No TOC is generated in the epub

[Daher]

Hi,

I am new to this forum. I am using AWP 1.6.5.12 for a few days now, and have some trouble with the generation of a table of contents in epubs.

According to this video, the presence of chapter headings will automatically generate a TOC in the epub.

Unfortunately, even with a TOC in the source document, nothing is created in the epub. The book is directly opened at the chapter one. Moreover, when looking inside the epub, I find no TableOfContents.html, but maybe the TOC is managed differently.

Is there any option to check for AWP to generate the TOC in the epub please?

Thanks very much in advance.

[Robert]

Hi,
First, you should update your version of Atlantis Word Processor. Atlantis Word Processor has just been updated to version 1.6.5.13 with support for automatic creation of MOBI files when you save documents to EPUB. You’ll find all details at Atlantis Word Processor 1.6.5.13. Upgrade instructions are available at Upgrading and Repairing Atlantis.

Now, if you want Atlantis to generate a TOC which will automatically display in the navigation pane of the eReaders, you need to apply a “Heading”-type style to each heading paragraph in the source document. Please make sure that the heading text of the heading paragraphs in your source documents is associated with a “Heading”-type style. Note that the corresponding “TOC” sub-file within the EPUB file is named “toc.ncx”.

If you want your EPUB file to display a TOC within the document window of eReaders, you need to include a TOC within the EPUB source document itself. You’ll find all details at Table Of Contents.

When you save a source document as eBook in Atlantis, it normally opens at the cover page, if any. Failing that, it opens at the first page.

HTH.
Cheers,
Robert

[Daher]

I have just updated AWP, thank you Robert.

My chapter headings are already "Heading 1". Adobe Digital Editions builds the navigation panel according to toc.ncx.

However, for some reason (*), I don't test epubs with ADE, but with Readium (a Chrome extension) and a Google Nexus tablet (Android). Both ignore toc.ncx, so that no TOC is displayed, the book being opened at the title page or chapter 1.

For Readium and the tablet to display the cover page and the TOC, special html files are apparently necessary. For example, epubs generated by Jutoh have CoverPage.html and TableOfContents.html file, which are ok for Readium and the tablet.

I don't know why toc.ncx is ignored by Readium and the tablet.

(*) I like AWP because the generation of epubs is so easy and it has some nice functionalities for that. However, I need audio in the (personal) books, and have to modify the epubs to insert the audio myself. But then ADE is incompatible with audio.

[Robert]

I don't test epubs with ADE, but with Readium (a Chrome extension) and a Google Nexus tablet (Android). Both ignore toc.ncx, so that no TOC is displayed, the book being opened at the title page or chapter 1.

Readium does not exactly ignore the “toc.ncx” file. Only it does not display the corresponding TOC automatically. But you have a “Table Of Contents” button on the Readium toolbar. If you click that button, you get a TOC pane in Readium that reflects the items in the “toc.ncx” file.

If the “CoverPage.html” and “TableOfContents.html” files are automatically displayed by Readium, most likely, it is because they treat them as ordinary chapters in the eBook. So they start with what they think is the first chapter in the eBook, and it happens to be the cover page.

[Daher]

But you have a “Table Of Contents” button on the Readium toolbar. If you click that button, you get a TOC pane in Readium that reflects the items in the “toc.ncx” file.

Very good! Thank you very much.

[Robert]

One more remark about the cover page in Readium. Strictly-speaking, the eBook cover pages are not ignored by Readium. When an EPUB file includes a picture as the first item in the eBook, Readium displays that picture as a thumbnail icon in its “Library”. When the thumbnail icon is clicked to open the eBook, Readium opens the eBook in a new tab at the first “page”, and ignores the cover picture.
There is some logic in this: when people read a book, they see the cover page before opening it. When the book is open, the cover page is no longer visible.

[Daher]

In addition to Readium, the Firefox add-on EPUBReader is also able to play mp3 within epub, provided that plugins are enabled in the Preferences. Also the table of contents from toc.ncx is displayed.

[rstroud]

Daher,

I do not know if these books will help, but they are free and enjoyable to read.

Check out the Smashwords Guide to Style:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52

and other books on marketing ebooks:

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mc

[Daher]

My purpose is to make ebooks with audio for language learning, for private use, so I don't need marketing advice. But who knows...

I have just downloaded Smashwords Style Guide. It is very good, there is so much to learn. Thank you very much, rstroud.