Smashwords ePub on iPad

BigAlien · 11-30-2011, 07:24 PM

Hi there, nice to meet you all (first post and all that)!
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but I couldn't find anything.

I'm having a weird problem trying to get my novel to appear properly in iBooks on my iPad after I've uploaded it to Smashwords. The formatting on every page is fine except on the first 2 pages - the title page and the dedication page. Instead of centring the text it's all left justified (apart from a hyperlink to Smashwords, bizarrely enough).
The thing that's really throwing me is that the formatting appears to be fine in iBooks on my iPhone and when I check on the Adobe Digital Editions reader on my PC.

I've reformatted it many, many times (oh, so very many), I'm using exactly the same styles as I've used elsewhere in the book where they display with no problems. I'm completely stumped.

If you want to see what I mean, this is it:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99280
Use the coupon code CM23Y to get it free unless you really want to pay for it (I don't mind, honest!)

Any ideas, no matter how outlandish, would be very welcome!

JSWolf · 11-30-2011, 07:27 PM

There's no easy way to fix this. In fact, there may be no way to fix this. It's an iBooks issue. iBooks is non-standard and can do some odd things with ePub.

pholy · 11-30-2011, 11:56 PM

In Liz Castro's Epub Straight to the Point (at her blog) she mentions this bug and suggests enclosing the text of the ... within ... -- so you end up with ... -- ugly, but it's a bug. It's not clear to me whether the text-alignment goes with the or the though, so you may have to experiment. Buy the book and the extras, they are well worth it.

Toxaris · 12-01-2011, 02:28 AM

Yes, it can be solved if you are able to tune the ePUB. But, with SmashWords you are not able to.

BigAlien · 12-01-2011, 04:20 AM

Thanks for the help, guys!
It's reassuring to know it's not just me screwing up but frustrating that I spent so long fighting with it.
Guess I'll just have to grit my teeth and live with it.

11-30-2011, 07:24 PM	#1
BigAlien Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: ipad	Smashwords ePub on iPad Hi there, nice to meet you all (first post and all that)! Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but I couldn't find anything. I'm having a weird problem trying to get my novel to appear properly in iBooks on my iPad after I've uploaded it to Smashwords. The formatting on every page is fine except on the first 2 pages - the title page and the dedication page. Instead of centring the text it's all left justified (apart from a hyperlink to Smashwords, bizarrely enough). The thing that's really throwing me is that the formatting appears to be fine in iBooks on my iPhone and when I check on the Adobe Digital Editions reader on my PC. I've reformatted it many, many times (oh, so very many), I'm using exactly the same styles as I've used elsewhere in the book where they display with no problems. I'm completely stumped. If you want to see what I mean, this is it: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99280 Use the coupon code CM23Y to get it free unless you really want to pay for it (I don't mind, honest!) Any ideas, no matter how outlandish, would be very welcome!

11-30-2011, 11:56 PM	#3
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	In Liz Castro's Epub Straight to the Point (at her blog) she mentions this bug and suggests enclosing the text of the <p>...</p> within <span>...</span> -- so you end up with <p><span>...</span></p> -- ugly, but it's a bug. It's not clear to me whether the text-alignment goes with the <p> or the <span> though, so you may have to experiment. Buy the book and the extras, they are well worth it.

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11-30-2011, 07:27 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,144 Karma: 144284184 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	There's no easy way to fix this. In fact, there may be no way to fix this. It's an iBooks issue. iBooks is non-standard and can do some odd things with ePub.

12-01-2011, 02:28 AM	#4
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Yes, it can be solved if you are able to tune the ePUB. But, with SmashWords you are not able to.

12-01-2011, 04:20 AM	#5
BigAlien Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: ipad	Thanks for the help, guys! It's reassuring to know it's not just me screwing up but frustrating that I spent so long fighting with it. Guess I'll just have to grit my teeth and live with it.

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