Please note that the eBooks are still evolving and ever-changing so the time when these FAQ were written and the time when you may be reading this section, something may have changed so do inform us of any changes that you have noticed.
CHANGE REQUEST PROCEDURE IN KINDLE OR EPUB IF YOU FIND ANY ERRORS
Let us know if you see any errors caused due to our conversion, which needs to be corrected.
If we have to fix any other errors or changes apart from the error caused by our ebook conversion, a correction fee will be charged.
If you need any changes then please refer to errors to the page number of the input file (the file that you sent us for conversion). We will find that content on the Kindle file and correct it. This is required because the page numbers of Kindle are different for different users. The errors referring to Kindle page numbers will not be corrected and will be returned requesting PDF pages. This will cause a delay in sending you the next version of the file for review.
If we don’t receive your changes within 30 days then we will assume that the submitted file is fine and it does not need any changes. Any changes thereafter to the file will be charged. After 30 days we will close your project.
UPLOAD THE EPUB FILES:
We DO NOT help with any of the uploads for ePub files.
Apple’s iBooks for iPad
Self-upload:
If you plan to upload the file on your own then you MUST have a Mac computer.
Visit https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/wa/apply and the link will guide you through the next steps.
Apple approved aggregator:
If you want somebody to upload the file into an apple, you can also consider www.bookbaby.com contact Nikola at books@bookbaby.com . Tell her that Bob at ebookconversion referred and she will help you to get the book on apple.
Barnes & Noble for Nook Reader:
ePub can be listed on Barnes and Noble, contact eBookPublishersInquiries@book.com. For more details, please visit http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=pi_reg_home
Kobo Reader:
To post the file on Kobo Reader, please contact content@kobobooks.com
Google Editions:
Google editions will be launched by end of 2010 or early 2011. For more details visit
http://books.google.com/support/partner/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=167975
1. What is an ebook?
Ebook, also called the electronic book or the digital book is a normal book of any type that is digitalized and put on any electronic device so as to make it easily accessible to the readers. As the Oxford dictionary states, the ebook is nothing but an “electronic version of a printed book” though they exist even without their printed version. Instead of printing the content on paper and binding a book out of it, the text is just formatted into a digital file and uploaded onto the electronic device. Apparently, a dedicated hardware device called the “e-Readers” or “e-book devices” needs to be installed in an electronic device to open the e-book. This hardware is available on personal computers and few mobile devices, with the help of which one can read the ebook on that device.
Though this latest medium of reading books is on the rise, there is an unavoidable comparison drawn against the printed version. Like anything else, this also has its own pros and cons, not to mention the other factors involved (like the digital rights and copyrights management). The benefits of using an ebook considerably outweigh the negatives, the major advantage being their availability. They are instantly and easily available for download, and the wide range of conversion formats makes them available on most devices. Other advantages include the reduced cost of the book as no printing is required (though some of them are of the same range), reduced physical space as one can have many ebooks on the same device and they can be easily carried around too, e-Readers can alter the text of the ebook to fit into any device.
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2. Which are the major ebook formats used in the present ebook market?
EPUB, a “standard” format that is becoming more popular. It’s the format that Sony and Barnes & Noble’s new Nook reader have adopted Mobipocket, a format that was widely used on PDAs and some phones. Amazon purchased the company in 2005.AZW, This was a format developed by Amazon especially for their Kindle eBook reader.
PDF, Adobe’s Portable Document Format, which is commonly used on the Web.
ePub and Kindle formats are the most used ebook formats in the present ebook market.
EPUB
The most common format used for ebooks is the ePUB as it is widely supported by all technical platforms.
An ebup (Electronic publication), also called the ePub, EPUB, Epub, EPUB preferred by the vendors is a free open e-book standard by theInternational Digital Publishing Forum(IDPF) designed for reflowable content. This means that the contents of the ebook on any digital gadget can be adjusted to the screen space of that device. They have a file extension of .epub. Compared to the other reflowable formats, EPUB is more advanced, supporting CSS stylesheets, SVG images, a real multi-level table of contents, etc. This format appears similar to the HTML rendered pages with images.
MOBI
This is another open standard format for ebook publishing. This is a binary format for the distribution of eBooks. It is one implementation of the Open eBook Publication format with a range of proprietary extensions. The Open eBook Publication format is developed and specified by the IDPF (International Digital Publishing Forum) which is an independent organization, earlier known as the Open eBook Consortium. Because of this, the Mobipocket format is based on HTML and is reflowable. Mobipocket supports most features of standard HTML to format and layout text and images. This format was bought by Amazon and has the .prc or .mobi extension.
