Abstract

BookML is a fully automated solution for the production of accessible html content straight from LaTeX, based on LaTeXML for the widest LaTeX compatibility and bookdown for a modern and accessible look. Integration with Overleaf is provided via a GitHub action. Outputs are also packaged as SCORM for ease of use in higher education. Created by and maintained for maths lecturers at the University of Leeds.

BookML is a small package to help you convert LaTeX documents into accessible html very similar to the one produced by bookdown. The conversion is done by LaTeXML, which understands a wide collection of LaTeX packages and can deal with all sorts weird constructs. To see plain(ish) LaTeXML in action, just open any arXiv html preprint. For examples of BookML documents, see:

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BookML key features are:

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    simple installation: BookML is just a zip file you unpack in the folder containing your .tex files (admittedly a lie: you must install LaTeXML first, see Getting started on your device);

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    fully automated (re-)compilation based on which files have changed on disk, powered by GNU Make: running a single make will recompile the files which need updating;

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    high quality conversion of external EPS and PDF figures to SVG via dvisvgm, rather than ImageMagick used by LaTeXML;

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    transparent generation of SVG images from TikZ pictures, animate animations, XY-matrices, and virtually any other picture-like environment, for when LaTeXML struggles with them;

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    easy insertion of alternative text for images;

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    arbitrary html content in LaTeX, for instance to create foldable paragraphs;

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    declare and include alternative PDF versions, which are also recompiled automatically (for instance sans serif, large print);

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    outputs are automatically packaged into zip files and SCORM packages, which are supported natively by most Learning Management Systems.