Page Breaks for Epub with InDesign

markdraper · 07-14-2011, 04:43 AM

Hi this is the first time I am delving into epubs.

I have a book designed with indesign, with images that I wish to convert to a epub for use on ipads, iphones, kindle etc...

but I cannot get the pages to break in the right place. I know that epubs are just really a continuous stream of text and images, but they are just not displaying correctly on the mobile devices.

Can anyone help me with my problem.

Cheers

coldplayplayer · 07-14-2011, 06:05 AM

I managed to get this working today. It may not be the correct way of doing it, but it did work for me.

After I've exported from InDesign as an ePub, I use Calibre to Tweak it. I edit my XHTML and CSS with Notepad++ on the PC or Text Wrangler on my MAC.

In the XHTML, at every point I want to force a page break, I insert the following code:
<h1></h1>

In my CSS for the template I add the following code:
h1{
page-break-before: always;
}

Unsure if page-break-before or page-break-after is the better option. I'm still a NewB when it comes to ePubs so no doubt one of the gurus out there has a better fix, but like I say it definitely worked for me today.

Jellby · 07-14-2011, 06:45 AM

It's better to use something like <div class="pagebreak"></div>, rather than <h1></h1>, which has implicit semantics.

Some readers discard empty divs, so it might be necessary to use <div class="pagebreak"> </div>.

DaleDe · 07-14-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldplayplayer

I managed to get this working today. It may not be the correct way of doing it, but it did work for me.

After I've exported from InDesign as an ePub, I use Calibre to Tweak it. I edit my XHTML and CSS with Notepad++ on the PC or Text Wrangler on my MAC.

In the XHTML, at every point I want to force a page break, I insert the following code:
<h1></h1>

In my CSS for the template I add the following code:
h1{
page-break-before: always;
}

Unsure if page-break-before or page-break-after is the better option. I'm still a NewB when it comes to ePubs so no doubt one of the gurus out there has a better fix, but like I say it definitely worked for me today.

page-break-before is fine. I have used this without problems on many eBooks and as I am not div happy I seldom use them. Others seem to use nothing else.

Dale

markdraper · 07-18-2011, 08:43 AM

thanks for your input, but I am not very of-ay with html, css.

could someone explain in simple terms, sorry to be a pain.

DaleDe · 07-18-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdraper

thanks for your input, but I am not very of-ay with html, css.

could someone explain in simple terms, sorry to be a pain.

This is why we have a wiki. Lots of terms explained.

Dale

eping · 07-18-2011, 11:49 PM

The best way is HTML split .
All eReaders will start a new page with another HTML file,
aboves ways of using CSS will fail on iBooks(on iPad, iPhone)

markdraper · 07-19-2011, 12:24 PM

eping, I have looked for doing a html split, but all I can find is printer page breaks and it does not work on the epubs.

DaleDe · 07-19-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdraper

eping, I have looked for doing a html split, but all I can find is printer page breaks and it does not work on the epubs.

If you have control over the CSS entries you can add the page break there and it will work.

Dale

eping · 07-19-2011, 11:26 PM

You can split a big document into small documents(on chapter), then create a book with these documents.
This is a classic method for InDesign users.

Chang · 07-20-2011, 01:59 AM

Which InDesign version are you using? There are different ways to make page breaks in InDesign.

CS3 & CS4: Divide your .indd file into separate .indd files. Create book from your .indd files and export EPUB from the book. Each .indd file means page break.

CS5: You can use paragraph styles as page breaks. You can edit this from Layout -> Table of Contents Styles. Add the paragraph styles for TOC and make sure those are level one in TOC settings. Then in EPUB export settings you can choose to use your TOC setting and by selecting "Use First Level Entries as Chapter Breaks" it will chop your .indd file wherever there are level one TOC paragraph style.

CS5.5: Almost the same as above but you can select one paragraph style to make page breaks in the EPUB export settings.

No need to play with HTML to create page breaks.

markdraper · 07-20-2011, 05:51 AM

I am using InDesign 5.5 as it was a good deal easier to do anchoring of images to places on the pages.
I'm sure I have tried that, let me have another go.

But is there a way to break the pages, if there is not text with a paragraph style?

Toxaris · 07-20-2011, 06:55 AM

I can't say anything about ID, since I don't use the program. However, a page break can always be forced. Either with a separate document or the attribute 'page-break-before-always'. Try to have each chapter in a separate XHTML document though, that will make things work better.

markdraper · 07-20-2011, 07:18 AM

I have tried that, but it didn't seem to work, should I paste a part of the code I want it to break at?

also, is it just something I paste into the html before the picture, or is there anything else I need to place in the head of the text?

charleski · 07-20-2011, 10:08 AM

Unfortunately, page-break-before won't work on the iPad, which may be why you're having problems. The best solution is to open the file in Sigil and split the book into different files wherever you want a pagebreak.

