how to hyperlink TOC title (Contents) in epub to Table of Contents page?

[tessarat]

I have a book file in InDesign and when I export it as an epub file, all the chapters are linked correctly in the device (navigational) TOC.

Except for the actual title of the TOC: Contents

I have checked other ebooks on my kindle and all of them have a hyperlinked "Contents" title which goes to the Table of Contents page. For example, I can click on Chapter 1 in the device TOC and it will take me to the Chapter 1 page. To get back to the Table of Contents page I can click on Contents in the device TOC.

I cannot figure out how to get the Contents title hyperlinked so it goes to the Table of Contents page. It seems that I should be able to do this since other ebooks have that functionality.

Any ideas on how?

[Steve Werner]

Moving to InDesign EPUB forum

[FeAle-7IZsBx]

Hi,

I believe that you have created a TOC style from and apply this style in export pannel for ePUB, right?

To solve it apply a chapter style for this TOC title, this way when indesign create the toc.xhtml the Contents page will be index also

Other way to solve is open the ePUB from Sigil and chosse Tools > TOC > Edit TOC. You can add target pages for TOC items

Regards

[tessarat]

Thank you for the suggestion – this seems reasonable and I have tried multiple variations of applying the chapter style to the Contents title, but it doesn’t work for me. Perhaps because InDesign sees it as the same page (not a chapter) can’t create a link to the same page the TOC is on.

I have not yet tried the Sigil solution yet, as I am not familiar with it.

Thanks

[SamLC]

Hello! Could you solve the problem in another way?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

It's a circular problem. If you don't want the TOC in the TOC, use a different style for the CONTENTS title. Otherwise (if, for example, the CONTENTS head is the same as your chapter headings), the TOC process will pick it up and included in the TOC list.

It all comes down to (1) the style applied to the CONTENTS title and (2) whether that style is included in the TOC gathering list.

[SamLC]

Thanks James!!. Sorry, I wanted to say that I have the TOC and it works perfectly but I need to return from the destination page to the TOC page. In the epub reader I can press return. But can I do that same action without using the epub reader browser? For example: in TOC page I click on "chapter 2" and when I go to chapter 2 page, how can I generate a link in "chapter 2 title" to go back to the TOC page? It is possible? automatic? any option in TOC window configuration?. Thanks for your advices!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

TOCs are one-way links. The "back" function is one of the reader, not the document, just as it is with a web browser. Since there is very little standardization among readers, the function works pretty much however the developer of that reader thnks it should. 😛

You could add a "go to TOC" link anywhere you like in the document, but in general, EPUBs should rely on the dynamic (reader) TOC, not in-text lists and links.