Step-By-Step Guide to ePub creation

[ghostyjack]

I'm interested in learning how to manually create ePub format books but am having difficulty in finding information on what exactly I need to do.

I've looked through the forums to see if anyone has created a guide, but I can't see one.

Can some point me in the direction of a guide.

I know there are tools (like Calibre) but I would like to be able to understand what they create as I will need to customise them after creation.

Also I enjoy the manual work needed to create them. I always find more satisfaction in doing the work myself.

Any help is appreciated.

[AnemicOak]

Don't know if any of this will be of help or not...

Here is the format spec...
http://www.openebook.org/2007/opf/OP...inal_spec.html

Here is the packaging spec...
http://www.openebook.org/2007/ops/OP...inal_spec.html


Here's a write up done on Teleread that might have some useful info...
http://www.teleread.org/2007/10/31/e...epub-creation/


Also the Mobil Read Wiki has some good info...
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EPUB



I know it's not really the step-by-step guide you asked for, but I don't think I've seen one.

[jgray]

Something I originally posted on TeleRead some time ago:

http://www.zianet.com/jgray/articles...ad1/index.html

[Jellby]

What I used when I started with ePUB: http://www.jedisaber.com/eBooks/tutorial.asp

And little by little I've added some tweaks to my ePUB files. You can unzip one of them ("The Prince and the Pauper" is a good one, since it has embedded fonts too) and see how it's done. They are all hand-written, so everything there is is there because I added it (not because it's the default of some program).

The only thing missing is creating the final zip file. I pack the mimetype file without compression (zip mybook.epub -0 mimetype) and then add the rest of the files (zip mybook.epub -rDX9 META-INF OEPBS).

[ghostyjack]

Thanks guys,

That lot looks to be able to provide me with a fair bit of info and if I reverse engineer an ePub file, should get enough info.

[gernblanston]

Originally Posted by Jellby

What I used when I started with ePUB: http://www.jedisaber.com/eBooks/tutorial.asp

And little by little I've added some tweaks to my ePUB files. You can unzip one of them ("The Prince and the Pauper" is a good one, since it has embedded fonts too) and see how it's done. They are all hand-written, so everything there is is there because I added it (not because it's the default of some program).

The only thing missing is creating the final zip file. I pack the mimetype file without compression (zip mybook.epub -0 mimetype) and then add the rest of the files (zip mybook.epub -rDX9 META-INF OEPBS).

This is a very useful post, as I'm just starting to figure out epub. Do you have a link to a 'perfectly' tagged ebook, or a sample that you've created? I'm creating a book that has few images and strait text.

Thanks!

[Jellby]

Try this: The Prince and the Pauper.

[gernblanston]

Originally Posted by Jellby

Try this: The Prince and the Pauper.

This is very useful - thanks - esp. how to center the image. I'm using ID and I can't get my images to anchor in the correct spot on the epub page after conversion -- it always ends up at the end of the chapter! And so does the cutline/caption!

Anyone else having this issue?

Jellby -- is the tag that you used treat the image like text?

Thanks

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Jellby

What I used when I started with ePUB: http://www.jedisaber.com/eBooks/tutorial.asp

And little by little I've added some tweaks to my ePUB files. You can unzip one of them ("The Prince and the Pauper" is a good one, since it has embedded fonts too) and see how it's done. They are all hand-written, so everything there is is there because I added it (not because it's the default of some program).

The only thing missing is creating the final zip file. I pack the mimetype file without compression (zip mybook.epub -0 mimetype) and then add the rest of the files (zip mybook.epub -rDX9 META-INF OEPBS).

anyone having problems with the link - i've been trying to access the tutorial without much luck ...

[Jellby]

I just tried now, it works for me.

[GeoffC]

Yep, thanks Jellby can access this Okay now .

I've been looking at others this morning and it's surprisingly "straight-forward" ..... :chuckles:

My only problem now is I currently use ADE to look at my productions and so far I have a 'problem' with one file that Sigil created and is okay according to Valloric....

[pholy]

The only thing missing is creating the final zip file. I pack the mimetype file without compression (zip mybook.epub -0 mimetype) and then add the rest of the files (zip mybook.epub -rDX9 META-INF OEPBS).

I just found that I have to use (zip mybook.epub -DX0 mimetype) to pass the epubcheck. Otherwise I get an error about extra field length being 28 instead of 0.

[Dwayne Smith]

Hi Jellby,

I had a look at your Prince & Pauper ePub and it seems to offer the embedded font as an alternative addition to the main style sheets — with the alt.css being called from within the style.css (presumably when embedded fonts are supported) — is that right?

I'd love to use this approach in the ePubs I'm working on. Is it as simple as it looks? (main css, alternative css and embedded fonts in OEBPS; then referencing all these in the Manifest) — Or are there complexities I'm missing?

Many thanks for any advice you care to offer.

d.

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by Dwayne Smith

I had a look at your Prince & Pauper ePub and it seems to offer the embedded font as an alternative addition to the main style sheets — with the alt.css being called from within the style.css (presumably when embedded fonts are supported) — is that right?

I'd love to use this approach in the ePubs I'm working on. Is it as simple as it looks? (main css, alternative css and embedded fonts in OEBPS; then referencing all these in the Manifest) — Or are there complexities I'm missing?

It's almost like that, but not quite. alt.css is referenced in style.css through an @import clause, and it will be read in all circumstances, as long as @import is supported, it does not depend on whether embedded fonts are supported.

The only reason for putting the embedded fonts stuff in a separate CSS file was to make it easier to disable it if needed, just by commenting out the @import line in style.css. Other solutions would imply a larger edit of CSS files, or modifying every XHTML file.

[MichaelCampbell]

Originally Posted by gernblanston

I'm using ID and I can't get my images to anchor in the correct spot on the epub page after conversion -- it always ends up at the end of the chapter! And so does the cutline/caption!

Floating images in ID will end up at the bottom. Solution: select the image and cut it, then paste it into the text so it becomes an in-line graphic. Paste your caption right below it in its own paragraph. They will now both flow with the text and anchor into position. It's best to have the graphic in its own paragraph.