marietheauthor
Level 1 (12 points)
Desktops

Q: Convert pages to ePub

When I convert Pages to epub format there is a serious problem.

ePub file does not have any page numbers.(as we all know)

Pages ePub adds page numbers in Table of Contents, which is not accepted by Smashwords (or any other epub that I know)

I have added and removed Headings unsuccessfully. Screen Shot 2016-06-14 at 11.18.43 AM.png

I have added Table of Contents. Results are abysmal and unacceptable for Smashwords Catalogue.

Can Apple fix this problem?

When Smahswords converts my .doc page to epub the results are again abysmal. Table of Contents are strewn through the file!

Is there any way I can do this successfully (to professional standard?) Thanks for any help and for saving my hair going grey.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4), upgraded to Capitain today

Posted on Jun 13, 2016 6:36 PM

by VikingOSX,Solvedanswer
VikingOSX VikingOSX
Level 7 (20,618 points)
Mac OS X
A:

The Pages : About Pages menu item will tell you what version of Pages that is currently in use. This menu location is the same for Pages '09 and Pages v5.6.2.

 

Glad to contribute to your successful ePub on Smashwords.

Posted on Jun 14, 2016 10:23 PM

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marietheauthor

Q: Convert pages to ePub

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  • Helpful answers

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Jun 13, 2016 9:19 PM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2016 9:19 PM in response to marietheauthor

    Are you using Pages '09 v4.3, or Pages v5.6.2 to translate, and export the Word (.doc) and ePub documents?

     

    Have you read the free Smashwords Style Guide (iBooks Search Smashwords style)? It was written with the assumption that the .doc file to be fed into the Smashwords Meatgrinder was saved from MS Word, or one of OpenOffice/LibreOffice Word clones for maximum compatibility. Yes, they offer that one can use Apple's Pages product (likely referring to Pages '09). However, neither Pages is a Word clone, and considerable translation occurs from the internal Pages document format through the exportation of a Word .doc document. Apple offers no assurance, or remedy as to the translation accuracy. Want more accuracy? Use MS Word.

     

    Smashwords indicates that the highest incident of book rejections and formatting problems arise from ePub submissions. They state that unless these are professionally designed and created, that it is better to submit in Word .doc format. Neither Pages application is a professional grade word processor, or ePub generator.

     

    I start the document with a blank section. That is where I generate the document's Table of Contents. The aforementioned style guide recommends removing all Text boxes from the final Word document before submitting to Smashwords — because they confuse the formatter.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor Jun 13, 2016 11:51 PM in response to VikingOSX
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 13, 2016 11:51 PM in response to VikingOSX

    VikingOSX,

    I have been reading Smashwords Style Guide for many years.

    I have also successfully uploaded about 25 different books. (Some with numerous revisions trying to upload)

    I did not have this problem with Windows XP until my computer crashed. Now I use Apple, and I love its functions except for formatting.

    I am using the latest Pages 09 and my computer was upgraded to El Capitan recently. ?

     

    The epub Smashwords rejected was converted from Pages .doc format

    I left the TOC up to Smashwords to generate with their munching machine. 

    No Toc was generated by Smw.

    Otherwise the epub was perfect. (Just no TOC)

     

    When I add Toc with 5 chapters labeled Chapter One...etc.  These headings appear eroneously as a new page (each heading = 1 new page???0

     

    I downloaded Apple ePub_Best-Practices_EN.pages  and reformatted. It has other problems (messed up image)

    It also did not generate a TOC.

     

    I am going to try again with this template I downloaded as it has specific layout features.  I will follow to the letter before I make my final decision.

     

    One question:

    If I generate a TOC in Pages. doc format, can I delete the page numbers next to each chapter?

    Can I remove the text box it creates without losing the Toc list?

     

    If I get anywhere with the new template, I will post the news.

     

    Thanks heaps for your graciousness.

    Marie

  • by Tom Gewecke,Helpful

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Jun 14, 2016 8:17 PM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 9 (79,055 points)
    Jun 14, 2016 8:17 PM in response to marietheauthor

    Like VikingOSX said, to produce .doc for such a purpose, it is often best to use Word for Mac or LibreOffice instead of Pages.  

  • by VikingOSX,Helpful

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Jun 14, 2016 8:19 PM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2016 8:19 PM in response to marietheauthor

    You state that you are using the latest Pages '09 (which would be v4.3 from 12/2012). Yet, the latest downloadable, Apple ePub_Best_Practices_EN.pages is in Pages v5 (created/revised with Pages v5.2) document format, and cannot be directly opened by Pages '09.

     

    Exporting this template as a Pages '09 document, and then making it a Pages '09 template may not result in the same functionality as the original ePub_Best_Practices_EN.pages that was released specifically for Pages '09 use (before Apple introduced Pages v5).

     

    You always have the ability to suppress the page numbers in the Pages '09 TOC by unchecking the corresponding checkbox in the #'s column of the TOC tab of the Document Inspector. Pages '09 v4.3 does not generate a Text box TOC container. All releases of Pages v5 do. I see some conflict between the version of Pages that you tell me that you are using (Pages '09), and Pages v5 only features that you want to undo in your generated TOC.

     

    If you are in fact, using Pages v5 (any release) to generate documents for Smashwords meatgrinder ePub generator, this could be an issue.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor Jun 14, 2016 8:18 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 14, 2016 8:18 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Thanks for hint. I tried this but it failed Smashwords epub muncher too. Images were chagned.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor Jun 14, 2016 9:17 PM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 14, 2016 9:17 PM in response to marietheauthor

    Hi all those great angels here. Finally after trying a few things I have uploaded a successful epub to Smashwords.

     

    There was a problem with one image, so I cut and pasted it into my Photoshop Elements and renamed it something else. When I re-inserted it, it came up fine, although nothing changed per se. Then I added the cover and clicked on use first image as cover in epub format (save area)

    It went up like a star, and got the tick of approval immediately.

    I took everyone's advice; however, I am not sure which pages edition I am using. I update when they offer updates, so I expect it is latest.

    I am not sure how to find this info.

     

    Thanks again, especially Viking OSX, my star fixer.

  • by VikingOSX,Solvedanswer

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Jun 14, 2016 10:23 PM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2016 10:23 PM in response to marietheauthor

    The Pages : About Pages menu item will tell you what version of Pages that is currently in use. This menu location is the same for Pages '09 and Pages v5.6.2.

     

    Glad to contribute to your successful ePub on Smashwords.