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.

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

Here is the format spec...
http://www.openebook.org/2007/opf/OPF_2.0_final_spec.html

Here is the packaging spec...
http://www.openebook.org/2007/ops/OPS_2.0_final_spec.html


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


Also the Mobil Read Wiki has some good info...
http://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.

Something I originally posted on TeleRead some time ago:

http://www.zianet.com/jgray/articles/Teleread1/index.html

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).

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.

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!

Try this: The Prince and the Pauper (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36493&d=1253904662).

Try this: The Prince and the Pauper (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36493&d=1253904662).

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

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 ... :chinscratch:

I just tried now, it works for me.

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....