New to Using Sigil and Having Issues

jester1972 · 04-26-2017, 08:26 AM

I just recently started trying to use Sigil to publish my picture book, but am having a few issues.

The book was created in Inkscape, and all text has been converted to paths, leaving a series of .svg files as individual pages. Within Sigil, I tried to use the .svg files as pages, and the validator said "No Problems" but when I open the book, it is completely empty. I tried to use .png with the same results. I have not tried .jpg yet, but I am wanting to explain my process before I continue to test, in case I am doing it wrong from the get-go.

I open Sigil, click "insert file" icon, choose my file, which appears just fine within Sigil, then insert split mark and repeat the process. Then, I ran the validator with no issues, and saved as .epub. When I open the saved file, it is empty. Will this process work with .jpg or some other format, or is there something else I should be doing? It's an ABC book, so I am not really seeing a need for TOC. I did not enter any meta data, or anything else. I literally used the exact process I mentioned.

I plan to make more picture books in this same process, so any advice will be greatly appreciated. I see that there are a few different ways to insert files, images, etc. So, considering I am using Inkscape with text converted to paths within the illustration, what is the best way to format my Children's books? I can convert my .jpg if that is the issue, but I can't help but feel there is more to publishing my children's books than just inserting the graphic, then split marker. I hope I explained this clearly. LOL Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated.

DiapDealer · 04-26-2017, 08:33 AM

The images will not be visible if they aren't presented via (x)html.

jester1972 · 04-26-2017, 08:43 AM

Oh, OK. Hmmm, that's not good. It will not retain the same image formatting if I convert them. I will try to find something besides Sigil to use for this. Thank you for your reply.

DiapDealer · 04-26-2017, 08:49 AM

You misunderstand. You don't need to convert the images. You just need to use xhtml to display them. Epubs are incapable of presenting raw images. There needs to be html with links to the images.

It doesn't matter how (and with what program) you make your epub, the fact is, epubs are html.

jester1972 · 04-26-2017, 08:59 AM

Oh, that's good news! LOL I have hours and hours into creating this book. I truly need a fairly simple way to make them into pages. Do you have a link to a tutorial that will explain how I can link to these graphics like you mention? I watched a tutorial that did the exact same as I described in the original post, but that doesn't seem to work for me.

KevinH · 04-26-2017, 09:00 AM

Each xhtml page would load one or more svg images in the proper order (even scaling them if need be). The xhtml pages would be listed in order in the spine. Something like that should work on any device that supports svg and svg images. It should be easy to do with Sigil's insert image from book toolbar button.

Perhaps you are thinking of some of the comic book ebook formats that really are nothing more that a zip archive of images files?

jester1972 · 04-26-2017, 09:12 AM

Sorry guys, I am getting more confused as we go. I will do some more research on the basic creation of an ebook with Sigil, then I will be able to ask better questions. It's been years since I have bothered to manipulate or write HTML and have been spending most of my time writing and creating graphics within an interface lately. I know how frustrating it can be when someone comes into a forum without having a clue of what they are trying to accomplish. So, I bow out gracefully for now, but will return once I understand a bit more about Sigil.

KevinH · 04-26-2017, 09:40 AM

You can find an updated user guide (still needing to be proofed and cleaned up) at this Mobileread Link:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...7&postcount=23

Turtle91 · 04-26-2017, 04:45 PM

I'm not sure exactly what the problem is...I have been able to get my svg images to work in a couple different ways.

The first is to wrap the image in a <div> so that I can style it:

Spoiler:

The second is to wrap the image in an svg wrapper:

Spoiler:

I saved this as an ePub and was able to have the images display using either method.

Toxaris · 04-26-2017, 05:15 PM

You missed a third way. You can actually paste the SVG itself into the XHTML instead of a reference to the file:

Code:

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
<div class="img">
<svg height="100" width="100">
  <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" fill="red" />
</svg>
</div>
</body>
</html>

DiapDealer · 04-26-2017, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle91

I'm not sure exactly what the problem is...I have been able to get my svg images to work in a couple different ways.

The problem was that the OP was just adding the images themselves to the epub (Images folder). Nothing more.

The epub validated (naturally), but none of the images rendered when the epub was viewed (which is also quite natural, since no (x)html code referred to those images in any way).

jester1972 · 04-26-2017, 07:00 PM

OH! Now THAT makes sense to me! Thanks guys. Sorry for the late reply, I had to go to work. I watched a few tutorials and really like the way Sigil is set up. Well, when you kind of know what you are trying to accomplish. LOL Yes, I was directly adding the images via "Insert file" function, and nothing else. They showed up, but that was about it.

