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Inspiring
August 13, 2022
Answered

Character style issue when exporting to epub

  • August 13, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 8418 views

Im designing a book that have over 120+ pages, and Im using both pargraph and character style, my problem is when I export the book to epub, the word that I use the character style on (bold, color, italic) when exporting it does not have spcae before the word or affter, Im using ITC Avant Garde Gothic Std‭ ‬font which is an open font, I tried different font and it has the same issue, if you can guide me, I dont want to outline the text as I need the search option feature for the word to be open.

attached an example from indesign and epub.

if you can kindly advise on this issue.

 

BR

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Marwa Alz

Oh, I didn't see the INDD file up there. 😛

 

Done; my copy of ID really doesn't like the file and took so long to load it I thought it had locked up. But the export is fine in Calibre Reader and faulty in Thorium.

 

I'd say the issue is in your INDD file setup, probably caused by the MEL components of your installation. I have no hands-on experience with that version, but it's probably the right direction to look for a fix.

 

 


solved the issue by switching the pargraph style compser, I wanted to update you, thank you

3 replies

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
August 13, 2022

Both of the above. It is almost certainly the reader itself.

 

If this is a reflowable EPUB (which it should be; fixed-page is obsolete except for special uses), and you're using the Adobe viewer, the problem is very likely ADE. There are, unfortunately, a lot of noncompliant EPUB readers out there and Adobe's is one of the least reliable.

 

Thorium should show the book correctly in all respects, although it may have font-size issues; a reasonably good but not flawless alternative is Calibre (just the reader, not the tool package). Kindle Previewer is a little clumsy to use as a reader but it can give a fairly clean proofing of EPUB books as well.

 

However, specifying/embedding fonts is poor EPUB practice. You are better off using the reader-based generic fonts as there are many issues, on top of the above ones, with embedding fonts in EPUB files and forcing readers to use them reliably.

 

derekwatson
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 5, 2023

I am getting a weird issue with grep style when exporting to ePub. All quotes in the book are in italics, set by anything within quote marks. It seems to be random as not happening everywhere but in many cases, the final work appears in a smaller type size. All is fine in ID file and when exported to PDF.

Derek Watson
James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
April 5, 2023

First question: in what EPUB reader? As this discussion already notes, they vary considerably and are often the cause of such systematic glitches.

 

A first fix for these things is often the "purge" — export the document to IDML, then open that and re-save as an INDD file under a new name. Try the EPUB export from that. This process purges old data that piles up in docs, and can fix all kinds of little broken formatting and structure issues.

 

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 13, 2022

Look like Adobe Digital Editions which is a hot mess. Try Thorium or the Books app on Mac/iOS/iPadOS.

 

Marwa AlzAuthor
Inspiring
August 13, 2022

yes im viewing it in book app on mac, same issue 

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 13, 2022

Presumably this is a Reflowable ePub (not a FXL ePub)?

How are you viewing the ePub?

What happens when you change the font to a generic sans serif font?

Marwa AlzAuthor
Inspiring
August 13, 2022

I exported the book as fixed layout epub, Im viewing the epub from iBook, regarding the font I change it to helvitica but same result.

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
August 13, 2022

FXL plus embedded font — almost certainly a font issue. Try it without embedding the font (uncheck the box in Export).

 

However, Apple/iBook has its flaws as a reader as well. Try it in Thorium before you do anything else.