Anybody have a suggestion for an independent epub compiler. Both Smashwords and B&N compile an epub from your word file, but Smashwords specifically asks you not to use that file on another site. I suspect that's just not good practice in any case. But I would like to be able to upload an e-book file to GoodReads, which does sell ebooks, but doesn't seem to compile them for you as the other sites do.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
An effective end run around everyone's submission standards is Adobe Acrobat's Portable Document Format. Most e-reader devices and all PCs support PDF, as well as TXT and RTF. But they are all open DRM formats.
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
PDFs are great. Unfortunately, Goodreads specifies epub format.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
Look into http://www.2epub.com They offer an online freeware client for converting DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, PDF files, and more, to ePub formats.
Posted by Owasm (Member # 8501) on :
You can do epubs on some other tools. eCalibre (it might be just calibre) is a compiler (shareware) and Scrivener will compile an epub file. You'll want to test the epub file with a reader that displays epubs. I think the Adobe Digital Reader reads epubs. eCalibre displays epubs as well.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
Supposedly my word processor has an E-book feature but I have no idea how well it works or if it just works on Apple web pages.
I have heard of calibre even though I can't recall where. Scrivener is supposed to be good everything.
Posted by Rhaythe (Member # 7857) on :
Calibre. It offers pre-packaged settings per e-reader and can support multiple input formats.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
I'm a little behind on newer technology. Is an epub compiler something that allows books to be published online?
Posted by Rhaythe (Member # 7857) on :
No. Just converts your manuscript into a format readable by your standard e-reader. Typically when you upload your document to a self-publisher site (Amazon's KDP, Smashwords, etc), they do this on the back-end for you.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
An ePub complier converts wordprocessor files into e-device readable formats. Some ePub content vendors complie documents with Digital Rights Management codes to limit content usage, copying, and distribution in order to preserve revenue streams. Other vendors don't require or may prohibit DRM files.
An ePub file can be published online, at a personal Web site, at a second- or thrid-party Web site, and at a vendor site, though vendor sites that charge for content tend to have proprietary policies limiting where a particular file edition can be published, and may pay royalties. A non-DRM file though is eminently portable, which is both an advantage and a disadavantage. A non-DRM edition may enjoy wider distribution potential but an increased risk of unauthorized copying and distribution, and diminishment of revenue potential.
[ May 05, 2012, 03:48 PM: Message edited by: extrinsic ]
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
Thank you for the clarification. Posted by micmcd (Member # 7977) on :
Meredith, it's not free, but Scrivener compiles your work to epub (and all other formats) and can format any way you like it. I've had good results. It's on Mac and PC now - I have both versions, and they're both good.
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