e-books question

carju1 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 05:11 AM

I posted this in e-commerce but.. No answer :(

So I thought I'd bring it to WPW center and ask the regulars. OK so I may get an answer in Klingon, I may get don't be blonde comment, I may even get a joke about the Englishman, the Scot and the e-book, BUT Knowing you all I will get an answer :)

Thank

Julian

My original post:

Quote:

A friend wants to put a book on line (I can handle the selling part etc) but what is the best format for the book and what is the best (OK read cheapest) software to convert it to this format? Can I just get away with MS Word or Adobe or is there some sort of special e-book software. FYI I think he currently has the book in MS Works for Windows format.

matauri · #2 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 11:21 AM

I have a fair few e-books Julian (programming e-books), and they are a mixture of Adobe & HTML Help files, which can be downloaded from http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en...asp?frame=true

Hope this helps :-)

Cindy

rocky1 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 11:38 AM

As much as I don't like allot about Adobe, it is quite likely the best suited tool for what you suggest, that I'm aware of.

Rocky

wenwilder · #4 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 03:05 PM

Adobe works great because you have the ability to 'lock' the file so others can't copy it. And with it's PDF format it makes it easy for anyone to read. If you can't afford Adobe, Open Office works great, allows you to turn word documents into PDF format, etc.

If you are going to sell the books, make sure you lock them. You don't want people being able to copy and paste the information into their own book, website, email, etc. and getting the money you should have gotten because of it.

Security is a big issue with ebooks right now, here's a good article on the subject: http://www.ebook-publishing-tools.co..._security.html

HTH

carju1 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 11:31 AM

Thanks all,

I knew I could rely on you. I guessed adobe but needed the resurance to persuade my friend to splash out the money for Adobe writer.

Thanks for the links I'll check them out and pass ythem onto John so he can read then as well :)

Many thanks
Julian

mikmik · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2003, 07:38 PM

Hey carju1. I was going to post sooner, but thought you had enough input, then I came across thishttp://www.rlrouse.com/Ebook-Creator-Software.html, it's free and security features etc, but I just noticed that the author of software wants a link to him on your site , so anyways....

Also, I wanted to just say that although I won't forgo a good source of information, I don't like using PDF's myself, I find them sloppy and slow to navigate, Adobe reader v6.0 takes 6 - 8 seconds to load everytime, and the display is hard to get to a proper size . I know that there are a lot of powerful features as well, but it is serious overkill when I just read the things. Even MS Word is zippy compared.
I also like the .exe books I've seen because they scroll like an html document and navigation is almost instantaneous.
One more I like for more complex stuff is the .chm, or 'compiled help' for excellent navigation.
Hope I add some light, there's always a first time!LOL
Good luck with the book.

JMac · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2003, 09:00 PM

Not to mention that RLROUSE is "one of our own" here at WPW - and he doesn't seem to be steering anyone wrong that I've seen...

Do you think that an e-book would function as a portfolio? ie With images and descriptions of jewelry... or is it better to do this as a collection of HTML files? (Sorry to hijack the thread, Carju1...)

Good luck!

JMac