Yes, you can layout a book in InDesign and export it as HTML5 with in5. There are some points to keep in mind when exporting your book.
First of all, "exporting a book" can mean two very different things.
- InDesign has a Book Panel that lets you connect multiple documents together like chapters. That can be exported with in5 once merged into a single InDesign document for export.
- You may have a single document that is book-length that you want to appear as a digital book. in5 can help you with that.
Both concepts are covered below.
Exporting an InDesign Book Built with the Book Panel
If you used the Book panel to combine sections, then you would first combine the multiple files into a single InDesign file with any of the following approaches:
- Use InDesign’s “Move Pages” command to “push” the pages from one InDesign file into another. See bit.ly/1U7gnDm for detailed instructions, or
- Use the Book panel in InDesign to combine individual files into an InDesign book, and then run the MergeFiles script discussed here.
Alternatively, you could make a landing page for the book with links to each chapter that has been separately exported. Here's more information on how to link documents and create a landing page from within InDesign.
Exporting a Long Document to Function as a Digital Book
If you combine the chapters or if your chapters are over 60 pages, then you might want to use these best practices to optimize your content.
Monetizing Your Book
Part of the appeal of a "book" format is selling your work online. For options on how to monetize your content, check out How to Get Paid for your Digital Publications without Breaking the Bank.
Footnotes
As of in5 version 3.8, you can add footnotes to your content and export them to HTML5.
Check out the free Digital Publishing Technology Guide to learn more about publishing online.