How can I Export a Pages ebook file to an EPUB format and keep the embedded .mp3 files that are inserted?
How can I Export a Pages ebook file to an EPUB format and keep the embedded .mp3 files that are inserted?
iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.4
How can I Export a Pages ebook file to an EPUB format and keep the embedded .mp3 files that are inserted?
iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.4
Export to EPUB using the fixed layout and the .mp3 is in the same location it was in the Pages document and is single-click playable in the EPUB document when opened in Books.
I need flowable text and not a fixed layout. When I do it now, the .mp3 files are changed to .m4a files when exported. Amazon Kendel will only accept .mp3 files. Thoughts?
You have no control over the Pages export to EPUB automatically converting .mp3 to .m4a.
However, I did export the Pages content to EPUB using Reflow. Before I opened the EPUB in Apple Books, I opened it in the opensource SIGIL epub editor. There, I proceeded to add the original .mp3 to the existing .m4a audio content and in the stylesheet, changed the reference name of the audio to .mp3 from .m4a. Then I removed the .m4a audio file, saved the EPUB and opened it in Apple Books, where the .mp3 plays just fine.
Though this is possible, it cannot be automated, or made any less of a PITA to fix.
I suggest you use the Pages application menu feedback item to request that Apple not automatically convert audio formats when exporting EPUB (unless there is some issue in Apple Books that requires .m4a across Apple devices).
I tied to download and install the SIGIL epub editor, but macOS Ventura 13.4.1 will not allow me to unless it is scanned for a virus. What would you suggest I do? I'm uncertain of how to proceed or what software I might use to scan it.
RonStarbuck wrote:
I tied to download and install the SIGIL epub editor, but macOS Ventura 13.4.1 will not allow me to unless it is scanned for a virus. What would you suggest I do? I'm uncertain of how to proceed or what software I might use to scan it.
Using Finder, Control-Click on the App, and select Open from the pop-up, and confirm.
After you open the SIGIL installer and drag/drop it onto the Application folder alias in the installer, right-click on the SIGIL application in the Applications folder and choose just Open. That will present this dialog:
Click the OK button. Then, visit System Settings > Privacy & Security panel in Ventura and you will see the following:
Click Open Anyway, enter your adminstrator password at the following prompt and click Modify Settings. You won't have to do this again unless you update SIGIL in the future.
Now, right-click on that exported .epub and choose Open with : SIGIL. You will see an initial dialog:
You can click Yes, because you will see this panel again if your don't because SIGIL has to make this change on saving your changes anyway.
In the left panel of SIGIL you will see the chapter-1.xhtml preselected, and in the Audio, you will see the converted .m4a file. Righjt-click on Audio and select "Add Existing Files…". Choose your original .mp3 audi and it will be added to the existing .m4a audio. Scroll down in the .xhmtl content that is displayed, and locate
src="media/1 2 3 4.m4a"
change only the filename part of that string to your .mp3 filename that you added into the Audio folder. Because it is quoted, leave any spaces in the filename intact, but underscores will need replace any spaces in the audio tag as shown below:
audio style="max-width:100.0%;" src="media/1 2 3 4.mp3" preload="auto" controls="controls" aria-label="1 2 3 4.mp3">1_2_3_4.mp3</audio>
The audio controls shown in the SIGIL : View : Preview panel will differ from those used by Apple in Books.
Once you have the .mp3 playing in SIGIL, you can right-click on the audio > .m4a audio file and delete it. Then save the SIGIL content. Agree to changing the HTML as it must do that to save it. Then you can double-click the .epub and it will play your .mp3 audio in Books.
The corrected .epub plays on macOS Ventura 13.4.1 in Apple Books and on iOS 16.5.1 Books.
How can I Export a Pages ebook file to an EPUB format and keep the embedded .mp3 files that are inserted?