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G
Geobop
Known Participant
June 5, 2022
Answered

Importing Existing Project

  • June 5, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 410 views

I discovered that if I put a book project - including text and images both - in a web page, preview it, then copy it, I can paste the whole thing into Apple Pages or M$ Word, and most of the styling is preserved.

 

Is there a way to similarly import an existing book into InDesign? I'm just beginning to learn how to use it, but on my first attempt, only text was imported, and it wasn't styled.

 

My epubs are currently created with Sigil, but I can also turn them into PDF files.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

Since EPUB all but equals web page, the export to HTML is a 95% export process. I assume you're using the HTML export.

 

InDesign also exports to EPUB with a vast amount of control over the details, more than to HTML. If you are a competent ID user, it's far faster (especially for dual format publishing) to export to EPUB than to build everything in Sigil or Calibre.

 

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1 reply

James Gifford—NitroPress
James Gifford—NitroPressCorrect answer
Legend
June 5, 2022

Since EPUB all but equals web page, the export to HTML is a 95% export process. I assume you're using the HTML export.

 

InDesign also exports to EPUB with a vast amount of control over the details, more than to HTML. If you are a competent ID user, it's far faster (especially for dual format publishing) to export to EPUB than to build everything in Sigil or Calibre.

 

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G
GeobopAuthor
Known Participant
June 5, 2022

Interesting. I was thinking of using Sigil for making epubs and InDesign for paperbacks. However, it would be a lot more convenient to have one program that does both.

James Gifford—NitroPress
James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
June 5, 2022

Most 'existing art' on EPUBs is outdated, amateur-focused approaches I am wont to call the 'build a bear' process. It's entirely obsolete. Tools like Sigil and Calibre can have their uses, if you're already skilled with them, but the idea of assembling e-books like a Lego Millennium Falcon is pointlessly labor-intensive and now obsolete.

 

InDesign can be used to produce both print and EPUB (to Kindle) editions from the same document file, which makes things like development, writing, editing and synchronizing changes far easier. I recommend and champion it as the process for pros, or those who want to do it professionally.

 

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