2.4 Creating a Long Description

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 2, Step 4

  • Subject(s):

    InDesign to EPUB

  • Resource Type(s):

    Step-by-Step

  • Audience:

    Technical

Suggested Prerequisite

Before reading this, you might want to read:

Creating a Long Description

Creating a long description from within InDesign is not exactly straightforward but by manipulating cross-references, an existing InDesign feature, we can get it done. Here are the steps to accomplish it:

One. Make sure that the long description has a unique paragraph style as does the item you want to link it back to. Both items need a hook, so to speak. In my example, the long description has a header with the style Backmatter. The thing I am linking back to already has a relatively unique style, Caption

A page with the title “Long Description for Bookplate 1” with an image an a long paragraph describing the image underneath the title.

Two. Create the cross references by placing your cursor where you want the link out to the long description to go. Navigate to Type —> Hyperlinks & Cross References —> Insert Cross References

The type menu is activated and the cursor hovers over “Insert Cross-Reference” under the Hyperlinks and Cross References flyout.

In my example, I’ve chosen to insert the full paragraph of the backmatter header without quote marks. I’ve also applied a unique character style to the cross-reference, a bold italic style. 

The New Cross Reference palette with the backmatter paragraph style highlighted.

Follow the same steps in reverse for the backlink. 

These two items — the image and the long description —will now be hyperlinked to one another. When this content is exported to EPUB, the links will work nicely back and forth. 

The last step in this process is to mark the HTML file holding the long description as non-linear in the <spine>. It can only be gotten to via the link from the image caption. 

A snippet of code from an ebook OPF file highlighting the spine. linear=”no” is underlined in red.

The cross references are available from Window —> Type & Tables —> Cross References

With the cross-reference palette opened, the window — type and tables — cross-references shows where to get it from.

Next Steps

1

Module 2, Step 5

2.5 Object Styles

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 2, Step 5

Subject(s): InDesign to EPUB
Resource Type(s): Step-by-Step
Audience:
Technical
2

Module 2, Step 6

2.6 Edit All Export Tags

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 2, Step 6

Subject(s): InDesign to EPUB
Resource Type(s): Step-by-Step
Audience:
Technical
3

Module 2, Step 7

2.7 Table Styles

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 2, Step 7

Subject(s): InDesign to EPUB
Resource Type(s): Step-by-Step
Audience:
Technical
4

Module 3, Step 1

3.1 Exporting an Ebook

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 3, Step 1

Subject(s): InDesign to EPUB
Resource Type(s): Step-by-Step
Audience:
Technical
5

Module 3, Step 2

3.2 InDesign EPUB Export Options

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 3, Step 2

Subject(s): InDesign to EPUB
Resource Type(s): Step-by-Step
Audience:
Technical
6

Module 3, Step 3

3.3 HTML & CSS

Making Ebooks with InDesign: Module 3, Step 3

Subject(s): InDesign to EPUB
Resource Type(s): Step-by-Step
Audience:
Technical

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