My colleague and I are working together (from separate MacBooks) to create an iBook for our students. We plan to work on sections separately and combine later. Must we use the SAME template to do so?

You need to use the same .iba project file. I don't think there is any way to combine two different ones.

mrsnirad wrote:

Wen you say ".iba project file" are you referring to the whole project, or just the template. (I ask because we've been told that you can combine projects.)

I was referring to the whole project, the .iba file which gets created when you save your work.

I have not heard that you can combine these (even if you use the same template), but I could have missed that. Please provide the url of a reference for that info.

mrsnirad wrote:

This was an earlier thread:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3777193?start=0&tstart=0

Interesting, thanks! I guess you could experiment for yourself by copy/pasting chapter thumbnails between .iba files based on different templates and see what happens.

I'm not sure iBA reacts well to this type of editing, not to mention the cumbersome nature of trying to bring everything together in general.

I'd suggest a workflow where one book is handed off, instead. That, or, let the individuals involved create their basic content in Pages, then when ready, use iBA's Insert Pages Chapters menu to string them together. Best to work in a linear fashion and avoid adding/removing/adding/moving portions, etc.

If you must have separate authors, be sure to use the identical template and have them all properly trained up before going forward - trying this as a learning experience may result in an off-putting experience otherwise 🙂, with more time spent on chasing knots than on expressing writing skills, etc.

This sounds to me like very good advice.