epub validation error:

[fflanders]

I did as suggested and went back to indesign and recreated the epub file. That seemed the easiest route.

I then checked the file in the validator and it said it was FINE ... aok.

However, I just tried uploading to smashwords and was informed of the following:

File 'META-INF/encryption.xml' in EPUB not listed in manifest!

Your .epub file is missing one or more elements in its manifest. A complete manifest is required for distribution to Apple.

Here's how Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB) defines "Manifest":"The manifest element lists all the files contained in the package. Each file is represented by an item element, and has the attributes id, href, media-type. All XHTML (content documents), stylesheets, images or other media, embedded fonts, and the NCX file should be listed here."

How would I go about adding this manifest?

[DiapDealer]

Go back to indesign and tell it not to embed fonts in the epub,

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Go back to indesign and tell it not to embed fonts in the epub,

What is it the kids say?

I just can't.


Hitch

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

What is it the kids say?

I just can't.

Do you mean you really can't?
I just assumed that since InDesign is so commonly used, and that since almost no ebook seller's meat-grinder (or other self-submission system) will accept ebooks with obfuscated fonts, that there had to be a way to build epubs sans embedded fonts with ID.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Do you mean you really can't?
I just assumed that since InDesign is so commonly used, and that since almost no ebook seller's meat-grinder (or other self-submission system) will accept ebooks with obfuscated fonts, that there had to be a way to build epubs sans embedded fonts with ID.

Of course, that's not what I meant. Yes, there's a way to do it, sorta. The reality is, the fonts will come out pretty much obfuscated, no matter what. Either subset or obfuscated, or, hey, both.

The simplest way, really, is to rip out the obfuscation from the INDD side; remove all that cruft from the file (the encryption.xml file, if memory serves, off the top of my old decrepit noggin) and rock on. If the designer used cloud-service fonts, sometimes, life is simpler to just replace the cursed things with intact font files, make the book, and THEN subset the fonts, using either Toxaris' wonderful Font Shrinker or Calibre's capability.

My meaning was something else entirely, and you damn well know it, big fella.

Hitch

[Maui]

Originally Posted by Doitsu

1. Change the file extension from .epub to .zip.
2. Double-click the .zip file and extract the .opf file.
3. Update the .opf file.
4. Overwrite the .opf file in the .zip file with the updated version.
5. Close the .zip file.
6. Change the file extension to .epub.

Just would like to add, that in most cases "Open With...." is working fine, so no need to rename.

Doing it in another way and be in a need to rezip it: the mimetype file needs to be the first one and needs to unpacked. Some readers will display the book, some not.

(Not part of your recipe, just want to mention it)

[JSWolf]

Do not use Dreamweaver at all for any part of your eBook. It's not made for handling ePub.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Doitsu

<snip>

If you have a Windows machine and don't want to install Calibre:

1. Change the file extension from .epub to .zip.
2. Double-click the .zip file and extract the .opf file.
3. Update the .opf file.
4. Overwrite the .opf file in the .zip file with the updated version.
5. Close the .zip file.
6. Change the file extension to .epub.

7-Zip is a good tool for all this - it lets you open the epub without needing to change the extension and with the inbuilt editor you can make the changes to the opf (or any other file). Once you have saved the modified file it updates the archive (i.e the epub) and when you exit 7-Zip you have an updated epub. All quite seamless.

BobC

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by BobC

Once you have saved the modified file it updates the archive (i.e the epub) and when you exit 7-Zip you have an updated epub. All quite seamless.

Almost...
7-Zip will also compress the mimetype file while doing this. And there is no guarantee that the mimetype file will be first in the archive any more. Granted: I've not encountered an epub reader that balks at an epub with an out-of-order, compressed mimetype, myself, but epub specs still require it to be uncompressed and first. Best to open/save the updated epub afterward, with an editor that knows exactly how epub archives need to be constructed (like calibre's editor or Sigil) to be safe.

But otherwise, yes... I use 7-Zip in the manner you describe all the time.

[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Almost...
7-Zip will also compress the mimetype file while doing this. And there is no guarantee that the mimetype file will be will be first in the archive any more. [...] Best to open/save the updated epub afterward, with an editor that knows how epub archives need to be constructed. Like calibre's editor or Sigil to be safe.

But otherwise, yes... I use 7-Zip in the manner you describe all the time.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Almost...
7-Zip will also compress the mimetype file while doing this. And there is no guarantee that the mimetype file will be first in the archive any more. Granted: I've not encountered an epub reader that balks at an epub with an out-of-order, compressed mimetype, myself, but epub specs still require it to be uncompressed and first. Best to open/save the updated epub afterward, with an editor that knows exactly how epub archives need to be constructed (like calibre's editor or Sigil) to be safe.

But otherwise, yes... I use 7-Zip in the manner you describe all the time.

Originally Posted by Tex2002ans

if you have WinRAR

Just tell Windows that EPUBs can be opened with WinRAR via explorer's Open With.

You open and edit files from within archive using the OS default handler for the file type, e.g.Notepad++, Vi, TextMate for XHTML; IrfanView, Gimp, Preview for JPEG - etc etc. If you save the file, WinRAR asks if you want to replace the file in the archive.

Not sure if you can edit non-text files in 7zip, I have a historical aversion to it so I don't have it installed.

BR