How to easily divide one file into one-unit ebooks?

[michal_PL]

Hello,

I have one large ebook with sections (chapters). I would like to extract these sections (chapters) as separate ebooks. I want the pages in such a partial ebook to be automatically numbered starting from 1.

What is the simplest way to do this?

I was considering making a copy of the file and deleting all the pages that are not part of the current chapter, but maybe there is a better way?

I need this Complex file to be a source of truth, as I plan to introduce changes to it and re-generate these separate one-unit ebooks from it. Sub ebooks don't need to have Table of contents. I could almost use exporting specific pages to PDF, but I have automatic numbering that should start from 1 in every sub-ebook.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

You need to define "e-books" for any answer to have a useful direction. PDF is one choice; EPUB is another. I guess Publish Online counts as a third. Answers would overlap a little but in the end export or publish to each of these formats is different.

PDF has some export flexibility and can easily export any subset of pages, but to reset page numbering has to take place within the ID file. I don't think you can get to any useful end without —

• using Sections and Section Numbering to set the page numbering mode and count for each part of your book; or
• separating the file into one INDD file per 'chapter' or whatever and using a Book to integrate them as needed, while setting each chapter's page numbering as desired.

From either of those, you could export to PDF as completely separate, consistently numbered files. You could only export to EPUB using the second method, and page numbering would apply only if you use the obsolete/not-recommended fixed page format. (I have little to add about PO; haven't used it much.)

But some details about your project, goals and ultimate audience for the documents would help.

[michal_PL]

Thanks for your answer @James Gifford—NitroPress !

Let's define my ebook, as printable pdf in rgb. No fancy features here - just sections to automatically set headers thanks to section markers (I use section marker as a header contents on parent pages) and automatic page numbers. I then export it to PDF.

From your message I assume that I would have only one way to have ease to maintain the full file as a whole and have easy way to import one unit with it's own numbering - dividing my units/sub-pdfs as files in the book. And the book would constitute the full file.

I haven't checked the book topic yet, I have to check if you can easily separate one unit and pages would start from 1.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@michal_PL

Book option makes it easier to "join" separate INDD files - takes care of page numbers, let you synchronise all styles, Masters, etc. 

You can use the same INDD file in multiple books - or alone. 

[michal_PL]

Yes, but for the moment I need to divide this one file info sub-products

I believe the easiest way will be do create copies and delete obsolete pages in each file. I bet coping pages to new documents won't work as I use parent pages etc.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You can move pages - EVERYTHING(*) related will be copied as well.

(*) Masters, colors, styles, etc. 

You can even use this to make a clear copy of the whole document - all unused stuff won't be copied.