Universal CSS - Betsy Granger - ebookcraft 2018
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The document outlines the development of a universal CSS standard for textbooks at Macmillan Learning, aimed at improving flexibility and branding while addressing specific design challenges. It discusses the transition from PDFs to EPUBs and the benefits of standardizing CSS to reduce costs and future-proof content. The document also highlights the project's timeline, stakeholder involvement, and lessons learned throughout the process.
Universal CSS - Betsy Granger - ebookcraft 2018
- 1. Universal CSS How to maintain flexibility and title-specific branding, while secretly taking away the freedom of design macmillanlearning.com
- 2. 2 CSS Cascading Style Sheets is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in a markup language. EPUB EPUB is an e-book file format with the extension .epub that can be downloaded and read on devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, or e-readers. It is a technical standard published by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). The term is short for electronic publication and is sometimes styled EPUB. html Hypertext Markup Language, a standardized system for tagging text files to achieve font, color, graphic, and hyperlink effects on World Wide Web pages. Glossary schema Specifies how to formally describe the elements in a document. It can be used by programmers to verify each piece of item content in a document. Schematron a rule-based validation language for making assertions about the presence or absence of patterns in XML trees. SCSS (for “Sassy CSS”), and is a superset of CSS3's syntax. This means that every valid CSS3 stylesheet is valid SCSS as well. SCSS files use the extension .scss. The second, older syntax is known as the indented syntax (or just “.sass”). xhtml Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) is part of the family of XML markup languages. It mirrors or extends versions of the widely used Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), the language in which Web pages are formulated.
- 3. Hero Images/Getty Images.franckreporter/Getty Images Betsy Granger Executive Strategist - Content Standards
- 4. 1The Quest A year long project to create a standard CSS for textbooks across all the disciplines that Macmillan Learning supports. macmillanlearning.com
- 6. The problems 6 ● Cost and time of producing title specific CSS ● Pedagogical elements designed for print not translating to EPUB ● Reading order unclear in source file ● Correcting common issues in every CSS
- 7. Reasons to standardize 7 ● Reduce costs ● Reduce time to market ● Future-proof content for upcoming changes in platform ● All EPUBs need to be accessible, interoperable, and responsive
- 9. Pathway to Universal CSS Macmillan Learning shifted to EPUBs from pdfs 9 2016 Oct 2016 Jan 2017 Mar 2017 May 2017 Universal CSS project kicks off Kick off meeting with Editorial Elements mapped, design process starts Stakeholders conduct EPUB reviews of first Macmillan EPUBs in terms on CSS
- 10. EPUB Reviews 1010 We opened EPUB xhtml pages in chrome browser and used Google chrome developer tools to show problems with coding and CSS
- 11. 11
- 13. Editorial priorities in EPUBs 1313 ● Preserve pedagogy ● Differentiate elements within EPUB ● Differentiate design for Title from others in it’s discipline
- 14. Project Name? 1414 ● “Universal” CSS ○ Flexible ○ Standard X ✔ ✔
- 15. Editorial response phases 1515 ● Resistance “It will not work with my content, it is special” (March 2017) ● Resignation “Fine, I get why we should do this but I don’t like it” (October 2017) ● Acceptance “Pleasantly surprised” (February 2018)
- 16. Designs 1616 - Designs allude to print with color - Designs signal semantic markup - Elements can use multiple classes to enable flexible design
- 18. SASS 1818 For basic guide see: https://sass-lang.com/guide Benefits of SASS: ● Maintain CSS with smaller element based modules vs. single style sheet ● Use of variables ● Use of extenders
- 19. Created EPUB sample with Schema + CSS MAPPING MAPPING MAPPING Pathway to schema Introduced to the Idea of schema/Schematron 19 Jun 2017 Sept 2017 Fall 2017 Jan 2018 Mar 2018 Macmillan Schema 1.0 Authored Schema + CSS in live titles Training Comp on Schema + CSS Review and approve incomings designs for elements Author SCSS modules SCHEMACSS
- 20. Schematron Validation 20 ● Keeps compositors on schema pallette ● Faults use of decided elements (<pre>, <script>) ● Deeper rule based validation on content ● Produce more consistent epubs
- 22. If I could turn back time 2222 ● Utilized design vendors more familiar with EPUB profile ● Not named it “Universal CSS” ● Used live content in samples we gave to editorial ● Pushed compositor to start using and/or learning schema earlier in production process ● Graduated more standards in smaller pushes to live titles
- 23. Q A& betsygranger@gmail.com Bg_edit (currently no original content, just a follower)