Best example of HTML formatting for Kindle???

[delphidb96]

I've got an ebook file I'd like to format for the Kindle - from a friend - and he and I would love to have an example of the best HTML layout to give it the best appearance on the Kindle, including ToC. Anyone got an example? I've looked over at Amazon's DTP, but I guess I'm not seeing a full layout guide. If there's one there, could someone point out where it is?

Derek

[ellenoc]

I don't know if anyone has just a layout, but I found Joshua Tallent's "Kindle Formatting: The Complete Guide to Formatting Books for the Amazon Kindle" very helpful. And so was
http://www.robotcomics.net/2009/08/a...-doc-tutorial/
The web site deals with comics, but the info was helpful for a straight text novel, particularly the idea to put the TOC and other info at the back so that the Kindle sample is as large as possible. I had only a little experience with html, and between these 2 sources, I managed Kindle formatting that I can honestly say is better than 99% of what I've bought, whether from big pubs or indies.

I did the html files, then used Mobi Creator to actually make a prc file of my book. Then I put the book on my own Kindle and looked it over, tweaked a few things, redid it, etc., until I had what I wanted. If you don't have a Kindle, you can get Kindle for PC and still see what your book will look like. My understanding is if you upload a prc file to Amazon, nothing is changed, they just make your prc file an azw, so it seemed to me the safest way to make sure my Kindle book looked just the way I wanted.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by ellenoc

I don't know if anyone has just a layout, but I found Joshua Tallent's "Kindle Formatting: The Complete Guide to Formatting Books for the Amazon Kindle" very helpful. And so was
http://www.robotcomics.net/2009/08/a...-doc-tutorial/
The web site deals with comics, but the info was helpful for a straight text novel, particularly the idea to put the TOC and other info at the back so that the Kindle sample is as large as possible. I had only a little experience with html, and between these 2 sources, I managed Kindle formatting that I can honestly say is better than 99% of what I've bought, whether from big pubs or indies.

I did the html files, then used Mobi Creator to actually make a prc file of my book. Then I put the book on my own Kindle and looked it over, tweaked a few things, redid it, etc., until I had what I wanted. If you don't have a Kindle, you can get Kindle for PC and still see what your book will look like. My understanding is if you upload a prc file to Amazon, nothing is changed, they just make your prc file an azw, so it seemed to me the safest way to make sure my Kindle book looked just the way I wanted.

Well, by the time we're finished, we hope to *market* it through Amazon's DTP program, complete with cover art and ISBN number (got the ISBN number already). As soon as we can, we're going to go to a trade paperback version as well. *IF* it sells well, (better than 100 copies) we're going to do the same thing for the next two in the trilogy.

Derek

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

we hope to *market* it through Amazon's DTP program, complete with cover art and ISBN number

There's no need for an ISBN number in the Kindle Store. Even if you have an ISBN number for your Kindle edition, Amazon ignore it completely.

Of course, if you've bought a large block of ISBNs (100 or 1000) you could assign one to the Kindle edition just in case. But if you've only got bought a block of ten, don't waste one on it.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

There's no need for an ISBN number in the Kindle Store. Even if you have an ISBN number for your Kindle edition, Amazon ignore it completely.

Of course, if you've bought a large block of ISBNs (100 or 1000) you could assign one to the Kindle edition just in case. But if you've only got bought a block of ten, don't waste one on it.

Ah, good idea. Then I can assign it to the TPB version we'll be releasing through ClearSpace. I wonder if FiFo will want an ISBN for an ePub release? Hmmm... Better go ask!

Derek

[clarknova]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Ah, good idea. Then I can assign it to the TPB version we'll be releasing through ClearSpace. I wonder if FiFo will want an ISBN for an ePub release? Hmmm... Better go ask!

Derek

Hey, Derek,

If you're doing an ePub edition as well, then I wouldn't worry about the Kindle version. Focus on the ePub edition and then convert that with kindlegen. Kindlgegen also uses the toc.ncx file in the ePub to make those nice little chapter marks on the bottom scroll bar.

A few notes on the things you need to look out for while creating an ePub that'll convert to kindle/mobi nicely:

- Don't use soft-tabs in the ePub, Mobi doesn't support them, and things render poorly.
- Obviously Kindle doesn't support embedded fonts. So they will be lost.
- Try to avoid Unicode characters, and replace them with their html-entity names instead.
- Make sure to add Cover Page support for Mobi to your OPF properly.

