Reliable XML Publishing Tools?

fiume · 05-30-2017, 02:34 PM

Hi,

I'm researching XML publishing and I was wondering if there are any free or cheap, but reliable ways to make xml epubs.

JSWolf · 05-30-2017, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiume

Hi,

I'm researching XML publishing and I was wondering if there are any free or cheap, but reliable ways to make xml epubs.

There are two good ways to make ePub. Both are free. One is Calibre and the Other is Sigil.

Turtle91 · 05-30-2017, 06:08 PM

+1 for Calibre or Sigil. They do require a working knowledge of XHTML and CSS, but most people on here use one or both of those programs at some point in their publishing process.

HarryT · 05-31-2017, 02:36 AM

You don't actually need ANY tools other than a text editor and a zip program...

fbrzvnrnd · 05-31-2017, 03:31 AM

In non-free fields I can suggest OxygenXML.

DaleDe · 06-01-2017, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiume

Hi,

I'm researching XML publishing and I was wondering if there are any free or cheap, but reliable ways to make xml epubs.

If you are looking for publishing then you will likely need to convert the original author content to ePub. One choice would be Atlantis Word Processor http://www.atlantiswordprocessor.com/en/ which will convert several source document formats into ePub directly. It is not free but fairly cheap. You need not learn or worry about the native ePub data. If the books are complex you may find it necessary to learn native ePub.

Dale

Notjohn · 06-02-2017, 03:48 PM

My vote goes to Sigil, using clean html and my own style sheet.

JSWolf · 06-02-2017, 05:11 PM

My vote goes to Calibre or Sigil depending on what you prefer.

skreutzer · 06-03-2017, 07:20 AM

Question is: what are your source formats? There are many freely (=libre) licensed XML workflow tools, including my own. While libre licensed software tends to be gratis (free of charge), it doesn’t have to be, so if your “free” doesn’t refer to user rights, it still could be cheap probably. Also, a lot of publishers are building that kind of stuff inhouse, but it’s too specific to their projects and we cannot obtain their solutions in any way.

JSWolf · 06-03-2017, 11:35 AM

Actually, you want XHTML publishing tools.

skreutzer · 06-03-2017, 01:08 PM

Which is a XML-based format, but what happens if OP has to express (source) data which isn’t easy to express in XHTML? From a XML perspective, XHTML is just another input/intermediate/output format, from which comes a great deal of flexibility and therefore future-proofness.

JSWolf · 06-03-2017, 02:11 PM

ePub is not made with XML but with XHTML.

Toxaris · 06-03-2017, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

ePub is not made with XML but with XHTML.

And XHTML is XML, just with a well defined schema.

JSWolf · 06-03-2017, 04:16 PM

The NCX Toc is XML. The actual parts of the book we read are XHTML.

grumbles · 06-03-2017, 05:23 PM

And XHTML is XML! XHTML is just XML with all the naughty bits left out or hidden.

05-30-2017, 02:34 PM	#1
fiume Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Nook	Reliable XML Publishing Tools? Hi, I'm researching XML publishing and I was wondering if there are any free or cheap, but reliable ways to make xml epubs.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
OOXML/docx XML tools?	SBT	Workshop	2	10-14-2015 06:42 AM
How reliable is AfterGlow 2?	Heba	Onyx Boox	5	01-09-2015 07:59 AM
After merging all the .xml files, how do you divide it back into .xml files?	automa	Sigil	10	08-13-2013 07:43 AM
Most reliable eReader?	ReaderSpouse	Which one should I buy?	26	06-30-2011 01:40 AM
How much is Iliad HW reliable?	Kirys	iRex	26	01-25-2007 05:53 AM

05-30-2017, 06:08 PM	#3
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,186 Karma: 18843349 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	+1 for Calibre or Sigil. They do require a working knowledge of XHTML and CSS, but most people on here use one or both of those programs at some point in their publishing process.

05-31-2017, 02:36 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You don't actually need ANY tools other than a text editor and a zip program...

05-31-2017, 03:31 AM	#5
fbrzvnrnd Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 400004 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: ONYX M96	In non-free fields I can suggest OxygenXML.

06-02-2017, 03:48 PM	#7
Notjohn mostly an observer Posts: 1,515 Karma: 987654 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kindle	My vote goes to Sigil, using clean html and my own style sheet.

06-02-2017, 05:11 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,917 Karma: 134368292 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	My vote goes to Calibre or Sigil depending on what you prefer.

06-03-2017, 07:20 AM	#9
skreutzer Software Developer Posts: 190 Karma: 89000 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Germany Device: PocketBook Touch Lux 3	Question is: what are your source formats? There are many freely (=libre) licensed XML workflow tools, including my own. While libre licensed software tends to be gratis (free of charge), it doesn’t have to be, so if your “free” doesn’t refer to user rights, it still could be cheap probably. Also, a lot of publishers are building that kind of stuff inhouse, but it’s too specific to their projects and we cannot obtain their solutions in any way.

06-03-2017, 11:35 AM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,917 Karma: 134368292 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Actually, you want XHTML publishing tools.

06-03-2017, 01:08 PM	#11
skreutzer Software Developer Posts: 190 Karma: 89000 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Germany Device: PocketBook Touch Lux 3	Which is a XML-based format, but what happens if OP has to express (source) data which isn’t easy to express in XHTML? From a XML perspective, XHTML is just another input/intermediate/output format, from which comes a great deal of flexibility and therefore future-proofness.

06-03-2017, 02:11 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,917 Karma: 134368292 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	ePub is not made with XML but with XHTML.

06-03-2017, 04:16 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,917 Karma: 134368292 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The NCX Toc is XML. The actual parts of the book we read are XHTML.

Advert

Advert

06-03-2017, 05:23 PM	#15
grumbles Addict Posts: 238 Karma: 1500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Pandigital Novel (Black), T-2 and 3, Nexus 7	And XHTML is XML! XHTML is just XML with all the naughty bits left out or hidden.