Images now showing in ePub after editing in Sigil or Calibre

[postkast2929]

I have encountered a problem of images not showing (X appears instead of an image) in ePub after resaving the file in Sigil or Calibre. If you view the unedited ePub that was exported from the latest version of InDesign, then all images are there.

Only several ePub readers appear not to show images (AlReader, Bazaar); most commonly used like ADE, iBooks show images after edits in Sigil.

It wouldn’t bother me if all ePubs (mine and from other publishers) behaved the same way on those viewers, but I found out that only my ePubs behave this way.

If I take an ePub produced by another publisher, images are shown fine, and when I resave their ePub - images are gone!

I think that all ePubs need further editing in editors after exporting and Sigil and Calibre are most widely used - so I don't understand how other publishers manage to edit ePub and retain all images?!

All ideas are appreciated!

[DaleDe]

How could you possibly think that a reading subforum is appropriate for ePub editing? Moved to a forum where someone might be able to help.

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by postkast2929

I have encountered a problem of images not showing (X appears instead of an image) in ePub after resaving the file in Sigil or Calibre. If you view the unedited ePub that was exported from the latest version of InDesign, then all images are there.

Only several ePub readers appear not to show images (AlReader, Bazaar); most commonly used like ADE, iBooks show images after edits in Sigil.

It wouldn’t bother me if all ePubs (mine and from other publishers) behaved the same way on those viewers, but I found out that only my ePubs behave this way.

If I take an ePub produced by another publisher, images are shown fine, and when I resave their ePub - images are gone!

I think that all ePubs need further editing in editors after exporting and Sigil and Calibre are most widely used - so I don't understand how other publishers manage to edit ePub and retain all images?!

All ideas are appreciated!

I cannot say how those readers will actually show the ePUB or the images, but images in an ePUB are not exactly rocketscience and both the Sigil editor and Calibre editor have tools to help you more.

Now, since I am the most experienced in the Sigil editor, I will use that as example. What is important to know, is that Sigil enforces a certain internal folder structure. When you open an ePUB in Sigil, the files are moved to that folder structure. For images that folder will be '/Images'. Notice the capital I. In that folder the images are stored and organized. Images must be added to the ePUB! They are stored inside the ePUB.

A link to an image is structured like this:

<img src="../Image/example.jpg" alt="picture of an example" />

There is also a button that will insert an image you select at the location of the cursor with the correct coding.

This way images will/should show on all readers and reading programs.

[HarryT]

I agree with Toxaris that the most likely explanation is that your images are in the wrong folder in the eBook structure.

[postkast2929]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

I cannot say how those readers will actually show the ePUB or the images, but images in an ePUB are not exactly rocketscience and both the Sigil editor and Calibre editor have tools to help you more.

Now, since I am the most experienced in the Sigil editor, I will use that as example. What is important to know, is that Sigil enforces a certain internal folder structure. When you open an ePUB in Sigil, the files are moved to that folder structure. For images that folder will be '/Images'. Notice the capital I. In that folder the images are stored and organized. Images must be added to the ePUB! They are stored inside the ePUB.

A link to an image is structured like this:

<img src="../Image/example.jpg" alt="picture of an example" />

There is also a button that will insert an image you select at the location of the cursor with the correct coding.

This way images will/should show on all readers and reading programs.

Thank you! Images are all in the correct places with correct paths.
It turned out that because Sigil modifies the structure, the Windows version of AlReader can't find them.

[postkast2929]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I agree with Toxaris that the most likely explanation is that your images are in the wrong folder in the eBook structure.

Thank you! Images are all in the correct places with correct paths.
It turned out that because Sigil modifies the structure, the Windows version of AlReader can't find them.

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by postkast2929

Thank you! Images are all in the correct places with correct paths.
It turned out that because Sigil modifies the structure, the Windows version of AlReader can't find them.

Then I recommend complaining at the creators of AlReader, since their product if faulty! It does not matter where the images are located, as long as the links are correct.

[JSWolf]

The low usage of AlReader & Bazaar makes them rather irrelevant.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by postkast2929

Thank you! Images are all in the correct places with correct paths.
It turned out that because Sigil modifies the structure, the Windows version of AlReader can't find them.

You should file a bug with AlReader. There is only one file in an ePub that has a fixed location. (From our wiki on ePub) The container.xml is a required file with a required name. It must be in the META-INF folder. All other folders are optional and can be any name the user chooses. The container.xml file shows the filename and location of the OPF file.

So long as the rules about palthnames are met all files will be found and used properly. The root of the ePub file is / in a pathname. Otherwise you can use relative paths to find other files.

Dale

[fbrzvnrnd]

Originally Posted by postkast2929

I think that all ePubs need further editing in editors after exporting and Sigil and Calibre are most widely used - so I don't understand how other publishers manage to edit ePub and retain all images?!

All ideas are appreciated!

is the ePub validated after the Sigil open/save?

[theducks]

Sigil and Calibre are both forgiving of some minor errors

RMSDK is mostly the opposite. Any CSS error and the whole CSS can get tossed

Validate your CSS as well

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by theducks

RMSDK is mostly the opposite. Any CSS error and the whole CSS can get tossed

Forget errors, ADE/RMSDK will toss the whole CSS file just for including things that rely on a complete implementation of the CSS parsing specification even if they're syntactically correct and just beyond ADE's comprehension....

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dgatwood

Forget errors, ADE/RMSDK will toss the whole CSS file just for including things that rely on a complete implementation of the CSS parsing specification even if they're syntactically correct and just beyond ADE's comprehension....

I kind of like that ADE tosses the CSS because of an error. That way you know you do have an error and can then go and track it down to fix it.

[Turtle91]

Fortunately, that is not the standard. A standards compliant renderer would gracefully degrade and simply ignore the offending css...not the whole flipping file!

It is easy enough to check your css file without using the "throw the baby out with the bathwater" technique.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

Fortunately, that is not the standard. A standards compliant renderer would gracefully degrade and simply ignore the offending css...not the whole flipping file!

It is easy enough to check your css file without using the "throw the baby out with the bathwater" technique.

I will say this once more. ADE is THE STANDARD for rendering ePub.

Now, if you have an error in your CSS, ignoring the entire CSS is a lot easier to know you have an error. I know right away and can then go and fix it.