EBook Creation Process 101

[Hitch]

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?

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:

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.

...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

[hidden.platypus]

Well thanks @hitch, but I think you and I got our wires crossed somewhere.

Originally Posted by hidden.platypus

I prefer to muck about with the code, as opposed to with an editor.

Hopefully that will straighten it out.

I referenced Sigil as a hypothetical. As I said before, I'm really not interested in working with it, or any other WYSIWYG editor. Like you, sometimes it easier to add or remove a word, or an image but ... not for heavy lifting.

Originally Posted by Hitch

...as I don't understand why what other people do matters.

Was attempting to forestall any directions to the beginner processes. My point was, I know Word, use styles proficiently, can (and have) make my own macros from scratch. (As an aside, I've been using a version of Stingo's macro that I created for my own use long ago. Never occurred to me that other people would have distributed something like that. Not surprising. People surprise me a lot).

My issue isn't Word, or best practices with Word, it's best practices with ebooks. That's what I intended to say. Apparently it didn't come out that way. Oh look. I'm a rhymer, no need for a timer. . .

Pay that no mind.

I'd like to learn ebook formatting for fun, and not necessarily profit. I tinker with my ebooks. I hate when I buy a book and it's not formatted correctly, or it needs editing, or all sorts of other horrors. It makes it hard to read. I get ejected from the reader's cockpit more often than I'd like. Two choices then, fix it, or stop reading, and the latter isn't really an option.

Also, font is not a big issue of mine. That was only meant to illustrate that WYSIWYG editors tend to be frustrating to their intended audience, and frustrating for slightly more advanced users for dissimilar but related reasons.

It looks like I need to become more proficient with css.

Given that there isn't any tutorial, I'll just continue to troll around the forums and learn what I learn.

I only discovered Guido Henkel's guide today. That would have been helpful a week or so ago.

As I said, I'm just crashing around, learning, and hoping I don't break anything I can't fix later on. Hopefully the High Priestess of Epub won't seek to excommunicate me for that.

Thank you again.

[hidden.platypus]

Originally Posted by dickloraine

I don't know why you changed the dots to have two spaces after them, but I guess word or you somehow gave the replaced dot a different style, which calibre correctly assigns. If you use the style inspector, you can see if the guess is right.

Bull in a china shop.

Don't know what I'm doing, or what is good to do, useless, or error making.




Thank you for the Style Inspector tip. I'll look into that.

[Turtle91]

Hey Platypus,

Looks like we are on the same page. One resource I used alot when learning the css stuff was W3Schools. They have lots of tutorials and code examples. Also, they have a free library here on MR where you can look at what others have done and get good ideas. I have also seen some pretty enlightening conversations break out in the middle of threads you would otherwise think are pretty benign. Google and Search for the topic you are currently researching.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

[hidden.platypus]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

Hey Platypus,

Looks like we are on the same page. One resource I used alot when learning the css stuff was W3Schools.

It does appear so @Turtle91.

Thanks for the resource. I'll come and bother you if I get in to anything sticky.