Is there a way to showcase interactive HTML content similar to an ePub or eBook without the need to convert the HTML into ePub

Question

Is there a way to showcase interactive HTML content similar to an ePub or eBook without the need to convert the HTML into ePub

Looking to enhance the mobile reading experience with a responsive design similar to popular ebook readers like Kindle or iBooks? Want to break long articles into full-screen sections for easy navigation on small devices? Consider using dynamic HTML to adapt content to any viewport size.

While there are JS libraries available for creating slideshows, achieving the fluid text reflow of an ebook reader interface presents a challenge. Ideally, each device would display varying "pages" based on its screen size and orientation, dynamically adjusting content without requiring manual scrolling.

If you've explored options like epub.js but prefer to work directly with HTML, you're not alone in seeking a solution that mimics the ebook experience seamlessly within a browser. Is there an existing tool or method for accomplishing this task efficiently?

The key feature desired is the ability for text to fluidly transition between pages as needed, eliminating the hassle of vertical scrolling. If developing from scratch, utilizing jQuery plugins like Columnize may offer a starting point for creating a swipe-friendly user interface for navigating through content.

Your insights and assistance are greatly valued in uncovering the best approach to achieve this goal!

javascript jquery html css

Answer 1

Answer №1

If the structure of the html page is complex, especially with precisely positioned elements or images, managing content can become quite challenging. However, if the content consists mainly of headings and paragraphs like in the epub.js example, it is possible to achieve.

The approach involves gradually adding content until just before the page overflows. By keeping track of where content starts and stops being added, moving to the next page simply requires adjusting the page start to the previous page's end (or vice versa when going back).

Steps for dividing content into pages

To begin, assuming all the content is in a single long string, split the content into an array of words and tags. This process is not straightforward as simply splitting by whitespace because whitespace between < and > should be disregarded, and tags should also be treated individually even without whitespace separating them from words.

You will need a function that can determine whether an element's content exceeds its boundaries. For reference, you can find a solution at this link.

Two variables, pageStart and pageEnd, are essential for keeping track of the array indexes that represent the beginning and end of the current page.

Starting from the index in pageStart, add elements from the array as page content, checking for overflow after each addition. When overflow occurs, set the index you're currently at minus 1 as the endpoint for pageEnd.

Maintaining continuity across page breaks

If everything goes smoothly, this method should fill the page effectively. To move to the next page, set your new pageStart as pageEnd + 1 and repeat the process. Nonetheless, there are some potential issues that may need addressing.

One concern is what happens if a page overflows in the middle of a paragraph. While the closing tag, </p>, is optional in HTML, the absence of an opening tag at the start of the next page is problematic. Therefore, it's crucial to check if the page's content begins with a tag. If it doesn't, locate the closest opening tag prior to the current pageStart in the array and insert it before the rest of the content.

Additionally, in cases where a paragraph continues onto the next page, ensure that the last line on the current page remains justified. Check if pageEnd falls within a paragraph, and if so, add syle="text-align-last:justify;" to the opening tag of that paragraph.

Sample Implementation

An interactive demonstration showcasing these concepts can be viewed at https://codepen.io/anon/pen/ZMJMZZ.

In the provided example, all content is contained within a single element on an HTML page. The content retrieved from the container #page is segmented into pages based on the size of #page. Justifying the last line in case of a page break within a paragraph has not been implemented. Adjust the size of #page in the CSS to observe how the content adapts; triggering a recalibration requires clicking forward and backward with the fixed page size. Binding the page size to the window dimensions allows for real-time recalculations by adding a resize event listener to the window that calls fillPage.

Potential bugs may arise, leading to occasional display discrepancies such as skipping or repeating words at page borders. Nevertheless, this overview offers a starting point for implementing a similar content pagination system.

Answer 2

If the structure of the html page is complex, especially with precisely positioned elements or images, managing content can become quite challenging. However, if the content consists mainly of headings and paragraphs like in the epub.js example, it is possible to achieve.

The approach involves gradually adding content until just before the page overflows. By keeping track of where content starts and stops being added, moving to the next page simply requires adjusting the page start to the previous page's end (or vice versa when going back).

Steps for dividing content into pages

To begin, assuming all the content is in a single long string, split the content into an array of words and tags. This process is not straightforward as simply splitting by whitespace because whitespace between < and > should be disregarded, and tags should also be treated individually even without whitespace separating them from words.

You will need a function that can determine whether an element's content exceeds its boundaries. For reference, you can find a solution at this link.

Two variables, pageStart and pageEnd, are essential for keeping track of the array indexes that represent the beginning and end of the current page.

Starting from the index in pageStart, add elements from the array as page content, checking for overflow after each addition. When overflow occurs, set the index you're currently at minus 1 as the endpoint for pageEnd.

Maintaining continuity across page breaks

If everything goes smoothly, this method should fill the page effectively. To move to the next page, set your new pageStart as pageEnd + 1 and repeat the process. Nonetheless, there are some potential issues that may need addressing.

