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Originally Posted by q5485
To begin, I started with my first book. I already have it stored in pdf format and in docx formats. I converted the pdf format of the book into epub using calibre.
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I'd suggest starting with your docx, saving as HTML, and then going from there. Converting from the PDF is likely to lead to problems with incorrect paragraph breaks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by q5485
I used sigil software to clean it up and then I had it "validated". It is now validated (though I would still like to make some changes in the appearance such as fonts, etc).
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You can't specify the body font for iPad. You can specify the font for headings, but only from the range of fonts available on the iPad. You can specify relative sizes.
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Originally Posted by q5485
Since it is already validated, I would like to know the following:
(a) is there a sandbox or a place where I can upload it and see how it will look on an ipad? I downloaded epubcheck-1.0.5.war but I am lost as to how to use it. I even downloaded the epubcheck-src-1.0.5.zip but I don't know how to run it. (I know how to unzip, extract & install but I am lost as to how to how to run epubcheck or if I still need to run epubcheck.
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I don't know of any emulator that will run iBooks. I wish there was. Without a moderately recent iPod Touch, iPhone or and iPad, I don't know of any way to view your book as it will appear in iBooks. You can, of course, view it in Adobe Digital Editions, but the rendering capabilities are slightly different.
Quote:
Originally Posted by q5485
(b) One of the reasons I am restricting sales of my hardcover books to the US market is control over DRM. Will I be able to control for piracy if I make my books available through ibookstore.
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Piracy isn't a problem. Avoid using DRM if at all possible. And why restrict to US only? Although piracy isn't a problem, not allowing 95% of the world population to buy your books seems an odd way to try to avoid piracy.
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Originally Posted by q5485
(c) Assuming I have successfully validated the epub format of my book, where do I upload it? Is there an application that I need to fill out and send to apple?
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You have to upload it to Apple using special software that only runs on a Mac. You need to sign up with an iTunes account, and then sign up to supply them with ebooks first.
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Originally Posted by q5485
(d) If I can successfully do this with my 1st book, I will get the conversion done for the remaining 19 books and then upload them to ibookstore.
(e) Should I consider converting the books to suit other ebook readers such as kindle, nook etc? Are DRM better or worse with other ebook readers?
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I'd suggest that a Kindle conversion is worth doing — you sign up at dtp.amazon.com. You can get Calibre to do a conversion to Kindle format, but you'll get better results (IMO) in working from the ePub source (i.e. unzipped) with KindleGen, a cross-platform command-line program from Amazon. You'll need to tweak the ePub files a little, but only in a good way.
It might also be worth doing a version for Smashwords.
Quote:
Originally Posted by q5485
(f) I am trying to minimize the cost of conversion. I was fed up with the big book publishers and decided to self-publish. Do you think I can still do these myself or should I have a 3rd party convert it and upload it for me? One third party is charging $ 250 per book to convert and upload it to ibookstore. Is that a reasonable cost?
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It depends how much you value your time, and how good a job they do. Personally, I suggest that a little time spent learning about ePub and Kindle ebook formats and sorting out tools and workflow will allow you to convert your book quite quickly and probably end up with a better product.
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Originally Posted by q5485
Thank you very much for being patient and reading my questions. I hope you will be able to help me with pointers and suggestions. Thank you in advance for doing this.
K
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If you're on Mac, look up my Applescripts for ePub Zip and KindleGen.