Headings Clarification

AuntySocialite · January 15

Having read all PDFs on eBook creating, also searched on Forum, I'm confused by something simple: my ebook has been uploaded and accepted by Lulu, but I can't see a TOC. I applied Heading 1 to front matter (each page) and Heading 2 to chapter titles; is Heading 3 for the actual chapter itself? Many thanks in advance.

Just Kevin · January 15

'Lucky' you that your file actually converted!

Anyway. Don't confuse headings with Heading Styles. They are to be found in the Style Ribbon at the top of Word. Headings are just words at the top of pages, but Heading Styles are just that, styles that can be added to them, and here some Heading Styles are used to tag what you want in a TOC.

Apply HS 1 to anything you want in the TOC (there has to be at least two things in the TOC to get through the Wizard, I usually just Have Title, Copyright, and Title again for the start of the story (most e-readers have Book marks that can be applied, so I am not sure why a TOC is even needed!)

HS 2 is usually used after HS 1 for a sub TOC within HS 1. HS 3 is usually used after HS 2 for a sub-sub TOC.
Then HS 1 has to be used again next.
I only use HS1

If you have already done that and they do not function then the ePub Wizard is still broken.

PS: You are meaning an ePub and not a PDF e-book?

Arachis_2013 · January 16

There is a table of contents icon at the top which opens a window for editing the TOC. There you will find buttons that will let you generate the table of contents from 'major headings' or 'all headings' and some other choices that we probably don't care about.

Paul_Lulu · January 16

The first is just the title page not appearing in the TOC. I'm actually not sure why that would happen. The first H1 listing should pin to the title page.

The second is a file in the Calibre file list 'Bookmarks' that Calibre creates as a sort of auto-save. It just needs to be deleted.

As an aside, our converter will accept ODT files from Open Office and we haven't had any reports of those files running into unexplained errors. You might try just running the ODT file through.

Arachis_2013 · January 16

Paul_Lulu said:

As an aside, our converter will accept ODT files from Open Office and we haven't had any reports of those files running into unexplained errors. You might try just running the ODT file through.

The convertor has rejected every ODT I have tried ever since this problem began (and they always worked just fine before).

allysmithharris · January 15

I'm having the same issue. I opened a ticket for help because I've spent too many hours trying to fix this and the conversion issue. There has to be steps missing from their instructions or something. It doesn't make sense why this is so difficult. It's quite frustrating.

AuntySocialite · January 15

Yes, sir, an ePub.... thank 'ee, your post is much appreciated. Will go for Heading Styles and try again.

AuntySocialite · January 15

The problem is with Weird I mean Word. The only version I have to work with is 2002 so no ribbon at the top I'm afraid - how do I know I'm using Heading Styles? Thanks in advance! (#@!!)

Arachis_2013 · January 15

I've found that Calibre will not automatically generate a TOC for any of the files I've run through it (though I shall note that I use Open Office, not Word). I've had to go in and add it after the fact in the 'edit book' section. That works perfectly well.

Just Kevin · January 16

https://shaunakelly.com/word/styles/stylesms.html

AuntySocialite · January 16

I'm done with Word now, life is too short - have read up on Weird Styles, done everything as instructed in ebook creator guide, & now my interior file has unexpected errors. FFS. Thank you anyway, Kevin -

I'm going with Arachis & OO, but can I ask you, Arachis, what you tick in 'edit book' section to get a TOC?

If I ever get it up I'd like to gift you both a free copy of my novel, if you want one, to say thanks for your help.

Paul_Lulu · January 16

AuntySocialite said:

The problem is with Weird I mean Word. The only version I have to work with is 2002 so no ribbon at the top I'm afraid - how do I know I'm using Heading Styles? Thanks in advance! (#@!!)

Apologies that I was unable to offer a response yesterday about this. I did some digging this morning into Word 2002. I wasn't able to find anything that satisfied me, but this post does explain some of the basics for setting up a cascading heading navigation.

Paul_Lulu · January 16

It's important to note that converting from a DOC file to a Open Office or Libre Office ODT file, the Heading styles will appear but won't be applied even though they appear to be. You'll need to go through and select the text that needs to be in a particular style and apply it again.

I don't know what causes this and I've yet to find a good solution to correct it aside from manually reapplying the formatting.

AuntySocialite · January 16

Thank you very much, Paul and Arachis - when I had another look at OO I noticed that 'heading 1' was selected, not 'Heading 1' - size, rather capitalisation, when it comes to finding the right heading styles, *does* matter! Have re-selected all Headings 1 and 2: My TOC has come out quite neatly. Now when I try to upload my Calibre ePub I get 2 error messages:

ERROR(RSC-007): MY_BENDI_BOOK_-Author.epub/titlepage.xhtml(15,81): Referenced resource could not be found in the EPUB.

ERROR: Author.epub(-1): Unmanifested file: META-INF/calibre_bookmarks.txt

Apologies for all these questions & my eldest male child in return. Well, actually, my deepest gratitude...

AuntySocialite · January 16

Thank you so much, Paul. Think I've deleted the bookmarks file but will try uploading the ODT...

AuntySocialite · January 16

Go my odd, we have LIFTOFF. Uploading the ODT didn't work but I managed to delete the offending bookmark.txt file in the Calibre conversion. Thank you again for all your help! Now I better write down what I did for my next book...

AuntySocialite · January 17

Though now a New Problem in trying to upload corrected epub for change of access: have posted on the workaround post, I'm sure it will get sorted. Happy Thursday, everyone

Just Kevin · January 17

There is a table of contents icon at the top which opens a window for editing the TOC.

Lulu's convertor will not accept ready-made TOCs.

AuntySocialite · January 17

Thank you everyone for your precious time

Headings Clarification

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