One concern is what happens if a page overflows in the middle of a paragraph. While the closing tag, </p>, is optional in HTML, the absence of an opening tag at the start of the next page is problematic. Therefore, it's crucial to check if the page's content begins with a tag. If it doesn't, locate the closest opening tag prior to the current pageStart in the array and insert it before the rest of the content.

Additionally, in cases where a paragraph continues onto the next page, ensure that the last line on the current page remains justified. Check if pageEnd falls within a paragraph, and if so, add syle="text-align-last:justify;" to the opening tag of that paragraph.

Sample Implementation

An interactive demonstration showcasing these concepts can be viewed at https://codepen.io/anon/pen/ZMJMZZ.

In the provided example, all content is contained within a single element on an HTML page. The content retrieved from the container #page is segmented into pages based on the size of #page. Justifying the last line in case of a page break within a paragraph has not been implemented. Adjust the size of #page in the CSS to observe how the content adapts; triggering a recalibration requires clicking forward and backward with the fixed page size. Binding the page size to the window dimensions allows for real-time recalculations by adding a resize event listener to the window that calls fillPage.

Potential bugs may arise, leading to occasional display discrepancies such as skipping or repeating words at page borders. Nevertheless, this overview offers a starting point for implementing a similar content pagination system.

Answer 3

Answer №2

Check out this repository on GitHub. Alternatively, you can design a single-page website with multiple sections, each filling the entire viewport height, using just CSS (demo):

.section { height: 100vh; }

or by utilizing JavaScript, adding a link to navigate between sections, and applying responsive units (see my demo) for text within each section to ensure it adjusts upon resizing... For example:

var curr_el_index = 0;
var els_length = $(".container").length;

$(".next_section").on("click", function(e) {
  curr_el_index++;
  if (curr_el_index >= els_length) {
    curr_el_index = 0;
  }
  $("html, body").animate({
    scrollTop: $(".container").eq(curr_el_index).offset().top
  }, 300);
  return false;
});

$(".previous_section").on("click", function(e) {
  curr_el_index--;
  if (curr_el_index < 0) {
    curr_el_index = els_length - 1;
  }
  $("html, body").animate({
    scrollTop: $(".container").eq(curr_el_index).offset().top
  }, 300);
  return false;
});

 * {
    border: 0;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
    box-sizing: border-box;
    -moz-box-sizing: border-box;
    -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
  }
  body {
    background-color: #1a1a1a;
  }
  section {
    height: 100vh;
    background-color: #eee;
    border: 2px solid red;
    font-size: 6vw;
  }

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<section class="container">Section 1 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 2 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 3 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 4 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 5 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>

EDIT #1

An algorithm concept derived from a personal codepen project that utilizes the same jQuery plugin:

Create a reader layout and paste the entire text into it
Utilize this jQuery plugin to monitor text visibility within the viewport (demo)
Calculate the number of characters/words labeled "Onscreen" in the viewport (see reference)
Split the entire text into a list containing as many characters/words as there are in the "Onscreen" label
Generate a section for each element in the obtained list, populating each section with the respective text; the number of elements in the list corresponds to the total number of pages (sections) for the entire text. Navigation between sections is enabled as shown above
Upon resize event, repeat steps [2-5] of the algorithm

Cheers

Answer 4

Check out this repository on GitHub. Alternatively, you can design a single-page website with multiple sections, each filling the entire viewport height, using just CSS (demo):

.section { height: 100vh; }

or by utilizing JavaScript, adding a link to navigate between sections, and applying responsive units (see my demo) for text within each section to ensure it adjusts upon resizing... For example:

var curr_el_index = 0;
var els_length = $(".container").length;

$(".next_section").on("click", function(e) {
  curr_el_index++;
  if (curr_el_index >= els_length) {
    curr_el_index = 0;
  }
  $("html, body").animate({
    scrollTop: $(".container").eq(curr_el_index).offset().top
  }, 300);
  return false;
});

$(".previous_section").on("click", function(e) {
  curr_el_index--;
  if (curr_el_index < 0) {
    curr_el_index = els_length - 1;
  }
  $("html, body").animate({
    scrollTop: $(".container").eq(curr_el_index).offset().top
  }, 300);
  return false;
});

 * {
    border: 0;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
    box-sizing: border-box;
    -moz-box-sizing: border-box;
    -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
  }
  body {
    background-color: #1a1a1a;
  }
  section {
    height: 100vh;
    background-color: #eee;
    border: 2px solid red;
    font-size: 6vw;
  }

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<section class="container">Section 1 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 2 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 3 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 4 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>
<section class="container">Section 5 <a href="#" class="previous_section">Previous</a> <a href="#" class="next_section">Next</a></section>

EDIT #1

An algorithm concept derived from a personal codepen project that utilizes the same jQuery plugin:

Create a reader layout and paste the entire text into it
Utilize this jQuery plugin to monitor text visibility within the viewport (demo)
Calculate the number of characters/words labeled "Onscreen" in the viewport (see reference)
Split the entire text into a list containing as many characters/words as there are in the "Onscreen" label
Generate a section for each element in the obtained list, populating each section with the respective text; the number of elements in the list corresponds to the total number of pages (sections) for the entire text. Navigation between sections is enabled as shown above
Upon resize event, repeat steps [2-5] of the algorithm

Cheers

Answer 5

Answer №3

The concept involves a container div that will encompass the entire text (referred to as #epub_container). Following this, there will be another div of the same size as the page viewport (named #displayer) which will house #epub_container.

