Formatting EPUB with line numbers

Hi Jongware: If you use a table the content will reflow, but the line numbers will also reflow and won't line up.

~Barb

Hi Rex: Do you need this to be a reflowable ePub? This works well for a fixed-layout ePub.

I don't see how you can accomplish this as a reflowable ePub—they are designed to reflow when viewed on different screen sizes and orientation. When layout is important, use a fixed-layout ePub.

~Barb

InDesign doesn't technically have this function. A clunky work-around is putting a second column beside the main text, of course:

https://indesignsecrets.com/numbering-lines-of-text.php

I recall a couple of plugins:

https://www.id-extras.com/products/line-numbers/

http://store.eprinttools.in/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71

And a free script:

https://indesignsecrets.com/quickly-add-line-numbers-with-this-free-script.php

Hi Rex: You will have to run a separate story alongside of the poem.

You can get Excel to type up the list of numbers for by typing 5, 10 into two empy cells and then using the fill handle to repeat the list by 5s (see https://support.office.com/en-us/article/automatically-number-rows-76ce49e3-d8d2-459b-bd85-ee1d3973e6e6).

Then place a threaded frame next to the story, paste in the numbers, align the top number with line 5 and set the space after to 5x the leading for the paragraph so that they automatically line up correctly. 

~Barb