Best practice to import a HTML web pages to iBooks on same iOS device?

avid01 · 04-21-2015, 10:26 AM

I asked a slightly similar, but also different question about best practices on how to transfer a HTML page from a Windows PC, or Mac to read in iBooks. Not to add confusion, I had to open this, as search did not help, and it would confuse to derail the other thread.

I understand the easiest way to read (offline) HTML web pages on iOS would be to simply save the page later for offline reading, but that does not include the ability of highlighting, note taking and dictionary, which are available in iBooks.

Well, maybe the dictionary MIGHT BE available in Safari for iOS as well (some online version, which requires an internet connection?), but not the Oxford New American offline which is part of iBooks. I might be wrong with this, please correct me.

So, I just don't want to carry around a PC, so it might be better if I can import a web page to iBooks on the same device - prefereably without an Internet connection required to the simple task.

Still in the research phase before getting into iOS.

DaleDe · 04-21-2015, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avid01

I asked a slightly similar, but also different question about best practices on how to transfer a HTML page from a Windows PC, or Mac to read in iBooks. Not to add confusion, I had to open this, as search did not help, and it would confuse to derail the other thread.

I understand the easiest way to read (offline) HTML web pages on iOS would be to simply save the page later for offline reading, but that does not include the ability of highlighting, note taking and dictionary, which are available in iBooks.

Well, maybe the dictionary MIGHT BE available in Safari for iOS as well (some online version, which requires an internet connection?), but not the Oxford New American offline which is part of iBooks. I might be wrong with this, please correct me.

So, I just don't want to carry around a PC, so it might be better if I can import a web page to iBooks on the same device - prefereably without an Internet connection required to the simple task.

Still in the research phase before getting into iOS.

iBooks basically reads ePub and PDF documents so you would need a converter to make one of these forms, probably ePub. There are converters in the iTunes store, some are free. Pages, for example, will build an ePub as an output. Then you share the output with iBooks directly. This at least is the basic idea. I intend to try it myself.

Of course if you start on a PC or mac it is easy to convert to ePub. See our wiki for details.

Dale

FlorenceArt · 04-22-2015, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avid01

Well, maybe the dictionary MIGHT BE available in Safari for iOS as well (some online version, which requires an internet connection?), but not the Oxford New American offline which is part of iBooks. I might be wrong with this, please correct me.

The dictionaries built into iOS (including the Oxford New American) are available in almost all apps, except maybe very badly designed ones or apps that will not allow you to select text because they are so afraid you might copy it and sell it and become a millionaire (sorry, OT rant!). There is certainly no difference in the choices of dictionaries available in iBooks, Safari, or again almost any other app.

avid01 · 04-23-2015, 05:38 AM

So, if I save the page in Safari, I will be able to use the dictionary in it? That's good.

But how about notes/highlights/bookmarks on certain paragraphs on the page? (Equally important)

FlorenceArt · 04-23-2015, 07:24 AM

No, for notes and highlights the best thing would be to export to ePub or PDF, I think. Ideally ePub. It would be nice to have an app that would convert a web page to ePub and let you annotate it. I don't know of any, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

FlorenceArt · 04-24-2015, 05:56 AM

I just made a quick test using iCabMobile (my favorite browser on iOS) and an extension using the online service dotEPUB that converts webpages to epub books. My test with a newspaper article from telegraph.co.uk seemed to work well but I didn't take the time to read the article yet. You can test the service yourself on the website I guess. It works well with iCabMobile. The ePub file is generated online and downloaded to iCab, and you can then send it to your reader app of choice.

04-21-2015, 10:26 AM	#1
avid01 Addict Posts: 300 Karma: 2000410 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle 4	Best practice to import a HTML web pages to iBooks on same iOS device? I asked a slightly similar, but also different question about best practices on how to transfer a HTML page from a Windows PC, or Mac to read in iBooks. Not to add confusion, I had to open this, as search did not help, and it would confuse to derail the other thread. I understand the easiest way to read (offline) HTML web pages on iOS would be to simply save the page later for offline reading, but that does not include the ability of highlighting, note taking and dictionary, which are available in iBooks. Well, maybe the dictionary MIGHT BE available in Safari for iOS as well (some online version, which requires an internet connection?), but not the Oxford New American offline which is part of iBooks. I might be wrong with this, please correct me. So, I just don't want to carry around a PC, so it might be better if I can import a web page to iBooks on the same device - prefereably without an Internet connection required to the simple task. Still in the research phase before getting into iOS.

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04-23-2015, 05:38 AM	#4
avid01 Addict Posts: 300 Karma: 2000410 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle 4	So, if I save the page in Safari, I will be able to use the dictionary in it? That's good. But how about notes/highlights/bookmarks on certain paragraphs on the page? (Equally important)

04-23-2015, 07:24 AM	#5
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	No, for notes and highlights the best thing would be to export to ePub or PDF, I think. Ideally ePub. It would be nice to have an app that would convert a web page to ePub and let you annotate it. I don't know of any, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

04-24-2015, 05:56 AM	#6
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I just made a quick test using iCabMobile (my favorite browser on iOS) and an extension using the online service dotEPUB that converts webpages to epub books. My test with a newspaper article from telegraph.co.uk seemed to work well but I didn't take the time to read the article yet. You can test the service yourself on the website I guess. It works well with iCabMobile. The ePub file is generated online and downloaded to iCab, and you can then send it to your reader app of choice.

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