Testing epub book on readers?

GraciousMe · 06-15-2012, 11:43 AM

My epub book is almost done. (I´m Working in Sigil.)

I have run epubcheck and validator, no big problems there. Just some more work on code and pictures and I am finished.

Now I would like to try it out on readers. I have no tablet PC or iPad, only a Sony Reader and Adobe Digital Editions.

Are there other software readers to try it on? I guess I should also ask friends who have iPads or similar machines.

HarryT · 06-15-2012, 11:49 AM

It's probably a lot more important that you create a Kindle version of your book and make sure that it works well on that. Authors very often report that well over 90% of their sales are from Amazon.

GraciousMe · 06-15-2012, 03:11 PM

Where I live Kindle is insignificant, so that would be incorrect for me.

AlPe · 06-15-2012, 03:23 PM

@GraciousMe: I suggest you to install Lucifox add-on for Firefox, and open your EPUB there. It is a quite picky EPUB reader, so you will get an extra "validation" round, plus the possibility of testing it in a resizable window. (The only notable limitation is that it does not support SVG images.) A similar test can be done with the calibre ebook viewer --- but I prefer Lucifox.

Unfortunately, there are still many things that would require testing on a physical device. Here in Italy we have founded a nonprofit organization, the eBook Club Italia that, among other wonderful initiatives, offers help to authors by testing an eBook on several different eReaders, owned by members or by the association itself.

If you need help, you can contact me with a private message.

AlPe · 06-15-2012, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraciousMe

Where I live Kindle is insignificant

Now I'd like to know what country you are living in, so I could move there

Toxaris · 06-15-2012, 04:31 PM

Well, here in the Netherlands the Kindle is also very, very small but growing.

You should at least test your ePUB in ADE, as most readers use that.

wannabee · 06-16-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraciousMe

Where I live Kindle is insignificant, so that would be incorrect for me.

It's not where you live which is significant for most authors. It's where you sell the most books.

HarryT · 06-16-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabee

It's not where you live which is significant for most authors. It's where you sell the most books.

Perhaps the OP's book is in a language other than English. Kindle sales may well not be significant if that's the case.

weatherwax · 06-16-2012, 10:15 AM

I have an Acer tablet and a Sony eReader and I use Calibre to manage and convert books. On my PC I test them in ADE (epub) and Kindle for PC (mobi). They look different in each application, so there is no way to make sure they look the same everywhere, if that's what you are trying to do.
But looking at posts in different forums, it would be worth checking the books on an Ipad as well.

DaleDe · 06-16-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraciousMe

Where I live Kindle is insignificant, so that would be incorrect for me.

This is the reason we suggest adding location to your profile. It is hard to provide good advice without knowing where you live.

Dale

JSWolf · 06-18-2012, 05:25 PM

Use Adobe Digital Editions to test your ePub. Also use your Sony Reader to see how it looks on a 6" eink screen. That will do it for at least 90% of the readers/apps out there for ePub.

GraciousMe · 06-20-2012, 05:52 AM

Correct, my book is not in English.

I should make it very clear that I have no physical readers.

Trying the book in Adobe Digital Editions or Sony Reader does not look good (= not as it looks in Sigil).

However, Calibre shows the same as Sigil...

?

Doitsu · 06-20-2012, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraciousMe

Trying the book in Adobe Digital Editions or Sony Reader does not look good (= not as it looks in Sigil).

In that case you'll probably need to embed a font for your mystery language, if you want to share your book with others.
For example, this epub supports Turkish, Russian, Greek, Vietnamese and several other languages not supported by ADE. (Even with an embedded font, ADE does not support Arabic or Hebrew.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraciousMe

However, Calibre shows the same as Sigil...?

That's because they use the same rendering engine.

GraciousMe · 06-20-2012, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doitsu

In that case you'll probably need to embed a font for your mystery language,

The language presents no problems.

ADE and Reader don´t show Italic and Text align.

Jellby · 06-20-2012, 06:38 AM

If you share a sample epub that shows your problems (it doesn't have to be the real book if you are concerned about copyright, you can replace all text with "lorem ipsum", as long as it reproduces the issues with ADE and the Sony Reader) we can have a look and tell you whether it's a bug in the programs or a problem with your book.

06-15-2012, 11:43 AM	#1
GraciousMe Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 202774 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: none	Testing epub book on readers? My epub book is almost done. (I´m Working in Sigil.) I have run epubcheck and validator, no big problems there. Just some more work on code and pictures and I am finished. Now I would like to try it out on readers. I have no tablet PC or iPad, only a Sony Reader and Adobe Digital Editions. Are there other software readers to try it on? I guess I should also ask friends who have iPads or similar machines.

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06-15-2012, 11:49 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's probably a lot more important that you create a Kindle version of your book and make sure that it works well on that. Authors very often report that well over 90% of their sales are from Amazon.

06-15-2012, 03:11 PM	#3
GraciousMe Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 202774 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: none	Where I live Kindle is insignificant, so that would be incorrect for me.

06-15-2012, 03:23 PM	#4
AlPe Digital Amanuensis Posts: 727 Karma: 1446357 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Turin, Italy Device: Several eReaders and tablets	@GraciousMe: I suggest you to install Lucifox add-on for Firefox, and open your EPUB there. It is a quite picky EPUB reader, so you will get an extra "validation" round, plus the possibility of testing it in a resizable window. (The only notable limitation is that it does not support SVG images.) A similar test can be done with the calibre ebook viewer --- but I prefer Lucifox. Unfortunately, there are still many things that would require testing on a physical device. Here in Italy we have founded a nonprofit organization, the eBook Club Italia that, among other wonderful initiatives, offers help to authors by testing an eBook on several different eReaders, owned by members or by the association itself. If you need help, you can contact me with a private message.

06-15-2012, 04:31 PM	#6
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Well, here in the Netherlands the Kindle is also very, very small but growing. You should at least test your ePUB in ADE, as most readers use that.

06-16-2012, 10:15 AM	#9
weatherwax Guru Posts: 904 Karma: 5921577 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South of Germany Device: PRS650 (red), Kindle PW2, Galaxy Note 8	I have an Acer tablet and a Sony eReader and I use Calibre to manage and convert books. On my PC I test them in ADE (epub) and Kindle for PC (mobi). They look different in each application, so there is no way to make sure they look the same everywhere, if that's what you are trying to do. But looking at posts in different forums, it would be worth checking the books on an Ipad as well.

06-18-2012, 05:25 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,931 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Use Adobe Digital Editions to test your ePub. Also use your Sony Reader to see how it looks on a 6" eink screen. That will do it for at least 90% of the readers/apps out there for ePub.

06-20-2012, 05:52 AM	#12
GraciousMe Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 202774 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: none	Correct, my book is not in English. I should make it very clear that I have no physical readers. Trying the book in Adobe Digital Editions or Sony Reader does not look good (= not as it looks in Sigil). However, Calibre shows the same as Sigil... ?

06-20-2012, 06:38 AM	#15
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	If you share a sample epub that shows your problems (it doesn't have to be the real book if you are concerned about copyright, you can replace all text with "lorem ipsum", as long as it reproduces the issues with ADE and the Sony Reader) we can have a look and tell you whether it's a bug in the programs or a problem with your book.

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