BetterRed · 04-26-2017, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle91

The second is to wrap the image in an svg wrapper:

I think there's a plugin for doing that.

Doitsu · 04-26-2017, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I think there's a plugin for doing that.

There's InsertImageSVG, however, it doesn't seem to work with image files that have an .svg extension.

BetterRed · 04-27-2017, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doitsu

There's InsertImageSVG, however, it doesn't seem to work with image files that have an .svg extension.

That's the one.

It also doesn't do multi-page tiffs - well not in the way I hoped it might, a long shot to see if I could wrangle a slide show into an ePub

BR

04-26-2017, 08:26 AM	#1
jester1972 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: none	New to Using Sigil and Having Issues I just recently started trying to use Sigil to publish my picture book, but am having a few issues. The book was created in Inkscape, and all text has been converted to paths, leaving a series of .svg files as individual pages. Within Sigil, I tried to use the .svg files as pages, and the validator said "No Problems" but when I open the book, it is completely empty. I tried to use .png with the same results. I have not tried .jpg yet, but I am wanting to explain my process before I continue to test, in case I am doing it wrong from the get-go. I open Sigil, click "insert file" icon, choose my file, which appears just fine within Sigil, then insert split mark and repeat the process. Then, I ran the validator with no issues, and saved as .epub. When I open the saved file, it is empty. Will this process work with .jpg or some other format, or is there something else I should be doing? It's an ABC book, so I am not really seeing a need for TOC. I did not enter any meta data, or anything else. I literally used the exact process I mentioned. I plan to make more picture books in this same process, so any advice will be greatly appreciated. I see that there are a few different ways to insert files, images, etc. So, considering I am using Inkscape with text converted to paths within the illustration, what is the best way to format my Children's books? I can convert my .jpg if that is the issue, but I can't help but feel there is more to publishing my children's books than just inserting the graphic, then split marker. I hope I explained this clearly. LOL Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated.

04-26-2017, 05:15 PM	#10
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	You missed a third way. You can actually paste the SVG itself into the XHTML instead of a reference to the file: Code: <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <title></title> </head> <body> <div class="img"> <svg height="100" width="100"> <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" fill="red" /> </svg> </div> </body> </html>

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04-26-2017, 08:33 AM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,547 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	The images will not be visible if they aren't presented via (x)html.

04-26-2017, 08:43 AM	#3
jester1972 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: none	Oh, OK. Hmmm, that's not good. It will not retain the same image formatting if I convert them. I will try to find something besides Sigil to use for this. Thank you for your reply.

04-26-2017, 08:49 AM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,547 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	You misunderstand. You don't need to convert the images. You just need to use xhtml to display them. Epubs are incapable of presenting raw images. There needs to be html with links to the images. It doesn't matter how (and with what program) you make your epub, the fact is, epubs are html.

04-26-2017, 08:59 AM	#5
jester1972 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: none	Oh, that's good news! LOL I have hours and hours into creating this book. I truly need a fairly simple way to make them into pages. Do you have a link to a tutorial that will explain how I can link to these graphics like you mention? I watched a tutorial that did the exact same as I described in the original post, but that doesn't seem to work for me.

04-26-2017, 09:00 AM	#6
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 7,643 Karma: 5433388 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Each xhtml page would load one or more svg images in the proper order (even scaling them if need be). The xhtml pages would be listed in order in the spine. Something like that should work on any device that supports svg and svg images. It should be easy to do with Sigil's insert image from book toolbar button. Perhaps you are thinking of some of the comic book ebook formats that really are nothing more that a zip archive of images files?

04-26-2017, 09:12 AM	#7
jester1972 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: none	Sorry guys, I am getting more confused as we go. I will do some more research on the basic creation of an ebook with Sigil, then I will be able to ask better questions. It's been years since I have bothered to manipulate or write HTML and have been spending most of my time writing and creating graphics within an interface lately. I know how frustrating it can be when someone comes into a forum without having a clue of what they are trying to accomplish. So, I bow out gracefully for now, but will return once I understand a bit more about Sigil.

04-26-2017, 09:40 AM	#8
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 7,643 Karma: 5433388 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	You can find an updated user guide (still needing to be proofed and cleaned up) at this Mobileread Link: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...7&postcount=23

04-26-2017, 07:00 PM	#12
jester1972 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: none	OH! Now THAT makes sense to me! Thanks guys. Sorry for the late reply, I had to go to work. I watched a few tutorials and really like the way Sigil is set up. Well, when you kind of know what you are trying to accomplish. LOL Yes, I was directly adding the images via "Insert file" function, and nothing else. They showed up, but that was about it.

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