MOBI formats can take complex content; include advanced navigation controls, supports indexing, and a high degree of compression. For instance, readers can add their own pages, freehand drawings, annotations, highlights, bookmarks, corrections, and notes if devices support it. It can also include a dictionary. MOBI formats are suited for smaller screens because of the image size limitation of 64K. The image size and image format (GIF) puts the format at odds with larger display devices like tablets.
AZW
This was a format developed by Amazon, especially for their Kindle eBook reader. It is basically derived from the MOBI format better compression and encryption besides a few other facilities. This is now available on many devices that have Kindle reading apps apart from kindle. These files can be got only from the Amazon online bookstore.
When the Kindle Mobi file gets uploaded on Amazon, they convert it into this AZW format before putting it up for sale in their Kindle store.
PDF
Started by Adobe Systems, initially to provide a standard form for storing printable documents containing a set of page images. The format derives from PostScript, but without any language features like loops, and with added support for features like compression, passwords, and DRM. Because PDF documents can easily be viewed and printed by users on a variety of computer platforms, they are very common on the World Wide Web. The specification of the format is available for free from Adobe.
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3. What is the difference between PDF file format and Ebook format like ePUB?
Currently, ePUB is in the process of being accepted as the standard type of format for ebooks in the publishing sector considering that it is accommodative on most electronic reading devices. However, PDF remains the standard for sharing MS word and excel documents. PDF in a print-oriented, fixed-layout format. This makes it hard to change the layout of PDF documents when — for example — changing the page size but keeping the font sizes the same.EPUB is a display-oriented, reflowable format. This makes it easy to produce an EPUB document that will display well on many different display sizes and with many different font sizes.
Below are a few points that indicate the contrasts and differences between the two formats:
|
ePUB |
Portable Document Format (PDF) is an open standard file format that allows easy sharing of documents while retaining the same format. | Electronic Publication (EPUB) is an open standard file format that allows it to be read even on small screens. |
PDF is print-oriented and has a fixed layout. | EPUB is display-oriented and allows content to be reflowable and its text resizable. |
PDF is the standard for sharing MS Word and Excel files and documents. | EPUB has become the standard for Ebooks. |
Although PDF files are read easily on computer screens, they are not compatible with other devices such as mobile phones or other electronic reading devices that have smaller screens. | EPUB allows files to be read even on small screens. |
PDF is not similar to a web page. | EPUB is similar to a web page. |
ePUB features:
Deliver text and images, but no layout
You can resize text and change the style of it
You can highlight text and look up words
You tap or swipe the page to go forward or back
PDF features:
Reproduce a printed page exactly
You can zoom in/out to see text or images clearly
You use the navigation bar to turn pages
You cannot use highlighting or the dictionary in a PDF.
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4. Which devices use the ePub format?
The ePub format is an open standard used in many different devices to display books, newspapers, and magazines.ePub format files can be viewed on almost all electronic devices like smartphones (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, via iBooks), Android devices (via FBreader), computers (Any Windows, Mac, or Linux machines, via a number of programs), tablets, etc. A few others would be Sony, Nook, Kobo, Adobe Digital Editions, Opus, etc.
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5. Which devices use the kindle format?
This format is basically used by the Kindle reading device to read them. Kindle files can be read on different Kindle applications of various devices.
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6. Do you convert PDF/word/Indesign format files to kindle and epub format ebooks?
Yes, we convert PDF/word/Indesign format files to kindle and epub.
7. I have a pdf format of my book and I have heard the iPad can display pdfs, why should I convert my book to the ePub format?
PDF is a fixed format, you can’t adjust the font sizes and the text does not flow freely depending on which device you’re using. In the future people will be expecting to read their books on different devices, be that the iPad, the Kindle, the iPhone, or the computer screen. The ePub is the only clear format that provides people with the convenience of freely flowing, adjustable text on whatever reading device they’re using – not unlike how words on a web page re-flow when you resize the window.
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8. Do you also convert hard copy, paperback files to kindle and epub format ebooks?
Yes, we OCR the scanned hard copy/paperback files to a word doc and then we convert that word doc to kindle and epub format books. This includes extra charges.
