Newbie: How to create and ePub from HTML

[WV-Mike]

First post here.

I am using Sigil 1.9.30

I have a web page I want to convert to ePub.
This is how I am going about it in Sigil.

I created a Cover file and then:
Using a new file (Section0001.xhtml) I copy and paste the text from the web page and to the xhtml file and then rename it to the chapter name.

The chapter names have the <H1> tag.

I then repeat the process for each chapter for each chapter: new file for a new chapter.
I then created a TOC.
There will be no significant formatting and only a few graphics.
Here is a screen shot of the project in Sigil.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/W71K9aPaNR4DL6sK7

Am I going about this the correct way?
Thanks,
WV-Mike

[Turtle91]

Welcome to MR!

Assuming you have access to the book, and no copyright is being violated because Bill Fitchner passed only 10 years ago, then there are ways to do this that are MUCH faster.

However, yes, you are basically on the right track.

There are some rules that you need to make sure you are following for ePub (xhtml) that may not have been followed for a basic webpage.
- tags must have an opening and closing tag <h1> at the beginning of the header and </h1> to denote the end.
- capitals matter... you need to use lowercase letters in the tags <h1> vs <H1>

If you are copy/pasting text, then you may be missing all the correct tags for any bold, italic, or other odd formatting sections. Instead, I would view the source code for the chapter, then copy/paste the entire section of the html tagged text. You can see the source code, usually, be right-clicking somewhere on the page in the web browser and selecting "View page source" or typing ctrl-u.

Are you planning on publishing this ebook, or is it for your personal use?

[WV-Mike]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

Welcome to MR!

Assuming you have access to the book, and no copyright is being violated because Bill Fitchner passed only 10 years ago, then there are ways to do this that are MUCH faster.
However, yes, you are basically on the right track.

Thanks for the Welcome!
It has been a loooog road to get to this point and I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say I eventually got the printed book to a text file and then to HTML using NoteTab.
The web page is nearly complete and I am waiting for more material from the family. The gave me the go ahead for this project. It is a Labor of Love on my part and no money is involved.

There are some rules that you need to make sure you are following for ePub (xhtml) that may not have been followed for a basic webpage.
- tags must have an opening and closing tag <h1> at the beginning of the header and </h1> to denote the end.
- capitals matter... you need to use lowercase letters in the tags <h1> vs <H1>

I have been working with simple HTML and CSS for a few years. I got in the habit early on using LC for the tags.

If you are copy/pasting text, then you may be missing all the correct tags for any bold, italic, or other odd formatting sections. Instead, I would view the source code for the chapter, then copy/paste the entire section of the html tagged text. You can see the source code, usually, be right-clicking somewhere on the page in the web browser and selecting "View page source" or typing ctrl-u.

I am copying directly from the HTML, so all the tags are intact. There is practically no formatting, and I am not adding any as I want it to be a mirror of the original.

Are you planning on publishing this ebook, or is it for your personal use?

There are no paper copies left. It was a very small print run by a local vanity press. I felt the book was important enough to get back into circulation, so I took it on as a project. It has been good for me as I am now learning about eBooks which I knew absolutely nothing about except for reading them.
As far as publishing it I was going to add a link to the webpage for anyone who wanted to download.

Now that I feel I am on the right track I can proceed as there are still about 40 chapters left.
Re: CSS
I would like to be able to style the <h1> chapter titles such:

.lowercaps
{font: small-caps 150% 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;text-align:center;}

I put this CSS in a Style0001.css file and then added it to the HTML thus:
<h1 class="lowercaps">Foreword</h1>
But it is not changing the styling. Any suggestions?

Thanks very much for the help and input.
WV-Mike

[Turtle91]

You need to link the stylesheet to the html file.

Right click the file(s) in the book browser pane on the left and select ‘link stylesheet’. Then select your css sheet.

If you are styling all your <h1>s the same, you don’t need to give them a class. Simply style the <h1> as:

CSS
h1 {
  font-variant: small-caps;
  font-size: 1.5em;
  font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;
  text-align: center}

HTML
<h1>Foreword</h1>

[WV-Mike]

Excellent!
Thanks.
It is starting to come together now.
WV-Mike
====

Originally Posted by Turtle91

You need to link the stylesheet to the html file.

Right click the file(s) in the book browser pane on the left and select ‘link stylesheet’. Then select your css sheet.

If you are styling all your <h1>s the same, you don’t need to give them a class. Simply style the <h1> as:

CSS
h1 {
  font-variant: small-caps;
  font-size: 1.5em;
  font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;
  text-align: center}

HTML
<h1>Foreword</h1>