Alternatively, if you really have to avoid post-processing the exported file, it is possible to do it in InDesign using the method I outlined here.

07-14-2011, 04:43 AM	#1
markdraper Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad, Kindle	Page Breaks for Epub with InDesign Hi this is the first time I am delving into epubs. I have a book designed with indesign, with images that I wish to convert to a epub for use on ipads, iphones, kindle etc... but I cannot get the pages to break in the right place. I know that epubs are just really a continuous stream of text and images, but they are just not displaying correctly on the mobile devices. Can anyone help me with my problem. Cheers

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
epub to mobi loses page breaks	stevent10993	Conversion	5	07-20-2011 12:43 AM
Adding page breaks in Calibre breaks ePubcheck validation	bookraft	Conversion	16	03-01-2011 01:23 PM
PDF to EPUB - page breaks	pops1959	Calibre	0	01-13-2011 07:28 PM
Page breaks - PDF input to ePub output	JoTH	Calibre	9	11-18-2010 04:35 PM
Any way to force page breaks when converting HTML to EPUB	Bierkonig	Calibre	23	10-31-2009 01:51 PM

07-14-2011, 06:05 AM	#2
coldplayplayer Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad / iPhone	I managed to get this working today. It may not be the correct way of doing it, but it did work for me. After I've exported from InDesign as an ePub, I use Calibre to Tweak it. I edit my XHTML and CSS with Notepad++ on the PC or Text Wrangler on my MAC. In the XHTML, at every point I want to force a page break, I insert the following code: <h1></h1> In my CSS for the template I add the following code: h1{ page-break-before: always; } Unsure if page-break-before or page-break-after is the better option. I'm still a NewB when it comes to ePubs so no doubt one of the gurus out there has a better fix, but like I say it definitely worked for me today.

07-14-2011, 06:45 AM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,515 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	It's better to use something like <div class="pagebreak"></div>, rather than <h1></h1>, which has implicit semantics. Some readers discard empty divs, so it might be necessary to use <div class="pagebreak"> </div>.

07-18-2011, 08:43 AM	#5
markdraper Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad, Kindle	thanks for your input, but I am not very of-ay with html, css. could someone explain in simple terms, sorry to be a pain.

07-18-2011, 11:49 PM	#7
eping ePub Maker Posts: 120 Karma: 16 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mordor Device: iPad,Kindle 3, Nook 2	The best way is HTML split . All eReaders will start a new page with another HTML file, aboves ways of using CSS will fail on iBooks(on iPad, iPhone)

07-19-2011, 12:24 PM	#8
markdraper Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad, Kindle	eping, I have looked for doing a html split, but all I can find is printer page breaks and it does not work on the epubs.

07-19-2011, 11:26 PM	#10
eping ePub Maker Posts: 120 Karma: 16 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mordor Device: iPad,Kindle 3, Nook 2	You can split a big document into small documents(on chapter), then create a book with these documents. This is a classic method for InDesign users.

07-20-2011, 01:59 AM	#11
Chang Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 50000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	Which InDesign version are you using? There are different ways to make page breaks in InDesign. CS3 & CS4: Divide your .indd file into separate .indd files. Create book from your .indd files and export EPUB from the book. Each .indd file means page break. CS5: You can use paragraph styles as page breaks. You can edit this from Layout -> Table of Contents Styles. Add the paragraph styles for TOC and make sure those are level one in TOC settings. Then in EPUB export settings you can choose to use your TOC setting and by selecting "Use First Level Entries as Chapter Breaks" it will chop your .indd file wherever there are level one TOC paragraph style. CS5.5: Almost the same as above but you can select one paragraph style to make page breaks in the EPUB export settings. No need to play with HTML to create page breaks.

07-20-2011, 05:51 AM	#12
markdraper Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad, Kindle	I am using InDesign 5.5 as it was a good deal easier to do anchoring of images to places on the pages. I'm sure I have tried that, let me have another go. But is there a way to break the pages, if there is not text with a paragraph style?

07-20-2011, 06:55 AM	#13
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I can't say anything about ID, since I don't use the program. However, a page break can always be forced. Either with a separate document or the attribute 'page-break-before-always'. Try to have each chapter in a separate XHTML document though, that will make things work better.

07-20-2011, 07:18 AM	#14
markdraper Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad, Kindle	I have tried that, but it didn't seem to work, should I paste a part of the code I want it to break at? also, is it just something I paste into the html before the picture, or is there anything else I need to place in the head of the text?

Advert

Advert

07-20-2011, 10:08 AM	#15
charleski Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1281258 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	Unfortunately, page-break-before won't work on the iPad, which may be why you're having problems. The best solution is to open the file in Sigil and split the book into different files wherever you want a pagebreak. Alternatively, if you really have to avoid post-processing the exported file, it is possible to do it in InDesign using the method I outlined here.