RE: Page break navigation

> Adding in the locators is not trivial.

 

Yes, it would help to hear the scenarios that are going to trap publishers.
When publishers add page breaks that aren't related to a static source,
they're doing that with the intention of helping all users coordinate their
reading so they add navigation. This SC won't burden them as breaks without
navigation defeat the purpose of what they're trying to achieve. As John has
pointed out, there are a number of publishers who do this already.

 

> As discussed previously, CSS break-before/after are not suitable for this
use-case. They adapt to the content so would result in different page
numbers between users.

 

They also aren't realistic for EPUB as CSS processing isn't a requirement of
the standard. It only is required when there's a viewport, and not all
reading systems visually render content, so basing pagination off CSS is a
non-starter unless there's another major revision, and that's unlikely any
time soon given the disruption major changes make to the publishing
industry. The other problem with a physical page break mechanism, like CSS,
is that the markers aren't meant to create new pages. They solve the problem
of pagination varying by reading system by flowing with the content. A
method for synchronizing with static equivalents has to not have the
potential to break current or future rendering.

 

I also wouldn't say the only benefit here is to EPUB, even if this is
currently where we see it most. There are publications you can read online
that aren't EPUBs (e.g., through Safari books, Project Gutenberg, etc.). Not
to suggest these sites currently include page breaks, but users should have
the same access regardless of format. We're not trying to force the sites to
provide this functionality, only ensure that it's available when it's
relevant. There are also other projects going on, like some experiments
DAISY has been doing with books in browsers. There has also been interest in
using DPUB ARIA roles in Google docs (the request for page header and footer
roles came from them). So, while identifying pages is not as prevalent
outside of EPUB, I wouldn't say the only benefit is ever going to be for
EPUB.

 

Matt