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Originally Posted by hidden.platypus
So this is pretty cool.
I'm actually using your tool on my ebook right now.
Thanks for responding.
So this might be sort of circular, but where can I find a beginners guide to advanced formatting?
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No offense, but there's no such thing as a "beginner's guide to advanced formatting," simply because there's no advanced GUIDE, period. Everybody here learned the same way: through doing. You could take some courses, I think, over at Lynda, if you are so inclined.
Firstly: Sigil isn't really WYSIWYG. It was, initially, a long time ago, when it was Valloric's doctoral thesis, or part of it, if I'm remembering correctly. At one point, user_none, the new maintainer, was seriously discussing removing the "Book view" altogether, for, as Tox has told you, most of us don't use it. Sure, to change a single word, yes. To actually work on eBooks? NO.
There's no "WYSIWYG" way to "work on font" in an ePUB. First you learn the HTML, then you learn the CSS, then you learn how to include a font file IN an ePUB (and learn about font licensing, while you're at it); then you learn how to call that font via CSS, and to apply that style to the HTML. If you're serious, you learn how to subset your fonts.
Sigil is NOT Word. It's NOT a word-processor, and it doesn't tell you "oh, you don't know enough about making ePUBs, you better go read this tutorial over here, and then learn how to embed fonts this way." Sigil, and for that matter, the Calibre ePUB editor, are editing tools for those people
who already know how to use XHTML, HTML and CSS. Or for those people who are trying to learn how. Sigil doesn't do the heavy lifting FOR you, in terms of knowing what you need to know.
The only "cheatsheet" is Pablo's tutorial, and other materials scattered all across the web.
You might consider a product like Jutoh. Jutoh works in a word-processing-like interface, and can output ePUBs and MOBIs from that interface. It uses "Styles," somewhat like Microsoft Word. I believe--I'm not sure about this--that it might embed fonts *for* you. In the same price category is Atlantis, which does embed fonts for you, if you have them on your system, of course. Again, I'd strenuously urge you to read up on font licensing. Make sure you don't miss the Adobe case on that topic. (Adobe Systems, Inc. v. Southern Software, Inc.).
I'm a bit confused about a couple of your statements:
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I know html, I know Word (about the only thing it seems that I knew before BetterRed is Shift+F7 and I figure that's because people used to steal my mouse when I was first starting to use the computer so I memorized every Word shortcut, and they haven't really changed since DOS). I don't understand why people prefer to tab all over the place rather than indent. And I don't understand how it's easier for other folk to change all the formatting individually, rather than just create a style but I DO know they do that.
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...as I don't understand why what other people do matters. Are you creating your own eBooks, or are you endeavoring to create eBooks for other people, as a formatter for hire?
Hitch