IDEAlliance began its three-part webinar series “ePublishing on Multiple Platforms for Everyone” with Bill Kasdorf, vice president of Apex Content Solutions, and his presentation, “EPUB 3: The Foundation for the Future.” Kasdorf started by reviewing all of the features that are included in the current version of EPUB 3, which was released nine months ago by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). In addition he gave viewers an inside look at what developers have planned for future releases explaining that the EBUB 3 format was created using a modular approach so that IDPF working groups can continue to develop and add new functionality to the existing format. Here’s a brief look at what is currently in the works:
Fixed Layout Support
Since the release of the EPUB3 format, developers became more aware of the number of users whose publications require a fixed layout and not the more common reflowable layout. For example Publications such as magazines, cookbooks, illustrated children’s books and text books may need to be formatted in a fixed layout not only for aesthetic reasons, but for comprehensive ones, such as when the placement of images and the relationship to corresponding text is crucial. Metadata specs were published in March by the IDPF that will, when added to an EPUB3 file, communicate to the e-reader device that the publication is a fixed layout and how objects in the layout should be rendered. It also provides the ability to combine fixed layouts and flexible layouts within a single publication.
Advanced Adaptive Layout Integration
The new liquid layout feature introduced in Adobe’s InDesign CS6 release allows users to define how a layout changes when the screen size and orientation changes. An active IDPF working group is incorporating the specifications of this Adobe technology into EPUB 3. However, the specs still need to be approved and published so that the e-readers can develop the capabilities to render this functionality.
Indexing Capabilities
Back-of-book indexes, which have been excluded, will be enabled with full navigational functionality.
Dictionary Access
Dictionaries and glossaries will be incorporated into the EPUB 3 format, or access to external sources will be provided. This feature will be important for academic publications.
Demands on the EPUB format have become more significant in line with the increase in e-reader options for consumers as well as the increase in demand for content. Publishers are pushing the requirements for quality and better delivery, and EPUB3 hopes to address many of these concerns. Read more about ongoing EPUB 3 improvement in our upcoming articles.
Posted by: Monica Murphy
