ePub Creation Tools: Sigil vs Oxygen

twedigteam · 12-09-2010, 12:07 PM

Just wanted to throw a quick poll out there to see if anyone has experience using the Oxygen software, and more specifically, if it is worth the investment ($300+ USD for a commercial license). From what I understand, it does give one the ability to modify some of the internal workings of an ePub (.opf editing, etc) without requiring unzipping and rezipping.

It is a pretty hefty price tag and so far, we're quite content with Sigil, just seeing if anyone else had any input on this one...

Jellby · 12-09-2010, 01:25 PM

It must be an amazing software to be worth $300... in other words, I don't think it is.

KevinH · 12-09-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twedigteam

Just wanted to throw a quick poll out there to see if anyone has experience using the Oxygen software, and more specifically, if it is worth the investment ($300+ USD for a commercial license). From what I understand, it does give one the ability to modify some of the internal workings of an ePub (.opf editing, etc) without requiring unzipping and rezipping.

It is a pretty hefty price tag and so far, we're quite content with Sigil, just seeing if anyone else had any input on this one...

Hi,

I played around with it. Definitely not worth it unless you are a developer of true xml, understand xml transforms, etc. It is not a true ebook editor. Although xml is technically what the contents of epubs are they are more xhtml which you can think of as a strict subset of html and not general xml as can be supported by this tool. As for "modifying some of the internal files without needing to zip and unzip" that makes no sense. Some software someplace has to open the zip container and read out the file from the zip container and write it back to the zip container and update the main record at the end of the zip container.

Since there are easy ways to unzip a file (double-click or right click), and simple drag and drop tools to rezip things in proper epub format, I am not sure what you are paying for.

I let my trial license expire and removed it from my machine.

Toxaris · 12-09-2010, 03:51 PM

Of course you can also use tweakepub to edit the files in an ePub with your favorite editor without unzip and rezip...

twedigteam · 12-09-2010, 03:58 PM

Thanks all, sounds like the general sense is that Oxygen is NOT worth it. I do realize it is impossible to edit some internal content with unzip/rezip, but we are trying to simplify our production process as much as possible for some less tech-savvy individuals.

From looking at Oxygen, it looks more specific to XML, which is not what we will be employing, so we'll stick to Sigil (which we are very content using).

I was not aware of tweakepub, does anyone have any resources in this realm?

Nate the great · 12-09-2010, 09:52 PM

I know someone who uses it. Of course, he was working in xml before he moved over into Epub, so that might be why.

Toxaris · 12-10-2010, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twedigteam

I was not aware of tweakepub, does anyone have any resources in this realm?

It is quite a nice little tool. It is from the makers of the Atlantis Word processor. You can find a bit more info in this post.

12-09-2010, 12:07 PM	#1
twedigteam Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony eReader	ePub Creation Tools: Sigil vs Oxygen Just wanted to throw a quick poll out there to see if anyone has experience using the Oxygen software, and more specifically, if it is worth the investment ($300+ USD for a commercial license). From what I understand, it does give one the ability to modify some of the internal workings of an ePub (.opf editing, etc) without requiring unzipping and rezipping. It is a pretty hefty price tag and so far, we're quite content with Sigil, just seeing if anyone else had any input on this one...

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12-09-2010, 01:25 PM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,543 Karma: 19001583 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	It must be an amazing software to be worth $300... in other words, I don't think it is.

12-09-2010, 03:51 PM	#4
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Of course you can also use tweakepub to edit the files in an ePub with your favorite editor without unzip and rezip...

12-09-2010, 03:58 PM	#5
twedigteam Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony eReader	Thanks all, sounds like the general sense is that Oxygen is NOT worth it. I do realize it is impossible to edit some internal content with unzip/rezip, but we are trying to simplify our production process as much as possible for some less tech-savvy individuals. From looking at Oxygen, it looks more specific to XML, which is not what we will be employing, so we'll stick to Sigil (which we are very content using). I was not aware of tweakepub, does anyone have any resources in this realm?

12-09-2010, 09:52 PM	#6
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	I know someone who uses it. Of course, he was working in xml before he moved over into Epub, so that might be why.