kerning. Depending on the program/renderer/font, extra space may get added around guillemets.

Or text-to-speech may handle quotation mark characters differently from parenthesis/brackets.

Line-breaking may also be handled slightly differently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrannyGrump

I have also seen a few ebooks (from a free website, but can't remember whose) which enclose the link in "less-than / greater-than" signs: < >.

I have not decided if this is brilliance or lunacy.

Yuck!

I can imagine the text-to-speech now:

<1> = "Less than 1 more than"

JSWolf · 02-05-2018, 01:41 PM

I cannot stand subscript link in an eBook. Too small and easily missed.

st_albert · 02-06-2018, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger64

I too add brackets with a plain regex and I have this with Epub3 produced with writer2xhtml (1.6. alpha)

Hmm, was that a typo or is there a version 1.6 alpha out there? If so, I couldn't find it anywhere. I'm on 1.5 alpha.

roger64 · 02-06-2018, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st_albert

Hmm, was that a typo or is there a version 1.6 alpha out there? If so, I couldn't find it anywhere. I'm on 1.5 alpha.

No typo. This latest has been compiled by Doitsu from the 1.6. source repository (it's alpha alpha

but not published). You may contact him.

It's stable -at least for my use- and has two improvements.
- backlink code (as above)
- suppression of the deprecated cellspace attribute for tables (for Epub3) which triggered an Epubcheck warning.

roger64 · 02-07-2018, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roshni Patel

For Backlinks do you mean to say after footnotes are ready for publish?

If you ask me (unsure), yes the above code is the one you'll find in the xhtml files of the Epub3.

Some corresponding code must be inserted in the CSS sheet to make it work.
YMMV, I use this because I like all the anchors to use the same "normal" style (not slanted):

Code:

a:link {
  color: green;
  background-color: transparent;
  text-decoration: none;
}
p.note {
  margin-top: 10px;
  font-size: 0.9em;
}
.noteanchor {
  margin-left: 5px;
  font-weight: normal;
  font-style: normal;
  font-size: smaller;
  vertical-align: text-top;
  color: green;
}
.noteSymbol {
  font-size: 130%;
  font-weight: normal;
}

JSWolf · 02-07-2018, 07:13 AM

I know the normal thing to do is to have a smaller font size for the footnotes symbol. But with eBooks, that's a bad idea. What I prefer is something like [1] or[*] at a normal font size. It's easier to see and easier to press.

roger64 · 02-07-2018, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I know the normal thing to do is to have a smaller font size for the footnotes symbol. But with eBooks, that's a bad idea.../...

@JSWolf

I had previously thought that English was your first language -contrary to me. Well, let me explain : when someone writes YMMV (your mileage may vary) like I did above, it means it will give you an example, just a personal view. I also chose green colour, you may prefer red or blue, It's fine too. It is childish to immediately jump like a shark on the tiniest bit to affirm yourself wihout even trying to assess it on a general way. You miss the point.

You seem to enjoy using this kind of definite statements* for expressing personal views. This harshness, this "fatwa-like" tendency of yours, really puts you in a bad light. After so many years, it's a pity you still seem to be unaware of it. I speak just out of kindness for you.

* like not so long ago for example: "Linux Libertine is ugly", but there are others, not to speak about Epub3...

JSWolf · 02-08-2018, 06:53 AM

What part of prefer do you take as fact?

02-04-2018, 05:18 AM	#1
theant Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Sony PRST1	Footnotes backlink, how to? Hello, how to get backlink for footnotes? Is there a simple way to do it?

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02-04-2018, 10:39 AM	#2
Notjohn mostly an observer Posts: 1,515 Karma: 987654 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kindle	For me, the simple way is to finish up the book in Word, convert the footnotes to endnotes (it's a one-click process), and then clean up the html before opening it in Sigil. Word does a splendid job with this particular task. I do however generally move the anchor back to the beginning of the paragraph or anyhow the sentence, because Kindle especially has a tendency to return the reader simply to the footnote number, which hangs disconcertingly at the top left of the screen. If the endnote is at all lengthy or interesting, the reader might well have forgetten the context. I also get rid of the superscript, instead enclosing the number in square brackets for visibility. Superscripts irritatingly increase the spacing between the line they're on and the line above, which to me looks sloppy.

02-05-2018, 01:56 AM	#4
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,200 Karma: 34977896 Join Date: May 2011 Location: JAPAN (US expatriate) Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	I have also seen a few ebooks (from a free website, but can't remember whose) which enclose the link in "less-than / greater-than" signs: < >. I have not decided if this is brilliance or lunacy.

02-05-2018, 01:41 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I cannot stand subscript link in an eBook. Too small and easily missed.

02-07-2018, 07:13 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I know the normal thing to do is to have a smaller font size for the footnotes symbol. But with eBooks, that's a bad idea. What I prefer is something like [1] or[*] at a normal font size. It's easier to see and easier to press.

02-08-2018, 06:53 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What part of prefer do you take as fact?

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