Best application for creating and editing eBook files?

Oxford-eBooks · 01-17-2014, 06:18 AM

I like to take a step back once in a while and review my eBooks creation process. Having made literally THOUSANDS of titles, I think I have the process down to a fine art but there's always room for improvement.

Being a bit of a code-head, I'm writing the XHTML directly using Notepad++ with all its lovely regex and fancy plugins. I find I need to do this because I get my source manuscripts from a variety of applications from the client and so very often they're a total tag-soup. It's the only way I can see of making sure that the output code is clean enough to work across all the eBook reading platforms.

My staff and I are able to "see the matrix" and edit XHTML directly with no problems, and that seems to be the way when we're working on eBooks with complex formatting.

But does anyone else use any WYSIWIG editors that, for example allow you to browse and apply CSS styles to the preview text and do all kinds of quick editing tricks without having to always edit the code.
I mean I can save a few seconds here and there by highlighting text and clicking BOLD, or paint paragraphs with a class rather than having to type the tags - yes, all those seconds add up!

I've returned time and again to the likes of DreamWeaver and Sigil - both seem to have their merits.
I like Sigil because it has a good search and replace and the all important REGEX. Dreamweaver's search and replace is PAINFUL.
Neither seem to have a good CSS browser - even in DreamWeaver, I manipulate the CSS directly in the code view when designing web sites.
Sigil doesn't seem to be cut out for DEVELOPING new eBook files, rather it's great for going in and tweaking them.

So... it'll be nice to hear what everyone else is using.

Andy

Toxaris · 01-17-2014, 07:27 AM

I simply use my own add-in for initial creation and fine-tuning with Sigil.

mrmikel · 01-17-2014, 10:38 AM

I think the best environment is a word processor environment with all its bells and whistles and capabilities. Then either publish as epub (as AWD) or use Toxaris' add in for Word.

This assumes that styles are used and the word processor is used as such and not as a typewriter.

I think this may be less so if the document is very heavily formatted. If that is so, it may be easier (relatively) to work directly with the code. But epubs are a poor way of displaying textbooks and other similar heavily formatted documents.

DaleDe · 01-17-2014, 11:05 AM

Within the limitations of the tool (no tables) I use Atlantis (AWP) and work within the wysiwyg world of word processing fixing things using styles and then create/recreate the epub file. For minor CSS changes Atlantis also provides a free tool to edit the individual files inside an ePub. I reviewed it in our wiki.

Dale

mrmikel · 01-17-2014, 04:43 PM

If you are copying images using the clipboard, it is very nice to just be able to copy and paste instead of having to save and add and place.

radius · 01-17-2014, 05:02 PM

I used to use TacoEdit on Mac for it's simultaneous code/preview, but I've pretty muched switched to vim->Sigil now.

01-17-2014, 06:18 AM	#1
Oxford-eBooks Zealot Posts: 127 Karma: 12096 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Loads!	Best application for creating and editing eBook files? I like to take a step back once in a while and review my eBooks creation process. Having made literally THOUSANDS of titles, I think I have the process down to a fine art but there's always room for improvement. Being a bit of a code-head, I'm writing the XHTML directly using Notepad++ with all its lovely regex and fancy plugins. I find I need to do this because I get my source manuscripts from a variety of applications from the client and so very often they're a total tag-soup. It's the only way I can see of making sure that the output code is clean enough to work across all the eBook reading platforms. My staff and I are able to "see the matrix" and edit XHTML directly with no problems, and that seems to be the way when we're working on eBooks with complex formatting. But does anyone else use any WYSIWIG editors that, for example allow you to browse and apply CSS styles to the preview text and do all kinds of quick editing tricks without having to always edit the code. I mean I can save a few seconds here and there by highlighting text and clicking BOLD, or paint paragraphs with a class rather than having to type the tags - yes, all those seconds add up! I've returned time and again to the likes of DreamWeaver and Sigil - both seem to have their merits. I like Sigil because it has a good search and replace and the all important REGEX. Dreamweaver's search and replace is PAINFUL. Neither seem to have a good CSS browser - even in DreamWeaver, I manipulate the CSS directly in the code view when designing web sites. Sigil doesn't seem to be cut out for DEVELOPING new eBook files, rather it's great for going in and tweaking them. So... it'll be nice to hear what everyone else is using. Andy

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
360 Plus Creating and editing Themes for the 360 Plus	paola	PocketBook	4	04-05-2012 03:08 AM
eBook PDF - free tool for creating PDF eBooks from text files	KACartlidge	PDF	6	01-04-2012 09:41 AM
editing or creating themes	franklekens	PocketBook	9	03-12-2010 04:12 AM
Creating multiple ebook formats from same source files!	nrapallo	Workshop	91	07-27-2009 03:54 AM

01-17-2014, 07:27 AM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I simply use my own add-in for initial creation and fine-tuning with Sigil.

01-17-2014, 10:38 AM	#3
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	I think the best environment is a word processor environment with all its bells and whistles and capabilities. Then either publish as epub (as AWD) or use Toxaris' add in for Word. This assumes that styles are used and the word processor is used as such and not as a typewriter. I think this may be less so if the document is very heavily formatted. If that is so, it may be easier (relatively) to work directly with the code. But epubs are a poor way of displaying textbooks and other similar heavily formatted documents.

01-17-2014, 11:05 AM	#4
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Within the limitations of the tool (no tables) I use Atlantis (AWP) and work within the wysiwyg world of word processing fixing things using styles and then create/recreate the epub file. For minor CSS changes Atlantis also provides a free tool to edit the individual files inside an ePub. I reviewed it in our wiki. Dale

01-17-2014, 04:43 PM	#5
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	If you are copying images using the clipboard, it is very nice to just be able to copy and paste instead of having to save and add and place.

01-17-2014, 05:02 PM	#6
radius Lector minore Posts: 649 Karma: 1738720 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Aura One, Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, Google Pixel Slate	I used to use TacoEdit on Mac for it's simultaneous code/preview, but I've pretty muched switched to vim->Sigil now.