2. eBook Formats
.pdf(Portable Document Format)
.mobi, .azw, .prc (Amazon Kindle)
.epub (Nook, Sony, iPad, iPhone, Kobo,
Android and many others)
(I assume you already know much about PDF so we will not discuss it
further)
3. Contents of standard eBook
Cover Image
HTML and CSS
NCX (a.k.a Navigation Control eXtended
Markup Language)
OPF (a.k.a Open Packaging Format)
4. Cover Image
Catalog
Cover- Displayed in eBook stores.
Common Size- 1600x2500 pixels
Embedded Cover- Your book’s 1st page.
Common Size- 600x800 pixels
5. HTML
<head> tag for document meta-data.
<p> tags for paragraph.
<a> tags for anchors, used for linking.
Close all tags by </..>
Create separate HTML docs for separate
chapters.
W3schools.com
6. CSS
Use relative values i.e. % or em
Recommended body text size= 100% or
1em.
page-break-after/before for page breaks.
Use basic fonts, no fancy fonts allowed for
body text.
Pre-size your image before inserting.
W3schools.com
7. NCX
A.k.a Logical Table of Contents
(Recommended).
Do not include sub-chapters in NCX.
<navLabel> ‘s content is displayed as text
in logical TOC.
Be specific with playOrder. It defines the
order of chapters listedin TOC.
8. OPF
A.k.a Open Packaging Format.
Defines what files are contained in eBook
package.
Metadata- states the information about book
and author.
Manifest- lists all files included in package.
Spine- Liner instructions on how book is
ordered.
Guide- links to cover page and important
sections of book.
9. Special requirement for ePub
Container.xml stating where .opf file is
located.
Mimetype (text file) stating that book is an
ePub and zip.
META-INF (folder) storing container.xml.
OEBPS (folder) storing all doc files along-
with OPF and NCX.
10. Zipping it up (for ePubs)
Create a zipped folder.
First drag mimetype file into it.
Now drag both folders.
Rename extension from .zip to .epub.
11. For Amazon Kindle
Use Mobipocket.
Open & add all HTML docs.
Fill all meta-data.
Click on ‘Build’.
Check your book on Kindle Previewer.