9. Is an eBook conversion service worth it?
Every day people are buying iPads, Kindles, Sonys, and Nooks by truckloads, and all are very much eager to fill their new devices, gadgets with eBooks. When Apple announced that the long-awaited iPad will rely on the ePub book format, the potential customers went up by about 4 million Plus another 14 million who can already read books on their iPhone, like me. Wholesale eBook sales increased by over 200% between 2008 and 2009, and that’s before all the latest e-readers came out. Writers usually make more money on each eBook sold another way we remember where musicians wondered whether it was worth it to convert their music to MP3?
10. What are the things that one should look at when comparing eBook conversion services?
Your eBook design must look consistent from iPad to Sony to Kindle to mobile phones in each and every aspect. Your book appearance, chapter titles should look smart, and each new chapter should start on a new page. (You shall be surprised by how some of the services meet the basic expectations.) Maybe add a little flair, like a drop cap to start each chapter and image decorations for your chapter headings. The Table of Contents in digital format should jump to each chapter with just a click. The cover page for which you have worked hard should appear in a reading device’s index along with your title. Many skip this programming step, leaving you with a generic ePub logo next to big publishers with quality cover art. Last, your book’s info, including Author, Publisher, ISBN, and Description, should be in the ePub design’s metadata, so that it appears in indexes, searches, and libraries. Give us your ISBN if you have one and let us register one for you. We even add search keywords to your eBook that comply with BISAC standards, so your book is easier for people to find.
11. Can I convert my titles to eBooks format myself?
Sure. You can also build a car for yourself too. A fully-fledged quality eBook consists of an embedded cover, a table of contents that links to each chapter or where appropriate, and a beautiful, readable type that formats properly on whatever device it gets dumped into. This all takes programming finesse and a skilled human eye for design. Professional ePub and kindle formatting is very much important because your book will look as good or better than those from the big publishing houses.
12. I have come across many websites that assure that they will do the conversion for eBook free. Is that so true?
You can have a try yourself and look after it. I am sure that you’ll get an ePub version of your document, but it won’t contain any formatting, nor a table of contents, your contents will be messed with breaks, all chapters will run together without any page breaks. These types of formatting are rejected by Apple, Amazon, and other retailers for lack of valid formatting. Also, beware of those who quietly assign themselves as your publisher in return for a free ISBN. We create beautiful eBook formatting, leaving all publishing rights with you.
13. How can I get on to an Apple’s iBookstore? Amazon’s Kindle Bookstore?
There are a number of distributors, or “aggregators,” who can get you on the iBookstore for the iPad is growing. They submit your book for you. If we do your ePub conversion and like your book, we can put you through to Apple directly.
14. How are eBooks protected from free distribution?
Depending on the type of eBook software, the eBook file is either encrypted to a specific computer or device (meaning it can only be read on that computer or device) or it is encrypted to a specific user’s account (meaning it can be read on any device or computer which contains that user’s secret account information).
15. What is the difference between ePub and Kindle format ebooks?
Kindle format ebooks are mainly intended to be viewed on electronic Kindle(owned by Amazon.com) reading device and ePub format ebooks are mainly intended to be viewed on Apple iPad, Nook, Sony, iPhone, and many other electronic reading devices.
Also, there is a separate conversion method to convert a file to kindle and epub and so the charges are different.
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16. Do you convert the kindle and epub format files through software or manually?
We manually convert each and every PDF/Word/InDesign/quark file to kindle and ePub formats.
17. Is it worth getting my book converted to the kindle and ePub format?
Ebooks are small but they are rapidly growing in the market. A Goldman Sachs report in April 2010 forecast that e-book sales, which now make up 3 percent of overall U.S. book sales, would rise to 12.8 percent by 2015. It is attractive because once the book gets converted it is there online to earn income forever. As another way said when musicians were worried whether it was worth it to convert their music to MP3.
18. What is Kindle Fire and Kindle Format 8 (KF8)?
Amazon Kindle had brought its next-generation Kindle Fire electronic reading device with a wide range of features and capabilities. Kindle Fire is the first Kindle device to support the KF8 ebook format. In the coming months, KF8 will be rolled out to other latest-generation Kindle e-ink devices as well as free Kindle reading apps.
