A

Anonymous

Question

.epub and .folio files

Forum|Forum|14 years ago
June 3, 2011
3 replies
22461 views

I have spent all morning trying to find straightforward documentation on how to use the ePub features of Adobe CS 5.5. Installed that today.

1. I can make an .ePub file with my content, but how in the world do you view it? If I click it on my Windows 7 64bit machine it has no idea what app to use. Do I launch it to my Web host and then download the free Adobe Viewer app from App store? Do ePubs have to be hosted on special servers like Adobe used to do with Flash streaming video?

2. I have the desktop Adobe Content Viewer, but that wants .folio files, and I'm stumped how to create those. I tried the Folio extension panel in InDesign CS 5.5, but am wondering if that is something entirely different. I can't make .folio files for the desktop app.

Thanks. The documentation on this is really scattered an lacking.

This topic has been closed for replies.

D

dutchy01

Participant

Thanks

A

Anonymous

Wow, thanks all for the responses.

I'm guessing most designers don't have time to figure all this out. I hope that this will turn out like Flash streaming video where enough people figured a way around paying an Adobe partner to serve that content. I'm also hoping it will be much more straightforward in exporting and publishing.

Sounds like for now I can use the Preiview link in the Overlay Creator panel to see my ePub in Adobe Content Viewer on my dektop, however if I want to share it online then it has to be a .folio file an I have pay an Adobe partner to convert/serve that. Is that the jist of it?

Thanks!

A

Allen Cobb

Inspiring

That's basically it, but I don't think you would have too much trouble locating the .folio file used by the previewer; then you could copy that somewhere else. It would still have to be viewed by a copy of the previewer, of course, but you can copy the previewer app as well.

This approach would be acceptable for a limited number of other computers, but I doubt if Adobe would condone distributing the CV online. (I could be wrong about that -- they might well be OK with that.)

Allen

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dutchy01

Participant

Hello everybody,

I am having a similar issue with. epub and .folio files. I have read all the comments, but some things are still a bit unclear (sorry if it has been mentioned)
I have made a magazine (in IndesignCS4) and now want to make an interactive version (on Indesign CS5) for an ipad2, and I only have 5 days to complete this (university project), therefore my questions are;

If I make a .folio file in Indesign, can I view this in CV on my destop or iPad. Or do I need to be a DSP client to have CV (how do i get CV)?

Otherwise i could make an .epub file in Indesign, download the new Ibook for Ipad2 (I believe) that now also supports .epub files. but does this have the same interactivity as a.folio file, in terms of video and audio?

info: Terry White's video http://terrywhite.com/techblog/archives/5179

In short, what is the best way to make one magazine in an interactive version for an iPad

Cheers,

Maartje

A

Allen Cobb

Inspiring

To rebuild your magazine as a folio, you could start by just previewing it in the Overlay Manager and then save the generated .folio file. But this would require InDesign 5.5, and some sneaking around on your disc to get the .folio file. Also, the "player" of your folio would be the Content Viewer, and the .folio produced by Preview doesn't support custom chrome or player features. So the title would be "Canned Magazine Title 12345" (I kid you not), and the CV itself is just a simple app frame without frills. However, the interactivity you add in InDesign should all work. You'd have to find a copy of the CV on your destination platform to play it. You could also dig into the .folio file and mess with the contents (change .folio to .zip and hack away). But all this would be a very tall order in 5 days!

To answer your specific questions, though:

Yes, you can view a .folio file with CV, wherever it's installed. No, you do not need to be a DPS client -- CV comes with InDesign 5.5. I'm not sure how you might get it if you have ID5, however.

If you have a free account on Acrobat.com, you can build one real folio production there. I'm not sure if you can then do what you want with the resulting .folio file. For $149/year you can do several .folio projects on Acrobat.com. If you're not actually publishing (protecting, distributing, selling, tracking, etc.), then you don't need DPS.

Don't confuse folios with ePUB. ePUB is an output format that's nearly compatible with Kindle, iBooks, Nook, etc. (with a little arcane tweaking). Folio is an elaborate richly interactive publishing format designed for professional magazines in a dedicated, integrated, Adobe reader app.

I hope this helps,

Allen

BobLevine

Community Expert

You can download Adobe Digital Editions but it's a bit long in the tooth and in serious need of updating.

Sorry, but DPS is way too involved to describe in one or two paragraphs.

Bob

A

Anonymous

Adobe Digital Editions (and I could be wrong) doesn't seem to empower interactive contents like slideshows like the new Adobe Content Viewer desktop app that came in 5.5 is supposed to. So my point is if you are supposed to be able to preivew your ePub in ACV, how in the world do you make a .folio file to import into it?

Also, went to try and view an ePub hosted on my Web server. When I went to get the app it said iPad only, so I guess iPhone and iPod are in the dark. So I could not verify if I can just throw an ePub file up online and view it or if it needs to be served in some special way.

Thanks for someone filling in these blanks. Love the new features shown in Adobe TV, just want to be able to actually use them!

BobLevine

Community Expert

EPUB itself has no support for most interactive content.

Bob

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