So confused!

chesspupil · 09-22-2009, 08:55 PM

Hi there!

I've been reading a lot about the different electronic book formats.
I have a book which I published a couple of years ago, but the file is a .exe file (which only runs on windows desktops. Originally edited using Gemx Texnotes).
Now I'm thinking about converting it to a more universal format. I'm particularly interested in a format which can be read in mobile devices (such as WM operated phones, iphones, android, etc. as well as desktops, etc.)
So, it seems that .epub is the way to go.
Fine.

However, my book is full of images and some tables as well. It seems to me that .epub is best for, well, you know, "literature".
Will the .epub format work ok for an electronic book which contains lots of coloured graphics?
What about animated gifs, are they supported? (I guess I could sacrifice my animated gifs if necessary...).
How about flash animations? (I guess I could sacrifice these as well...).

And finally, can books in .epub format be protected? (so that they can be sold and so on, even if my original book is free).

=X= · 09-26-2009, 08:55 AM

At the moment no major format supports animated GIF or fash, so that is concession you'll have to give if you want to go with a popular format.

All the major formats like LIT/MOBI/EPUB are based on HTML so they can pretty much handle all of the formatting issues you have mentioned above.

On last point formats like MOBI and PDF are still much more popular than ePUB, I would not limit the format to just one format but support several formats of the popular formats such as MOBI/LIT/ePUB/PDF.

=X=

Patricia · 09-26-2009, 09:09 AM

And yes, EPub can be DRM'd.

HarryT · 09-26-2009, 11:18 AM

Note that ePub is not a good format for Windows Mobile devices. However, an ePub file can easily be converted to a Mobipocket file, which can be used on such devices.

09-22-2009, 08:55 PM	#1
chesspupil Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: pocket pc, android phone	So confused! Hi there! I've been reading a lot about the different electronic book formats. I have a book which I published a couple of years ago, but the file is a .exe file (which only runs on windows desktops. Originally edited using Gemx Texnotes). Now I'm thinking about converting it to a more universal format. I'm particularly interested in a format which can be read in mobile devices (such as WM operated phones, iphones, android, etc. as well as desktops, etc.) So, it seems that .epub is the way to go. Fine. However, my book is full of images and some tables as well. It seems to me that .epub is best for, well, you know, "literature". Will the .epub format work ok for an electronic book which contains lots of coloured graphics? What about animated gifs, are they supported? (I guess I could sacrifice my animated gifs if necessary...). How about flash animations? (I guess I could sacrifice these as well...). And finally, can books in .epub format be protected? (so that they can be sold and so on, even if my original book is free).

09-26-2009, 08:55 AM	#2
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	At the moment no major format supports animated GIF or fash, so that is concession you'll have to give if you want to go with a popular format. All the major formats like LIT/MOBI/EPUB are based on HTML so they can pretty much handle all of the formatting issues you have mentioned above. On last point formats like MOBI and PDF are still much more popular than ePUB, I would not limit the format to just one format but support several formats of the popular formats such as MOBI/LIT/ePUB/PDF. =X= Last edited by =X=; 09-26-2009 at 10:34 PM. Reason: Fixed errors and grammer

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09-26-2009, 09:09 AM	#3
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	And yes, EPub can be DRM'd.

09-26-2009, 11:18 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Note that ePub is not a good format for Windows Mobile devices. However, an ePub file can easily be converted to a Mobipocket file, which can be used on such devices.

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