Convert EPUB3 to Textile

Why Convert EPUB3 to Textile?

Converting EPUB3 e-books to Textile markup is valuable when you need to publish e-book content in systems that use Textile as their markup language, such as Redmine project management or Textpattern CMS. Textile provides a clean, readable syntax that translates directly to well-structured HTML.

Textile's syntax is particularly intuitive for web publishing, offering inline CSS class support, footnotes, and table formatting that map well to EPUB3's structured content. The conversion produces human-readable markup that content editors can easily maintain and modify without deep technical knowledge.

This conversion is useful for organizations that use Redmine for project documentation and want to incorporate content from technical e-books. The Textile output preserves headings, lists, tables, links, and text formatting in a format that Redmine renders natively without any additional configuration.

The converter maps EPUB3's HTML elements to their Textile equivalents: headings become h1. through h6. prefixes, bold text uses asterisks, italic uses underscores, and tables use the pipe-based Textile table syntax. Links and images are converted to Textile's inline reference format.

Key Benefits of Converting EPUB3 to Textile:

• Redmine Compatible: Direct use in Redmine wikis and issue descriptions
• Readable Syntax: Clean, human-readable markup that is easy to edit
• CSS Integration: Inline CSS class and ID support for styling
• Table Support: Well-structured table syntax with alignment options
• Footnotes: Built-in footnote syntax for reference materials
• HTML Output: Clean HTML generation for web publishing
• Plain Text: Editable with any text editor, no special tools needed

Practical Examples

Example 1: Chapter with Text Formatting

Input EPUB3 file (book.epub) — chapter content:

<section epub:type="chapter">
  <h1>Getting Started</h1>
  <p>This <strong>comprehensive guide</strong>
  covers all the <em>essential topics</em>.</p>
  <h2>Prerequisites</h2>
  <p>You should be familiar with
  <a href="https://example.com">basic concepts</a>.</p>
</section>

Output Textile file (book.textile):

h1. Getting Started

This *comprehensive guide* covers all the
_essential topics_.

h2. Prerequisites

You should be familiar with
"basic concepts":https://example.com.

Example 2: Lists and Block Quotes

Input EPUB3 file (manual.epub) — list content:

<section>
  <h2>Features</h2>
  <ul>
    <li>Cross-platform support</li>
    <li>Real-time collaboration</li>
    <li>Offline mode</li>
  </ul>
  <blockquote>
    <p>The best tool for modern teams.</p>
  </blockquote>
</section>

Output Textile file (manual.textile):

h2. Features

* Cross-platform support
* Real-time collaboration
* Offline mode

bq. The best tool for modern teams.

Example 3: Table Conversion

Input EPUB3 file (report.epub) — table data:

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Language</th><th>Year</th><th>Type</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Python</td><td>1991</td><td>Dynamic</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Rust</td><td>2015</td><td>Static</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Output Textile file (report.textile):

|_. Language |_. Year |_. Type |
| Python | 1991 | Dynamic |
| Rust | 2015 | Static |

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Textile markup format?

A: Textile is a lightweight markup language created by Dean Allen in 2002. It uses simple, readable syntax to generate well-formed HTML. For example, *bold* produces bold text, _italic_ produces italic, and h1. creates a heading. Textile is used by platforms like Redmine and Textpattern CMS.

Q: How does Textile compare to Markdown?

A: Textile and Markdown are both lightweight markup languages but differ in syntax and features. Textile offers built-in support for CSS classes, footnotes, and more complex table formatting. Markdown has wider adoption and platform support. Both produce HTML output, but Textile's syntax is slightly more verbose with more formatting options.

Q: Can I use Textile output in Redmine?

A: Yes, Redmine natively supports Textile markup in wiki pages, issue descriptions, and comments. The converted EPUB3 content can be pasted directly into Redmine fields and will render with proper formatting including headings, lists, tables, and text styling.

Q: Are EPUB3 images preserved in Textile?

A: Images are converted to Textile image syntax using the !image_url! notation. For embedded EPUB3 images, the converter extracts them and creates references in the Textile output. You need to host the images separately and update the URLs if publishing the Textile content on a web platform.

Q: What EPUB3 features are not supported in Textile?

A: Textile does not support multimedia (audio/video), interactive JavaScript content, MathML mathematical notation, or complex CSS layouts. These EPUB3 features are either simplified or omitted in the conversion. The focus is on preserving text content, structure, and basic formatting.

Q: Does Textile support footnotes?

A: Yes, Textile has built-in footnote support using numbered references. EPUB3 footnotes and endnotes are converted to Textile footnote syntax with fn1., fn2., etc. for footnote definitions and [1], [2], etc. for inline references. This is a feature where Textile has an advantage over standard Markdown.

Q: Can I add CSS classes to the Textile output?

A: Yes, Textile supports inline CSS class and ID attributes using parentheses notation. For example, p(classname). creates a paragraph with a CSS class. The converter can map EPUB3 CSS classes to Textile class attributes, preserving styling information for web rendering.

Q: Is the Textile output compatible with all Textile processors?

A: The output uses standard Textile syntax compatible with major processors including RedCloth (Ruby), PHP Textile, and textile-js (JavaScript). Minor rendering differences may exist between processors, but the core formatting elements work consistently across all implementations.