19. What is the Kindle fixed-layout format?
Kindle fixed-layout format is usually used for children’s books. This format can only be properly viewed on Kindle Fire Skin. In the kindle fixed-layout format, the text is fixed on pages like PDF and it does not reflow as with normal kindle format.
20. Will the Kindle and ePub format ebooks look the same as that of input PDF and Word Document? For Kindle format ebooks, it depends upon your PDF and Word document text formatting. If your PDF/Word document text consists of simple formatting with only text paragraphs then YES the kindle format ebook will look the same as that of your input file. But if your input PDF/Word document text consists of complex formatting like-colored images with wrap-around text, numeric bullets with alphabetic sub-bullets, text with background color, more than 2 columns table, etc then we try to maintain as much as we can keep in mind the formatting guidelines. The kindle format ebooks have many limitations and this type of complex formatting is not accepted in kindle, but we have the solution for this. Even though it will not look the same but we have highly skilled experts who will make the formatting as good as possible and nearest to the look of your input file. For epub format, it is possible to make the look same as that of PDF or Word Document to around 95 to 99%, no matter if it is simple formatting or complex formatting. The epub format has the capability to accept complex formatting and gives the display the same as that of pdf and word doc.
21. Is the ePub created from the same file as the Kindle or is there an opportunity to fix the spacing issues?
All ebooks (Kindle, ePub, and other formats) are dynamic and adjust to the screen size, font size, and font type. The same source file is used as a base to create the ePub. Few things you cannot control in ebooks..it is a big change for authors who are used to the fixed layout file format. (Word, PDF).
22. What is a fixed epub format file? The basic idea of fixed epub format is to offer ebooks where the layout is as an important part of the communication as the content. The text is fixed per page. These include but are not limited to eTextbooks and children’s eBooks.
23. Do you convert the Fixed epub format?
Yes, we can convert your PDF, word, or any other format files to a fixed epub format.
24. What is an epub check for?
ePubCheck checks your ePub formatting for any coding errors that might cause problems. We create eBooks that are guaranteed to pass ePubCheck validation. Most free conversion services don’t guarantee anything. eBooks that don’t pass ePubCheck are not accepted by Apple’s iBookstore or most other vendors. If you already have ePub formatting that has validation errors, we can fix it for you. EPUB Conversion offers a free, user-friendly way to test your ePub using ePubCheck.
25. I already have an ePub format of my book, but it doesn’t pass ePubCheck validation. Can you help me?
Why not, we can fix it for you. Email us your ePub book, and we will give you a free repair estimate. We guarantee your repaired book will surely pass ePubCheck.
26. How do you handle the page of “blurbs” and reviews in the ebook? (Usually the back cover)
Most of the ebook publisher’s website where your books are listed has a description and review section where you can add that information. You can also put reviews on the initial pages of the book.
27. When the kindle format file is uploaded to Amazon’s Kindle DTP dashboard, the cover image turns to B/W in the preview window. Why?
Amazon’s Kindle DTP dashboard preview will show everything in B/W because the actual Kindle Reader is B/W but if the file is seen on any other software/device like kindle for PC, it will show you the colors. Please Ignore Amazon’s Kindle DTP preview as it has many bugs like hyperlink does not work, images are not displayed properly, Table of content links don’t work, etc.
28. How to open an ePub format file in Adobe Digital Editions once the account is created?
Save the ePub file on your computer and double-click the file, it will open in Adobe Digital Edition.
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29. If some of the formatting situations in Kindle are not the same in ePub – Does epub share the same dynamic quality of the page widths and text sizes?
All ebooks (Kindle, ePub, and other formats) are dynamic and adjust to the screen size, font size, and font type. The Same source file is used as the base to create the ePub. Few things you cannot control in ebooks, it is a big change for authors who are used to the fixed layout file format. (Word, PDF).
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30. How can the Kindle file be viewed on Mac?
The best option is to load the file on your kindle reader and view it. Another option is to view it on Kindle for Mac. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_mac_mkt_lnd?docId=1000464931 Note that this software is still not stable and has bugs
31. Does Apple allow an external link in a book description?
If you submit to apple through apple iTunes Producer then you will have to try the code directly on the description section. If they don’t accept, then it will give you an error for that section.
32. What to do in case the epub format file is still showing errors though they are rectified?
Delete all the old versions from your computer for the ePub file. Remove the file if you have added it in the library of an ePub reader then restart the computer and then save the file to your computer and open it in ePub Reader.
