Good to know
- Single-source publishing
- A content production approach in which one validated source file, typically structured XML, is used to generate all output formats: print PDF, accessible ePub3, web pages, and data feeds. Changes are made once and propagated to every format. This reduces duplication, version drift, and per-format production cost.
- ONIX
- Online Information eXchange. An XML standard developed by EDItEUR for communicating bibliographic and commercial book metadata between publishers, distributors, retailers, and libraries. ONIX records carry title, author, ISBN, subject classification, pricing, availability, and, for accessible ebooks, the accessibility metadata required under the EAA.
What is the difference between an accessible ePub3 and a standard ePub3?
A standard ePub3 may have valid structure and render correctly in most reading apps, but it may lack features that make it usable by people with disabilities: missing alt text, for example, no logical reading order declaration, or inaccessible tables. An accessible ePub3 additionally conforms to EPUB Accessibility 1.1 and WCAG 2.1: it has a declared reading order, semantic structure, alt text, MathML for equations, and accessibility metadata. The EAA requires accessible ePub3 for EU markets from 28 June 2025.
What is ONIX metadata and who needs it?
ONIX (Online Information eXchange) is an XML-based standard that publishers use to send bibliographic and commercial metadata (title, author, ISBN, price, subject codes, availability) to retailers, aggregators, and libraries. Most major distribution channels require ONIX. Accessibility metadata must also appear in the ONIX feed for ebooks sold in the EU under the EAA.
How does single-source publishing reduce production cost over time?
In a single-source workflow, every output format (print PDF, accessible ePub3, XML data feeds) is generated from one validated source file. Updates, corrections, and new editions require changes in one place only. This eliminates the cost of maintaining parallel files and the errors that arise when files diverge across editions.
