Interactive Epubs: XML, HTML, XHTML

fiume · 05-30-2017, 02:17 PM

Which format is best for publishing interactive epubs, XML, HTML, or XHTML?

What are the pros and cons to each of them?

DNSB · 05-30-2017, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiume

Which format is best for publishing interactive epubs, XML, HTML, or XHTML?

What are the pros and cons to each of them?

You really don't have a choice. You pretty much need to go with epub 3.0 which uses XHTML based on the HTML5 standard along with parts the SVG and CSS standards.

The only use I've seen of XML in epubs required converting XML to HTML which all too often was not a pretty sight.

DaleDe · 05-30-2017, 05:32 PM

pure HTML is not good for anything anymore. You need to close the tags. XHTML is a predefined version of XML. It is the defined standard for ePub both version 2 and version 3. Some arbitrary XML implementation is impossible to use without an app that can understand the definitions. There are files inside the ePub structure that are XML. You really need to read our wiki for those terms. Our wiki provides data that is specifically targeted at eBooks. There is a link at the top of the page.

jhowell · 05-30-2017, 05:45 PM

Interactivity is handled in EPUB3 via javascript. Support for this varies across book sellers.

The best way to go about this will depend on where you plan to publish/sell your book.

fbrzvnrnd · 05-31-2017, 03:36 AM

In ePub/KF8 you can only use hypertext in XHTML. In EPUB3 you can use XML SMIL for media overlay, XHTML5 for audio and video, and Javascript for everything else. You can also use the SVG XML format for vector graphics, but SMIL animations are not allowed in ePub2/EPUB3, only Javascript ones in EPUB3.

05-30-2017, 02:17 PM	#1
fiume Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Nook	Interactive Epubs: XML, HTML, XHTML Which format is best for publishing interactive epubs, XML, HTML, or XHTML? What are the pros and cons to each of them?

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05-30-2017, 05:32 PM	#3
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	pure HTML is not good for anything anymore. You need to close the tags. XHTML is a predefined version of XML. It is the defined standard for ePub both version 2 and version 3. Some arbitrary XML implementation is impossible to use without an app that can understand the definitions. There are files inside the ePub structure that are XML. You really need to read our wiki for those terms. Our wiki provides data that is specifically targeted at eBooks. There is a link at the top of the page.

05-30-2017, 05:45 PM	#4
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,496 Karma: 84420419 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Device: Kindles	Interactivity is handled in EPUB3 via javascript. Support for this varies across book sellers. The best way to go about this will depend on where you plan to publish/sell your book.

05-31-2017, 03:36 AM	#5
fbrzvnrnd Fanatic Posts: 554 Karma: 400004 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: ONYX M96	In ePub/KF8 you can only use hypertext in XHTML. In EPUB3 you can use XML SMIL for media overlay, XHTML5 for audio and video, and Javascript for everything else. You can also use the SVG XML format for vector graphics, but SMIL animations are not allowed in ePub2/EPUB3, only Javascript ones in EPUB3.