HTML?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

So, you've to learn HTML5, SVG, and CSS to know EPUB?

A basic, slightly boring (visual stylistically) is really simple HTML/CSS.

CSS is just a way to centralize (in the book), styling rules, rather than use a style= every place.

Change the CSS entry for a class= usage and all uses follow.

SVG allows tighter image manipulation. It is not required (if you don't mind aspect distorted images on some devices) Sigil has a SVG plugin available, to do the heavy lifting

IMHO the harder part of EPUB creation is avoiding device (specific) limitations.
eg. my early device did not center a nn% HR. Want it centered... force that with the left margin ((100-HRwidth)/2)%
I made a 'sampler' of code ideas for a more fancy rendering of chapter titles. That was a great way to learn and use the Box Model'

[1eduard]

Ok, many thanks!

[1eduard]

There are many different devices! So. what EPUB do you use? Is there a standard EPUB?

[Ashjuk]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

So, you've to learn HTML5, SVG, and CSS to know EPUB?

This is a site that I have found useful at times. I think it is mainly aimed at web designers, but a lot also applies to epub design too.

https://www.w3schools.com/

[1eduard]

Which browser is the best to read EPUB files? (my browser says that it doesn't support them!)

[theducks]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

Which browser is the best to read EPUB files? (my browser says that it doesn't support them!)

EPUB just shares some things with HTML.

There are VIEWER's for EPUB2 and EPUB3, that are device (OS) specific (the reason you TEST and compromise your code to fit your market.
Sigil and Calibre both have viewers. Both SUFFER from being over tolerant of errors (looks fine, but won't work on many devices).
Calibre viewer also has a command-line version. Sigil has a Preview as part of the editor.

The pros have a table top full of many REAL devices (emulators may permit stuff that does not work on devices) for their final tests.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

Which browser is the best to read EPUB files? (my browser says that it doesn't support them!)

I don't think any of the 'popular' browsers support viewing EPUB directly (Edge did, but MS dropped it), however they all have EPUB viewer add-ons.

BR

[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

Which browser is the best to read EPUB files? (my browser says that it doesn't support them!)

Use Windows/Mac?

• Adobe Digital Editions (ADE)

It's an actual EPUB-reader program...

but nothing beats testing on an actual, physical ereader. (A Kobo, Nook, [Kindle], etc.)

Why Test Using Actual Devices? The devices are a lot more strict + a lot less lenient compared to browsers.

While you're messing with different:

• margins
• fonts
• font sizes
• rotation
• [...]

you may run across bugs/issues that ADE/browsers don't show.

(For example, some older ereaders would throw away all CSS if you had the tiniest error inside. Browsers may trick you into thinking everything is perfect, ignoring just that broken line.)

Use Android/iOS? If you only have a cellphone/tablet, then you can use a standards-compliant EPUB reader:

• On Android
  
  • PocketBook Reader
    
  • Gitden Reader
    
    • This was one of my favorites, but sadly, the creator ran into health problems. Older version APKs are still floating around though.
      
• On iOS
  
  • iBooks
    
    • Although this is closer to a browser (letting many things slide compared to actual ereaders).
• Still want to use a browser? (Chrome/Firefox/Edge)
  
  • Thorium Reader
    
    • Again, while this follows much of the latest EPUB standards, it is very lenient compared to older ereaders.

Originally Posted by 1eduard

What do I need to know about HTML using Sigil?

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Really.

Just keep your HTML+CSS very simple, building yourself up step-by-step... and you can guarantee it'll work across devices + not break.

For your typical book, all you'll really need is basic HTML:

• <h1> -> <h6> = Headings
  
  • Used for Part/Chapter Titles
• <p> = Paragraphs
• <blockquote> = Long quotes

then, for CSS, you'll need is a handful of simple CSS classes:

• First paragraphs
  
  • With no indent.
• Scenebreak
  
  • Centered Asterisks.
• Occasional Canter/Right-aligned text
• [...]

Example HTML:

Spoiler:

<h1>Chapter 1</h1>

<p class="first">This is an example first sentence.</p>

<p class="scenebreak">* * *</p>

<p class="first">And the beginning of a new scene.</p>

<p>Today, it was a dark and stormy night.</p>

Example CSS:

Spoiler:

h1, h2, h3, h4 {
	text-align: center;
	text-indent: 0;
}

p {
	margin-top: 0;
	margin-bottom: 0;
	line-height: 1.2em;
	text-align: justify;
	text-indent: 2em;
}

p.first {
	text-indent: 0;
}

p.scenebreak {
	text-align: center;
	margin-top: 1em;
	margin-bottom: 1em;
}

If you want more basic CSS/Styles info, please see my posts in:

• 2020: "eBook Formatting in Sigil"
  
  • Specifically Posts #46, 50, 52.

And like others said, MR's EPUB Library is a good place to look. Open up ebooks and see how they work.

* * *

Side Note: If you want an example EPUB, see this 2021 book published by FEE (Foundation for Economic Education):

• "Homeschooling in the Time of COVID-19" by Kerry McDonald

That HTML+CSS is pretty much what I've used across all 600+ ebooks I've worked on.

(I only do extremely minor tweaks here and there if needed.)

* * *

A lot of the other stuff is just thinking about all the different ways users may be reading your ebooks. For example:

• Don't specify black text, because some users read in Night Mode.
  
  • Black background + forced black text = bad time.
• Don't do images of tables! Use HTML <table>s!
  
  • Text-to-Speech can't read images of tables.
• Don't use images of foreign characters! Use the actual Unicode characters!

[theducks]

my pet peeve: Lousy Alt= values
If you are going to use them, make them useful. (terse is OK)

eg.
alt='picture' . OF WHAT!
alt='chapter' . to terse... gimme a number to go with that graphical chapter title
alt='' . A waste of bytes. (was this just to keep some check program happy?)

[1eduard]

Ok, many thanks!

(sorry, I didn't have internet for 2 weeks!)

[1eduard]

I live in The Netherlands, so the book shall be in Dutch.


But om my computer my keyboard has to be set in English US?

[1eduard]

Is the best way to write my e-book on the computer and check it on smartfones/tablets (e.g. I've a Samsung smartfone/Android)?

[1eduard]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

I live in The Netherlands, so the book shall be in Dutch.


But om my computer my keyboard has to be set in English US?

(P.s. I use myself LINUX!)

[1eduard]

What do they mean with UPLOADER (library/EPUB books)?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by 1eduard

Is the best way to write my e-book on the computer and check it on smartfones/tablets (e.g. I've a Samsung smartfone/Android)?

AFTER validating
Nothing beats the ACTUAL device.
Emulators only go so far (and sometime permit stuff the device barfs upon).
Real book wranglers have a tablefull of devices. Ask @hitch