An ePub file is a zipped file format used to distribute digital publications. It contains HTML files that define the content, style sheets to control formatting and layout, and other files like images. The file also includes a navigation document and metadata to identify the publication. Links in the table of contents connect to the relevant sections in the HTML files. Common elements include the content file that lists resources, and a navigation code file to structure the reading order.

1. epub
what the heck?

2. zipped up (compressed) html

3. Let’s go Inside an ePub

4. The Sections:
Text
Styles
Images
Fonts
Audio
Video
Misc

5. Tell the file how stuff
looks.
<link href="../Styles/stylesheet.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<link href="../Styles/stylesheet.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
<p class="slug">Constantinople, Turkey. The suq (bazaar), May 13,1811</p>
p.slug {
display: block;
font-size: 100%;
margin: 1.5em 0em 3em 0em;
text-indent: 0;
font-style: italic;
text-align: left;
}

6. Constantinople, Turkey. The suq (bazaar), May 13,1811
Amazing chapter gets better and better and better and better. Such good
stuff. Better and better and better. You get the idea. It’s really good.
Puppies are cute. So are kittens.
Chapter gets better and better and better and better. Such good stuff.
Better and better and better. You get the idea. It’s really good. Puppies are
cute. So are kittens. Also unicorns.

7. Table of Contents Links
<h1 id="chapter5"><a href="../Text/toc.xhtml#tocchapter5">CHAPTER 5</a></h1>
. . . in toc.xhtml. . .
<p><a id="tocchapter5"/><a href="../Text/chapter005.xhtml#chapter5">Chapter 5</a></p>
. . . in chapter005.xhtml. . .

8. Table of Contents Links
<h1 id="chapter5"><a href="../Text/toc.xhtml#tocchapter5">CHAPTER 5</a></h1>
. . . in toc.xhtml. . .
<p><a id="tocchapter5"/><a href="../Text/chapter005.xhtml#chapter5">Chapter 5</a></p>
. . . in chapter005. xhtml. . .

9. content.opf
xml file

14. toc.ncx
xml

15. <navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
<navLabel>
<text>Cover</text>
</navLabel>
<content src="Text/cover.xhtml"/>
</navPoint>
<navPoint id="navPoint-2" playOrder="2">
<navLabel>
<text>Title Page</text>
</navLabel>
<content src="Text/title.xhtml"/>
</navPoint>
<navPoint id="navPoint-3" playOrder="3">
<navLabel>
<text>Copyright</text>
</navLabel>
<content src="Text/copy.xhtml"/>
</navPoint>

16. <navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
<navLabel>
<text>Cover</text>
</navLabel>
<content src="Text/cover.xhtml"/>
</navPoint>

17. <navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
<navLabel>
<text>Cover</text>
</navLabel>
<content src="Text/cover.xhtml"/>
</navPoint>

18. Common Errors

20. <p><a id="tocaboutbook"/><a href="../Text/aboutbook.xhtml#book">About This Book</a></p>
<h1 id="aboutbook"><a href="../Text/toc.xhtml#tocaboutbook">About This Book</a></h1>
from the html toc
in file aboutbook.xhtml

21. Metadata
From the content.opf
<dc:identifier id="BookId" opf:scheme="UUID">urn:uuid:1ad22bea-5f8e-4e3a-af40-08bc80f86c2a
</dc:identifier>
From the toc.ncx
<meta content="urn:uuid:1ad22bea-5f8e-4e3a-af40-08bc80f86c2a" name="dtb:uid"/>

22. More Metadata

23. Closing
• carolyn@carolynjewel.com
• www.carolynjewel.com/references/epub.php
• http://cjewel.me/epub