Arabic text no showing on epub - fixed layout

[Sarahradwan]

Hi Guys, 

I am using the latest version for Indesign , whenever i export the file to epub fixed layout it appears as below 

I tried installing a previous version of indesigns but still the problem exists, I tried on 2015 version as well on my old machine, it worked better but still the alignment of the text is incorrect as you can see in the next picture, can anyone help?

[Zaid Al Hilali · Accepted solution]

Hi Sarah,

This issue has been reported to Adobe as a bug, you may vote to grab InDesign's development team attention to this matter here… https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs/suggestions/41322403-arabic-exporte...

[Srishti Bali]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this trouble. Currently we are investigating this issue. Will it be possible for you to share a sample file? You can upload it to the Creative Cloud (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/share.html) and share the download link. 

Also, could you please try opening Epub file in some other reader like Readium. Let us know if this helps or the issue still persists.

Regards,

Srishti

[Zaid Al Hilali]

Tested on Readium, the same results where Arabic text is missing and messed up similar to Adobe Digital Editions, and Apple Books.

[manal shanableh]

Hi Srishti,

We still have the same issue for arabic text, the solution is to create outline, i hope this will be fixed soon.  

[foaad61]

I have the same issue in exporting a Farsi book which exports to pdf and reflowable ePub. However, it does not export correctly to fixed layout ePub.

This is the document's first two pages in Indesign Arabic/English 2022 Version 17.1:

The result when exported to ePub fixed layout looks like this:

 I was offered to have the pages rasterized into images. However, this idea is not a solution. If I wanted to create ePubs from images why would I learn and use Adobe Indesign?

[Laubender]

"I was offered to have the pages rasterized into images."

Hi Sarah,

sorry. Was under the false impression that you have the issue with Publish Online when looking for a workaround.

So I edited this reply!

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Laubender]

Had to edit my reply. See above.

Sorry,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Sarahradwan · Accepted solution]

Hello,

thanks a lot for the advice, I do convert the arabic text to outline, and it works not the perfect method thought but at least it makes the pages readable

----------------------------

*Sarah Radwan**Designer*

[Personal information removed for your protection on a public forum]

[Laubender]

Hi Sarah,

found a workaround for this without converting the Arabic text to outlines in InDesign.

First I thought this would be a solution for Publish Online issues only, but it really works for Fixed Layout EPUBs as well. Export to PDF, outline the text with Acrobat Pro, open and save the PDF with Illustrator to SVG, place the SVG with InDesign and export to FXL EPUB.

Details here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/farsi-rtl-book-does-not-export-to-epub/m-p/12806...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/farsi-rtl-book-does-not-export-to-epub/m-p/12806...

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Zaid Al Hilali]

Many steps but worth trying it. I'm always against outlining text regardless what language it is, however, in such circumstances where ePub fails to display Arabic, I certainly need to try your solution… thanks Uwe.

[Laubender]

Hi Zaid,

just to make it clear:

Are you working with the MENA version of InDesign that has an Arabic user interface?

Or do you see the export problems with FXL EPUB with the English version of InDesign that has all the MENA functionality?

I still do not know if the bug is with the MENA version.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Zaid Al Hilali]

I'm using latest English with Arabic Support version of InDesign. There is no InDesign with Arabic interface. Having said that, my InDesign CS6 and early CC versions used to publish Arabic content to ePub fixed layout perfectly, I've done it so many times, it is just in later years (from 2018) I guess when this FXL ePub became corrupted if the content is Arabic, if however the content is in any Latin language, then the ePub successfully displays all content.