EPUB‘s structure- How it impacts iBooks app

Epub iBooks create a basic structure of contents from the ePub format and this table of contents helps readers to enhance their experience. Navigational elements can be easily created using HTML5 elements. By making use of <nav> elements, table of contents and landmarks can easily be created. In reflowable format it is relatively easier to create a table of content using <navMap> element. Basically the iBook app uses data in the NCX file which consists of the nav elements to build its own table of contents. These are accessible using navPoints which are inside of the navMap element. No matter whether you are using a list table or not, iBooks will usually create a table of contents for a fixed layout book.

IBooks EPub3 support relies on a simple landmarks navigation structure which replaces the proprietary <guide>element of ePub2 format. But there is a caveat. You need to provide custom samples to make the fixed layout books navigable. Else there has to be landmarks which define the custom pages of a flowing book. In that case, readers will be able to see that start page as the first page of your book when they open it. All the key files in your book including the label of first chapter of the book must contain the epub: type attribute. An extensive list of values available for type format can be viewed in the International Digital Publishing Forum website which designers can access.

A flowing book as opposed to a fixed-layout book will have a reference element in the guide. This occurs if iBook detects the opened book as a flowable text. Reference elements include epigraphs, text, start, dedication, foreword and preface. IBooks app is a splendid tool for reading this format in its most suitable manner.

There are a lot of companies in India that provide epub conversion services and they can assist you further.