How do I zip my files into an ePub?

eosrose · 05-05-2010, 07:52 PM

I've followed tutorials to create all the files I need for my ePub, but I'm uncertain of how to zip the files to create the ePub. I'm running Windows Vista and the tutorials I've been finding seem to be more Mac friendly or refer me to Info-Zip, which doesn't seem to want to work on my computer. People are also talking about using command line, but I don't know the first thing about that.

Would someone give me How To Zip Files into ePub for Dummies?

rmm200 · 05-05-2010, 08:10 PM

Check with the Calibre folks. All I know for sure is I downloaded a set of book files from Gutenberg with the correct directory structure. I imported the book into Calibre and asked for an EPub conversion. I was somewhat surprised when it worked, and the output looked a heck of a lot better that the same book on Gutenberg. This is the book on knot tying; the Gutenberg EPub had none of the illustrations. After Calibre conversion, mine has all the illustrations - and the entire book looks great.

Not much point to a book on knots without pictures...

Robert

paulpeer · 05-06-2010, 12:42 AM

First zip the mimetype file and name the result book.zip. Then add all the other files and directories to book.zip. Then rename book.zip to book.epub or what ever.

Toxaris · 05-06-2010, 03:41 AM

First make sure you have a filestructure that fits for your need. I usually use the OEBPS structure (see jedisaber for more details).

Get Info-zip (also mentioned in the link above). After you're book is complete, first zip the mimetype into a zip file uncompressed. After that, add the rest of the files to the zip.

I do not know the command options by heart, will try to look them up tonight.

I also remember reading that just zip everything up and drop it in Calibre will take care of it also. Could try that.

AlexBell · 05-06-2010, 04:53 AM

There was a file posted, I think in the ePub forum, called TEMP.ZIP which I think is a very good start. It contains just the mimetype file. If you can't find it I can email it to you.

What I did was
1 Rename the TEMP.ZIP file to bookname.epub [where bookname is whatever you want to call your epub]
2 Right click on bookname.epub and open with Winzip - this will show just the mimetype files
3 Drag whatever files you want into the Winzip window - including for example the META-INF and OEBPS folders you can get from jedisaber
4 Double click on the OEBPS folder
5 Delete whatever files you don't want and drag in the files you do want.
6 Right click on the content.opf and toc.ncx files and open them with an HTML or text editor, and edit them as required.
7 Tell Winzip to update or add the files
8 Close Winzip
9 Double click on your epub file and see if it will run with your desktop ADE
10 Check the epub with ePubCheck, and edit the content.opf and toc.ncx as required.

I can send you a Template.epub file if you wish; just remove my HTML and CSS files and replace them with your own, and edit the content.opf and toc.ncx appropriately.

I hope this helps.

Regards, Alex

eosrose · 05-06-2010, 05:07 PM

Thanks, guys! I think I've figured it out.

:

05-05-2010, 07:52 PM	#1
eosrose Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 14 Join Date: May 2010 Location: WI Device: Kobo Forma	How do I zip my files into an ePub? I've followed tutorials to create all the files I need for my ePub, but I'm uncertain of how to zip the files to create the ePub. I'm running Windows Vista and the tutorials I've been finding seem to be more Mac friendly or refer me to Info-Zip, which doesn't seem to want to work on my computer. People are also talking about using command line, but I don't know the first thing about that. Would someone give me How To Zip Files into ePub for Dummies?

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05-05-2010, 08:10 PM	#2
rmm200 Groupie Posts: 195 Karma: 414 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bend, OR Device: Sony PRS-600	Check with the Calibre folks. All I know for sure is I downloaded a set of book files from Gutenberg with the correct directory structure. I imported the book into Calibre and asked for an EPub conversion. I was somewhat surprised when it worked, and the output looked a heck of a lot better that the same book on Gutenberg. This is the book on knot tying; the Gutenberg EPub had none of the illustrations. After Calibre conversion, mine has all the illustrations - and the entire book looks great. Not much point to a book on knots without pictures... Robert

05-06-2010, 12:42 AM	#3
paulpeer Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 56 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Antwerpen Device: iPhone, Sony PRS-505, EPUBreader	First zip the mimetype file and name the result book.zip. Then add all the other files and directories to book.zip. Then rename book.zip to book.epub or what ever.

05-06-2010, 03:41 AM	#4
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	First make sure you have a filestructure that fits for your need. I usually use the OEBPS structure (see jedisaber for more details). Get Info-zip (also mentioned in the link above). After you're book is complete, first zip the mimetype into a zip file uncompressed. After that, add the rest of the files to the zip. I do not know the command options by heart, will try to look them up tonight. I also remember reading that just zip everything up and drop it in Calibre will take care of it also. Could try that.

05-06-2010, 04:53 AM	#5
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	There was a file posted, I think in the ePub forum, called TEMP.ZIP which I think is a very good start. It contains just the mimetype file. If you can't find it I can email it to you. What I did was 1 Rename the TEMP.ZIP file to bookname.epub [where bookname is whatever you want to call your epub] 2 Right click on bookname.epub and open with Winzip - this will show just the mimetype files 3 Drag whatever files you want into the Winzip window - including for example the META-INF and OEBPS folders you can get from jedisaber 4 Double click on the OEBPS folder 5 Delete whatever files you don't want and drag in the files you do want. 6 Right click on the content.opf and toc.ncx files and open them with an HTML or text editor, and edit them as required. 7 Tell Winzip to update or add the files 8 Close Winzip 9 Double click on your epub file and see if it will run with your desktop ADE 10 Check the epub with ePubCheck, and edit the content.opf and toc.ncx as required. I can send you a Template.epub file if you wish; just remove my HTML and CSS files and replace them with your own, and edit the content.opf and toc.ncx appropriately. I hope this helps. Regards, Alex

05-06-2010, 05:07 PM	#6
eosrose Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 14 Join Date: May 2010 Location: WI Device: Kobo Forma	Thanks, guys! I think I've figured it out. :

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