Create a PDF "Handouts" export format that resets page numbers at the start of each chapter

NMSalmon commented 5 years ago

Feature Description

Provide a separate Handouts PDF export option (possibly in the Appearance > Theme options section) that: 1) Resets the page number at the start of each chapter or part in the Handouts PDF export--(users would decide to break at the chapter or the part with a radio-button selector), 2) Gives users the option to export their Handouts PDF as a single document or a zip file of separate pdfs, 3) Automatically omits front matter and table of contents, and finally 4) Gives users the option to decide whether the export's Parts get their own page (the current model) or are left out entirely to save paper.

(Obviously, the sum total of these is a bit of a tall order, but a configuration of only some of these elements would be amazing too.)

Feature Use Case

This feature has the potential to support a wide range of academic uses. It also has the potential to attract a new section of instructors who may not see themselves as textbook-makers but do produce substantial course content.

For example, several of the folks I work with at UW-Madison make their own course packet of handouts for students that serves the function of a course reader or textbook. (Indeed, they often send these packets to the print shop as the basis for a course packet).

Likewise, there are campus organizations that may want a central repository of printable handouts that exist on the web, as an e-text, and in printable form, but might prefer that the printed version not have sequential numbering over the course of the whole book.

Three case studies: (A) Our E100 program has fifty-odd instructors. The program team has a collection of OER resources that they would like to provide for instructors to choose from individually in the form of a Pressbooks "Omnibus" text. This resource will be available for instructors to import into their Canvas course pages using a Thin Common Cartridge, and the program team especially likes that instructors will be able to customize their courses in different ways using this resource. Yet many students and instructors prefer to make a hard copy of assigned course readings in addition to having online access. Being able to easily import a chapter from this omnibus into their course in the form of both a web text and a print handout would be ideal. Having the page numbers reset to 1 for each handout (rather than starting at, say, page 456 or some other seemingly random number) may appear more intentional to students.

(B) Our Writing Center maintains an online "Writer's Handbook," but they also keep the pdf files of many of these handbook pages in a BOX folder for instructors to print as needed. (Ex. - guides to writing a strong resume, grammar how-tos, etc.) If they were to transfer this resource to Pressbooks, this center may especially appreciate the option to export each chapter as a separate pdf (all downloaded as a zip file) that they can access individually and print as needed.

(C) One of the teaching and learning initiatives on campus is compiling a collection of TA training resources that can be accessed as a web book and e-text but also handed out in individual print copies. The PDF export would be perfect for that, but the sequential numbering makes this process messy. (This is the example I provide in the "other notes" section below.)

Other Notes

To create a handout export for the third case study above, I used this css in the book's pdf custom styles

div.chapter {
    page: chapter;
    prince-page-group: start;
        counter-reset: page 1; 
  }

Here's an abbreviated draft outcome:

Pressbooks Handout Packet renumbered example.pdf

SteelWagstaff commented 5 years ago

Could this be a chapter type? Meaning, could one create a 'handouts' chapter type that applied the CSS Naomi provided for PDF exports? Another idea would be to give the user theme options that allowed them to reset page numbers for each section and/or each chapter.

NMSalmon commented 3 years ago

Circling back to this idea! A group at the UW Writing Center reached out recently who might particularly benefit from this approach. (They're considering PB as an option for their Writer's handbook. However, for teaching purposes, they would like to continue having a page-specific pdf download option linked on each page rather than a PDF of the whole book as a large single download.) Was there ever any broader interest in this as an area to explore?

pressbooks / ideas