#displayer will have the CSS property overflow:hidden. Consequently, upon site loading, only the initial page will be displayed since the rest of #epub_container remains concealed. A page navigation mechanism is required to adjust the page number accordingly. Upon changing the page number, the top offset of #epub_container will be adjusted.

Here's the jQuery function:

function move_to_page() {
    var height = window.innerHeight;
    var width = window.innerWidth;

    var $displayer = $('#displayer');
    var offset = $displayer.offset();
    $displayer.height(height - offset.top - 5);

    var $epub = $('#epub_container');
    var offset_top = offset.top - $displayer.height() * m_page;
    $epub.offset({top: offset_top, left: offset.left});
}

JSFiddle

EDIT: Remember to execute move_to_page() post text reflow for recalculating the pages.

https://i.sstatic.net/ZqNaS.png

Answer 6

The concept involves a container div that will encompass the entire text (referred to as #epub_container). Following this, there will be another div of the same size as the page viewport (named #displayer) which will house #epub_container.

#displayer will have the CSS property overflow:hidden. Consequently, upon site loading, only the initial page will be displayed since the rest of #epub_container remains concealed. A page navigation mechanism is required to adjust the page number accordingly. Upon changing the page number, the top offset of #epub_container will be adjusted.

Here's the jQuery function:

function move_to_page() {
    var height = window.innerHeight;
    var width = window.innerWidth;

    var $displayer = $('#displayer');
    var offset = $displayer.offset();
    $displayer.height(height - offset.top - 5);

    var $epub = $('#epub_container');
    var offset_top = offset.top - $displayer.height() * m_page;
    $epub.offset({top: offset_top, left: offset.left});
}

JSFiddle

EDIT: Remember to execute move_to_page() post text reflow for recalculating the pages.

https://i.sstatic.net/ZqNaS.png

Answer 7

Answer №4

If you're looking for a solution to customize your reading experience, look no further! I have developed a plugin that offers dark mode, font changing, line height adjustment, chapter selection in a side menu, and the ability to save and restore your reading position. Best of all, it's available for free on GitHub at https://github.com/E-TechDev/Html-Book-Reader

Check out these screenshots: Light Mode, Dark Mode, Side Nav Menu, Change Font, Adjust Paragraph

Answer 8

If you're looking for a solution to customize your reading experience, look no further! I have developed a plugin that offers dark mode, font changing, line height adjustment, chapter selection in a side menu, and the ability to save and restore your reading position. Best of all, it's available for free on GitHub at https://github.com/E-TechDev/Html-Book-Reader

Check out these screenshots: Light Mode, Dark Mode, Side Nav Menu, Change Font, Adjust Paragraph

Answer 9

Answer №5

Experiment with CSS scroll snap points to enable horizontal scrolling on text displayed in columns

Explore CSS Scroll Snap Points here

Adjust the column width to match the viewport size and implement snapped scrolling horizontally.

Update: Consider achieving the text layout solely using CSS. Preview it here:
View the CSS Pen here

body {
    scroll-snap-type: mandatory;
    scroll-snap-points-x: repeat(100%);
}

#columns-test {
    height: 80vh;
    columns: 90vw auto;
}

Answer 10

Experiment with CSS scroll snap points to enable horizontal scrolling on text displayed in columns

Explore CSS Scroll Snap Points here

Adjust the column width to match the viewport size and implement snapped scrolling horizontally.

Update: Consider achieving the text layout solely using CSS. Preview it here:
View the CSS Pen here

body {
    scroll-snap-type: mandatory;
    scroll-snap-points-x: repeat(100%);
}

#columns-test {
    height: 80vh;
    columns: 90vw auto;
}

Answer 11

Answer №6

To optimize your loading time, consider implementing page breaks in strategic locations on your website. Take a look at this example for guidance:

Dynamic Page-Break - Jquery

By setting the page height to match your viewport height and utilizing javascript and css, you can effectively manage the layout of your pages.

Answer 12

To optimize your loading time, consider implementing page breaks in strategic locations on your website. Take a look at this example for guidance:

Dynamic Page-Break - Jquery

By setting the page height to match your viewport height and utilizing javascript and css, you can effectively manage the layout of your pages.

Is there a way to showcase interactive HTML content similar to an ePub or eBook without the need to convert the HTML into ePub

Answer №1

Steps for dividing content into pages

Maintaining continuity across page breaks

Sample Implementation

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

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