epub creation tools

jbenny · 10-31-2007, 04:21 PM

Considering the current lack of epub creation tools, other than InDesign or a text editor, I would like to get some input from everyone here.

In a tool designed specifically for epub creation, what features would you think most important? I'm not thinking about some WYSIWYG tool, like InDesign, but something for a more automatic and streamlined method of creating epubs, either singly or in bulk. Possibly building on existing Open Source tools.

Some basic markup capabilities could also be included. How do you think this could best be accomplished? What input formats do you think would be the most important to have, to accomodate a wide variety of already existing document formats (not just fiction)?

kovidgoyal · 10-31-2007, 04:25 PM

I will be writing LRF->epub, txt(with lightweight markup)->epub, rtf->epub and of course plain html to epub.

The creation tools will have the ability to specify metadata and a table of contents and will of course attempt to automatically detect metadata and semantic information where possible.

These converters will leverage all the exisiting tools/infrastructure in libprs500

wallcraft · 10-31-2007, 04:58 PM

On the level of "converters", I would like to see .opf to .epub. You get a .opf (OEB) e-book by exploding a .LIT e-book, or as the working files of MobiPocket Creator. This command line converter would essentially be mobigen (.html or .opf to .mobi), but for .epub (epubgen?).

A difference to mobigen, though, is that this would not necessarily be the end point of the process. Once you have an initial .epub document, then a .epub editor (once available) could be used to further refine the e-book.

kovidgoyal · 10-31-2007, 05:03 PM

My html->epub converter will support opf (it already supports it for html->lrf conversion).

andym · 10-31-2007, 05:35 PM

There are plenty of tools for converting to html, or for checking and validating the (x)html (and IIRC an epub validator is on the way). To me what would be most useful would be a tool that would producing the other package contents once you have a valid xhtml file.

jbenny · 10-31-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

I will be writing LRF->epub, txt(with lightweight markup)->epub, rtf->epub and of course plain html to epub.

The creation tools will have the ability to specify metadata and a table of contents and will of course attempt to automatically detect metadata and semantic information where possible.

These converters will leverage all the exisiting tools/infrastructure in libprs500

Great news. Always good to see more epub support available. What time frame are you looking at for a first version? If you need someone to help with testing and suggestions, I'll gladly help.

kovidgoyal · 10-31-2007, 05:41 PM

Once my TODO stack shortens a little I'll start work on this, so a first version of lrf->epub should see the light of day in about 1-2 months, depending on how my Ph.D. is progressing :-)

jbenny · 10-31-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andym

There are plenty of tools for converting to html, or for checking and validating the (x)html (and IIRC an epub validator is on the way). To me what would be most useful would be a tool that would producing the other package contents once you have a valid xhtml file.

My thinking on this is: Not counting the XHTML content itself, there are only a handful of needed files which comprise an epub. These files all have a very well defined structure that is very much the same from one epub to another. This would make some type of templating system very possible.

Assuming you already had valid XHTML 1.1 content, filling in some form with certain meta information about the ebook (along with the reading order) would allow automatic creation of these other files and then the packaging into a Zip archive. Of course, the use of either an ISBN, a UUID or some other identifier would also have to be handled and perhaps generated.

BTW, you can break up the ebook into multiple chapters/sections and in fact, this is recommended. You could use one large XHTML file for the entire book, but this may not render (or page) as fast. If one file is used, you could still provide the navigation points (navpoints) needed by using bookmarks inside the document, instead of linking to separate files.

jbenny · 10-31-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andym

(and IIRC an epub validator is on the way)

Where did you hear about a validator? I have been suggesting this myself, but haven't heard any news about someone (IDPF maybe?) doing it.

RWood · 10-31-2007, 05:58 PM

The extensions to the current libprs500 that kovidgoyal mentioned should more than meet my needs for epub publishing tools for the near future. I will keep a look out for it.

JSWolf · 10-31-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

I will be writing LRF->epub, txt(with lightweight markup)->epub, rtf->epub and of course plain html to epub.

The creation tools will have the ability to specify metadata and a table of contents and will of course attempt to automatically detect metadata and semantic information where possible.

These converters will leverage all the exisiting tools/infrastructure in libprs500

Can we get epub > LRF?

DaleDe · 10-31-2007, 08:10 PM

Here is a link to a epub construction document.
http://www.hxa7241.org/articles/cont...7241_2007.html

Dale

kovidgoyal · 10-31-2007, 08:31 PM

Sure i doubt epub to lrf will be feature complete, since LRF supports only a subset of the epub features, but basically yeah.

jbenny · 10-31-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Here is a link to a epub construction document.
http://www.hxa7241.org/articles/cont...7241_2007.html

Dale

Yes, That article is very helpful. Another, more recent article can be found here: http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=7442

JSWolf · 10-31-2007, 09:55 PM

Of course, if the 505 does get epub support, we won't need epub to LRF.

10-31-2007, 04:21 PM	#1
jbenny Addict Posts: 323 Karma: 358 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Tablet PC and Nokia N800	epub creation tools Considering the current lack of epub creation tools, other than InDesign or a text editor, I would like to get some input from everyone here. In a tool designed specifically for epub creation, what features would you think most important? I'm not thinking about some WYSIWYG tool, like InDesign, but something for a more automatic and streamlined method of creating epubs, either singly or in bulk. Possibly building on existing Open Source tools. Some basic markup capabilities could also be included. How do you think this could best be accomplished? What input formats do you think would be the most important to have, to accomodate a wide variety of already existing document formats (not just fiction)? Last edited by jbenny; 10-31-2007 at 04:23 PM.

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10-31-2007, 04:25 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I will be writing LRF->epub, txt(with lightweight markup)->epub, rtf->epub and of course plain html to epub. The creation tools will have the ability to specify metadata and a table of contents and will of course attempt to automatically detect metadata and semantic information where possible. These converters will leverage all the exisiting tools/infrastructure in libprs500

10-31-2007, 04:58 PM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	On the level of "converters", I would like to see .opf to .epub. You get a .opf (OEB) e-book by exploding a .LIT e-book, or as the working files of MobiPocket Creator. This command line converter would essentially be mobigen (.html or .opf to .mobi), but for .epub (epubgen?). A difference to mobigen, though, is that this would not necessarily be the end point of the process. Once you have an initial .epub document, then a .epub editor (once available) could be used to further refine the e-book.

10-31-2007, 05:03 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	My html->epub converter will support opf (it already supports it for html->lrf conversion).

10-31-2007, 05:35 PM	#5
andym Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 793 Join Date: Oct 2006	There are plenty of tools for converting to html, or for checking and validating the (x)html (and IIRC an epub validator is on the way). To me what would be most useful would be a tool that would producing the other package contents once you have a valid xhtml file.

10-31-2007, 05:41 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Once my TODO stack shortens a little I'll start work on this, so a first version of lrf->epub should see the light of day in about 1-2 months, depending on how my Ph.D. is progressing :-)

10-31-2007, 05:58 PM	#10
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	The extensions to the current libprs500 that kovidgoyal mentioned should more than meet my needs for epub publishing tools for the near future. I will keep a look out for it.

10-31-2007, 08:10 PM	#12
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	Here is a link to a epub construction document. http://www.hxa7241.org/articles/cont...7241_2007.html Dale

10-31-2007, 08:31 PM	#13
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Sure i doubt epub to lrf will be feature complete, since LRF supports only a subset of the epub features, but basically yeah.

10-31-2007, 09:55 PM	#15
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Of course, if the 505 does get epub support, we won't need epub to LRF.

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