One last thing off the top of my head: last I checked, kindlegen didn't support the file-as= attribute in the <dc:creator> tag of the OPF. So you might have to go back and change:

<dc:creator opf:role="aut" opf:file-as="Lastname, Firstname">Firstname Lastname</dc:creator>

to simply:

<dc:creator opf:role="aut">Lastname, Firstname</dc:creator>

in the OPF, or else the kindle will sort the book by the author's first name.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by ellenoc

... put the TOC and other info at the back so that the Kindle sample is as large as possible ....

That's an excellent idea. I wish all publishers would do that. Well, maybe the ToC should go at the front, but I would definitely put the author's bio, acknowledgements, testimonials, printing history and similar stuff at the back.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by clarknova

Hey, Derek,

If you're doing an ePub edition as well, then I wouldn't worry about the Kindle version. Focus on the ePub edition and then convert that with kindlegen. Kindlgegen also uses the toc.ncx file in the ePub to make those nice little chapter marks on the bottom scroll bar.

A few notes on the things you need to look out for while creating an ePub that'll convert to kindle/mobi nicely:

- Don't use soft-tabs in the ePub, Mobi doesn't support them, and things render poorly.
- Obviously Kindle doesn't support embedded fonts. So they will be lost.
- Try to avoid Unicode characters, and replace them with their html-entity names instead.
- Make sure to add Cover Page support for Mobi to your OPF properly.

One last thing off the top of my head: last I checked, kindlegen didn't support the file-as= attribute in the <dc:creator> tag of the OPF. So you might have to go back and change:

<dc:creator opf:role="aut" opf:file-as="Lastname, Firstname">Firstname Lastname</dc:creator>

to simply:

<dc:creator opf:role="aut">Lastname, Firstname</dc:creator>

in the OPF, or else the kindle will sort the book by the author's first name.

I've got the whole ebook as a .doc file in Atlantis word processor and it exports as ePub. I'll try this method out.

Derek

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Mike L

That's an excellent idea. I wish all publishers would do that. Well, maybe the ToC should go at the front, but I would definitely put the author's bio, acknowledgements, testimonials, printing history and similar stuff at the back.

Yeah, I tend to agree with that approach as well for samples. I'm still trying to figure out if I can submit a separate 'samples' version to Amazon DTP.

Derek

[Madam Broshkina]

HarryT put together a good tutorial on creating books for the Kindle and other devices that support the mobi format.


https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17914

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Yeah, I tend to agree with that approach as well for samples. I'm still trying to figure out if I can submit a separate 'samples' version to Amazon DTP.

Derek

It depends on the book, of course. For non-fiction, the TOC probably needs to be in the sample so you can have a better idea of what is in there. Or for anthologies.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by tomsem

It depends on the book, of course. For non-fiction, the TOC probably needs to be in the sample so you can have a better idea of what is in there. Or for anthologies.

Novel. But what you said makes sense as I've got an anthology coming up as well - so that one will need a modified ToC included.

Actually, Near Space Press is about to release "Net Assets" with "The Anarchists" (anthology) to come next month and, we hope, "Bargaining Position" by August.

And it appears that I'll have no legal trouble with releasing the Kindle version via Amazon and the ePub via FiFo. Yay!

Derek

[MiraSlunicko]

I put some tips how to format HTML/CSS for Kindle here:
http://idsystem.cz/kindle/index.htm

Mira

[DMSmillie]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

I've got an ebook file I'd like to format for the Kindle - from a friend - and he and I would love to have an example of the best HTML layout to give it the best appearance on the Kindle, including ToC. Anyone got an example? I've looked over at Amazon's DTP, but I guess I'm not seeing a full layout guide. If there's one there, could someone point out where it is?

Derek

No, Amazon don't provide a layout guide. They do provide some technical advice and detail in their Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines (PDF) - the link to that PDF is on the Kindle Publishing Programs web page, where you'll also find links to download Kindlegen and the Kindle Previewer application - both extremely useful.

I'd also second Ellenoc's recommendation for Joshua Tallent's book "Kindle Formatting" - it's excellent for gaining an understanding of what will and what won't work when it comes to formatting Kindle books, and for advice and tips on how best to handle formatting.