33. Do you add Digital Rights Management?
No. Though DRM is meant to help protect your eBook from being shared, it causes problems with some eBook devices. Because it’s easy to get hack, it doesn’t protect much anyway. Online distributors like Amazon, B&N, Apple, and Lulu add eBook copy protection for you if you want it, so we leave that up to you when we design your ePub book. People share digital books about as often as they share real books-a little, not a lot.
34. How to upload kindle files on your own?
If you want to upload a kindle format file on your own (which is very simple), please visit this link for instructions.
http://www.ebookconversion.com/Kindle-Upload-Procedure.pdf
Note that the Kindle preview feature has a lot of bugs so don’t preview the file on it … things like hyperlinks don’t work on it, table of the content does not work, images don’t show properly, margin doesn’t show, etc. Kindle for PC is much stable software and should be used for preview.
35. What is PDF Optimization and why it is required?
The PDF Optimized file is the file with TOC shown in the bookmark section. You can use this PDF file to submit to vendors like http://www.lightningsource.com/ who sell PDF files. This is NOT a file for Kindle or any other eBook device.
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36. I can view the kindle format file on my Kindle Reader but having problems opening it on my PC
Downloaded the software of Kindle for your PC, save the Kindle file on your PC, and double-click it, it will open up in Kindle reader software.
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37. If there are few changes that need to be made in the kindle or epub format file, what will be the charges?
The cost depends on what kind and how many changes are needed. You need to give us the list and we will quote based on it. If changes are due to our errors, there will be no cost.
38. Are there no page numbers on the Kindle?
Page numbers become mostly irrelevant on the Kindle and in other eBooks. For the most part, the only times they are useful are when the eBook contains references to other places in the text (these references should be all be linked)
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39. How do you usually handle back covers?
Back cover with ISBN number & price are NOT allowed as your ebook will get rejected. Mostly back covers are not included in the Ebooks.
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40. Do you allocate ISBN for our converted epub format file? Is it free?
Yes. If you order us an epub format file, we will allocate your free ISBN number.
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41. How are converted files delivered to me?
We deliver validated .epub & .mobi files that can be uploaded directly to your Amazon DTP, Barnes & Noble Pubit, Google Books, or Apple account. The format we provide is guaranteed to be compatible with all versions (past & future) of the Kindle.
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42. Can you convert books into non-English languages?
Yes. Some languages like Spanish and French do not incur additional charges, but other languages like Chinese do. Please note: We do not translate any of your text for you. If you’d like to distribute an eBook in two or more languages you will have to send them separately as two separate conversions. For a direct inquiry about this service, please contact http://www.epubconversion.com/ or Bob@epubconversion.com.
43. What assurance do I have that you will do a good job?
We have a great relationship and reputation with our clients because we offer a complete range of solutions, are obsessive about deadlines, and are committed to excellence. Please visit our website to read what our clients are saying about us.
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44. Who are you, typical customers?
Most of our client has been with independent individual authors as well as small to big publishers who want to ensure extra credibility for themselves and want added exposure for their books.
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45. Do you also create Book Cover?
Yes, we can also create Book Cover for you for your kindle and epub format. Please email us for more detail.
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46. Can you also help us with the online promotion of our books?
Yes, we can help you with your online promotion of books. Call us now for more information.
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47. How can I make changes to my eBook?
You can make unlimited changes prior to the conversion. You can edit anything contained in the book as long as it is documented clearly on what changes you are requesting for the eBook. After conversion, you won’t be able to make changes in the ebook but we can make changes but you may incur change fees.
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48. Is it possible to have a bit higher resolution on the images. In order to read it we have to tap the image to enlarge and when enlarged the text is just a tiny bit too blurry.
The problem with iPad software is that you cannot open the image directly in the bigger screen mode as you have to first select the image to start zooming in or any other thing on it.
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49. Is there any way to simply publish for the nook directly through Barnes and Noble’s website? Who runs ebookpublishersinquiries.com?
When the public site of B & N goes live, you will be able to publish directly like how you did for Kindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/pubit/index.asp
50. How to load the file on Kindle Reader?
To load the file on Kindle reader, use USB to transfer the file from PC to Kindle and then disconnect the USB and review the file on Kindle reader.
51. Why Epub files don’t have the page number?
Epub files don’t have the page number. We don’t code the page numbers in the book. It is the reader who generates it based on screen size.
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