How do I fix my epub file to upload on lulu? - Page 3

JSWolf · 03-18-2011, 12:03 PM

The first place to start is in the CSS. Remove everything that is Word garbage. Then fix everything that no correct like all the font declarations and any fixed font size references. Also, you may find you can delete some of the CSS entries and make it look simpler. Then in the XML files, fix the CSS references that you've removed. Also strip out any of the Word garbage. I suggest using Notepad++ as it has tabs and you can load in all the XML at the same time and death/replace all of them at once.

Hitch · 03-19-2011, 04:28 AM

If I may--for a newb, the best way to START learning how to strip all that crapola might be to start with--dare I say it--BookCreator (or is it BookDesigner? I can never remember the name of that template here on MR). If for no other reason than the user can a) tag all formatting, to preserve italics and bold, and b) strip all the rest of the formatting, and then save and output as filtered html. It won't nuke all the 1800 lines of unnecessary font CSS...but it will eliminate a lot of other crapola, and the user can then work in a good html editor, delete all other unused CSS and start with a reasonably clean file without having spans hung around the neck of every 3rd word.

It's not a "pure" method of learning--but until you have regex down, it's a LOT easier than trying to learn html, css AND regex all on the fly to make a book. Just a thought...

HTH,
Hitch

sparkletown · 03-19-2011, 05:21 AM

[QUOTE=Hitch;1452143]If I may--for a newb, the best way to START learning how to strip all that crapola might be to start with--dare I say it--BookCreator (or is it BookDesigner? I can never remember the name of that template here on MR). If for no other reason than the user can a) tag all formatting, to preserve italics and bold, and b) strip all the rest of the formatting, and then save and output as filtered html. It won't nuke all the 1800 lines of unnecessary font CSS...but it will eliminate a lot of other crapola, and the user can then work in a good html editor, delete all other unused CSS and start with a reasonably clean file without having spans hung around the neck of every 3rd word.

It's not a "pure" method of learning--but until you have regex down, it's a LOT easier than trying to learn html, css AND regex all on the fly to make a book. Just a thought...

Thanks for that. I checked it out. But Book Designer is for PC 's only! I'm a Mac user - but for all those who can give it a go, heres the link:

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Book_Designer

Toxaris · 03-19-2011, 06:20 AM

I have posted a link to an interesting article about using the XML stylesheets and the office XML format to produce cleaner code. This is the article.

DMSmillie · 03-19-2011, 08:03 AM

Just for future readers of this thread, I think Hitch was actually referring to Book Creator (also, as far as I know, only available for Windows PCs), which is a "smart" template for MS Word with automates and simplifies a lot of the processes involved in cleaning up a Word doc and preparing it for conversion to an ebook. There's a thread dedicated to it in the Workshop forum:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28313

Hitch · 03-20-2011, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMSmillie

Just for future readers of this thread, I think Hitch was actually referring to Book Creator (also, as far as I know, only available for Windows PCs), which is a "smart" template for MS Word with automates and simplifies a lot of the processes involved in cleaning up a Word doc and preparing it for conversion to an ebook. There's a thread dedicated to it in the Workshop forum:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28313

Yes, thank you, Donna, that's what I was referring to!

Sorry, I really never CAN recall the name...I think I sent some poor soul scurrying around looking for it for days once, because I called it BookDesigner, not BookCreator. Yes, it's a macro-laden Word template that works pretty well, although it tends to go gonzo if you happen to have used two styles (specifically, bold AND italics) on any given word(s). Nonetheless, it's pretty handy, and a good tool with which to learn. I have no idea if it works on Macs, sorry.

Thanks again, Donna.

Hitch

DMSmillie · 03-20-2011, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

Yes, thank you, Donna, that's what I was referring to!

Sorry, I really never CAN recall the name...I think I sent some poor soul scurrying around looking for it for days once, because I called it BookDesigner, not BookCreator.

That was me. It's why I remember which is which, these days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

Thanks again, Donna.

No problem Hitch.

Hitch · 03-21-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMSmillie

That was me. It's why I remember which is which, these days.

No problem Hitch.

Oh, dear.

Man, it's a really good thing that they don't have a negative karma deal here, I'd be hosed. As you can see, I do feel bad about it. I'm glad one of us can remember what it's called.

Thanks again,

H

sparkletown · 04-04-2011, 02:39 PM

Thanks again to all those who helped me on this thread and continue to help all the newbies with their ebooks. I'm ready to upload to lulu at LAST! And hopefully can now offer some advice to others about their ebooks in the future.

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03-18-2011, 12:03 PM	#31
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,887 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The first place to start is in the CSS. Remove everything that is Word garbage. Then fix everything that no correct like all the font declarations and any fixed font size references. Also, you may find you can delete some of the CSS entries and make it look simpler. Then in the XML files, fix the CSS references that you've removed. Also strip out any of the Word garbage. I suggest using Notepad++ as it has tabs and you can load in all the XML at the same time and death/replace all of them at once.

03-19-2011, 04:28 AM	#32
Hitch Bookmaker & Cat Slave Posts: 11,460 Karma: 158448243 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: K2, iPad, KFire, PPW, Voyage, NookColor. 2 Droid, Oasis, Boox Note2	If I may--for a newb, the best way to START learning how to strip all that crapola might be to start with--dare I say it--BookCreator (or is it BookDesigner? I can never remember the name of that template here on MR). If for no other reason than the user can a) tag all formatting, to preserve italics and bold, and b) strip all the rest of the formatting, and then save and output as filtered html. It won't nuke all the 1800 lines of unnecessary font CSS...but it will eliminate a lot of other crapola, and the user can then work in a good html editor, delete all other unused CSS and start with a reasonably clean file without having spans hung around the neck of every 3rd word. It's not a "pure" method of learning--but until you have regex down, it's a LOT easier than trying to learn html, css AND regex all on the fly to make a book. Just a thought... HTH, Hitch

03-19-2011, 05:21 AM	#33
sparkletown Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	[QUOTE=Hitch;1452143]If I may--for a newb, the best way to START learning how to strip all that crapola might be to start with--dare I say it--BookCreator (or is it BookDesigner? I can never remember the name of that template here on MR). If for no other reason than the user can a) tag all formatting, to preserve italics and bold, and b) strip all the rest of the formatting, and then save and output as filtered html. It won't nuke all the 1800 lines of unnecessary font CSS...but it will eliminate a lot of other crapola, and the user can then work in a good html editor, delete all other unused CSS and start with a reasonably clean file without having spans hung around the neck of every 3rd word. It's not a "pure" method of learning--but until you have regex down, it's a LOT easier than trying to learn html, css AND regex all on the fly to make a book. Just a thought... Thanks for that. I checked it out. But Book Designer is for PC 's only! I'm a Mac user - but for all those who can give it a go, heres the link: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Book_Designer

03-19-2011, 06:20 AM	#34
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I have posted a link to an interesting article about using the XML stylesheets and the office XML format to produce cleaner code. This is the article.

03-19-2011, 08:03 AM	#35
DMSmillie Enquiring Mind Posts: 562 Karma: 42350 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	Just for future readers of this thread, I think Hitch was actually referring to Book Creator (also, as far as I know, only available for Windows PCs), which is a "smart" template for MS Word with automates and simplifies a lot of the processes involved in cleaning up a Word doc and preparing it for conversion to an ebook. There's a thread dedicated to it in the Workshop forum: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28313

04-04-2011, 02:39 PM	#39
sparkletown Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	Thanks again to all those who helped me on this thread and continue to help all the newbies with their ebooks. I'm ready to upload to lulu at LAST! And hopefully can now offer some advice to others about their ebooks in the future.