Comments on: InDesign Files and Kindle Formats http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/12/indesign-files-and-kindle-formats/ Micro-Publisher Walt Shiel's publishing-related commentary Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:16:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Walt Shiel http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/12/indesign-files-and-kindle-formats/#comment-1435 Walt Shiel Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:27:23 +0000 http://waltshiel.com/?p=902#comment-1435 Actually, you do have that option. Try: File Cross-Media Export XHTML/Digital Editions... I can, however, almost guarantee that you won't get a well-done ePub file from that process. You'll have to dig into the ePub file and massage some of the XHTML files contained in it. I also recommend you read my <a href="http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/24/creating-epub-documents-from-indesign/" rel="nofollow">Creating ePub Documents from InDesign</a> and check out the links I provide there. Actually, you do have that option. Try:
File
Cross-Media Export
XHTML/Digital Editions…

I can, however, almost guarantee that you won’t get a well-done ePub file from that process. You’ll have to dig into the ePub file and massage some of the XHTML files contained in it.

I also recommend you read my Creating ePub Documents from InDesign and check out the links I provide there.

]]> By: TaniaL http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/12/indesign-files-and-kindle-formats/#comment-1433 TaniaL Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:07:53 +0000 http://waltshiel.com/?p=902#comment-1433 Thank you so much for this page, it has been very helpful in my experimentation with epublishing. However, I seem to still have one major problem with InDesign export that I'm hoping you might be able to help me with. (I apologize in advance for bothering you with this very fundamental question!) I thought it was a CS3/CS4 issue, however you stated above that you are still using CS3 which makes me hopeful. I do not have an option in my CS3 to export as .epub (file menu->export=pdf/eps/xml/svg/ind-exchage is all I have in my program)- how do you export as an epub file from indesign CS3? Thank you so much for this page, it has been very helpful in my experimentation with epublishing. However, I seem to still have one major problem with InDesign export that I’m hoping you might be able to help me with. (I apologize in advance for bothering you with this very fundamental question!) I thought it was a CS3/CS4 issue, however you stated above that you are still using CS3 which makes me hopeful. I do not have an option in my CS3 to export as .epub (file menu->export=pdf/eps/xml/svg/ind-exchage is all I have in my program)- how do you export as an epub file from indesign CS3?

]]> By: Walt Shiel http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/12/indesign-files-and-kindle-formats/#comment-1240 Walt Shiel Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:58:45 +0000 http://waltshiel.com/?p=902#comment-1240 When exporting from ID to ePub, you need to add the necessary metadata to the file first by selecting "File Info..." on the File menu. I suspect that not all ereaders will use that data, but that's where they will get it (Title, Author, etc.). As for those page numbers in the margin, if they match the page numbers in the ID document then you probably have a "page-map.xml" file in the OEBPS folder within the ePub file itself that maps those page numbers. However, some readers (I don't know for sure if that includes Sony) will generate a synthetic page map. I know Adobe Digital Editions does this. If you find that "page-map.xml" file in your ePub file, you could probably modify it by using empty name attributes (or maybe just deleting the list of page cross-refs), which should cause nothing to be placed in those locations. You can find out more about that file in the Adobe <a href="http://www.adobe.com/devnet/digitalpublishing/epubs/EPUBBestPractices-1_0_3.epub" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ePub Best Practices Guide</a>. When exporting from ID to ePub, you need to add the necessary metadata to the file first by selecting “File Info…” on the File menu. I suspect that not all ereaders will use that data, but that’s where they will get it (Title, Author, etc.).

As for those page numbers in the margin, if they match the page numbers in the ID document then you probably have a “page-map.xml” file in the OEBPS folder within the ePub file itself that maps those page numbers. However, some readers (I don’t know for sure if that includes Sony) will generate a synthetic page map. I know Adobe Digital Editions does this. If you find that “page-map.xml” file in your ePub file, you could probably modify it by using empty name attributes (or maybe just deleting the list of page cross-refs), which should cause nothing to be placed in those locations. You can find out more about that file in the Adobe ePub Best Practices Guide.

]]> By: SheriG http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/12/indesign-files-and-kindle-formats/#comment-1239 SheriG Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:15 +0000 http://waltshiel.com/?p=902#comment-1239 I am wondering if you have any tips about master page headers? I work for a small press and we produce our books using InDesign .indb files. I've gotten the ePub generation down pretty well now, except for the headers. We include a header at the top of each page of the print-book version that has the name of the book and the page number (done on the master page). However, after we convert to ePub, the title of the book drops off but the page numbers show up in the ePub document as a "floating" number along the right side of the screen. I've purchased eBooks for my Sony eReader and they manage to include a header with the book name at the top of each page, and no residual page number from the print version leftover, either. Any tips you'd care to share? Thanks! I am wondering if you have any tips about master page headers? I work for a small press and we produce our books using InDesign .indb files. I’ve gotten the ePub generation down pretty well now, except for the headers. We include a header at the top of each page of the print-book version that has the name of the book and the page number (done on the master page). However, after we convert to ePub, the title of the book drops off but the page numbers show up in the ePub document as a “floating” number along the right side of the screen. I’ve purchased eBooks for my Sony eReader and they manage to include a header with the book name at the top of each page, and no residual page number from the print version leftover, either.

Any tips you’d care to share?

Thanks!

]]> By: Walt Shiel http://waltshiel.com/2009/11/12/indesign-files-and-kindle-formats/#comment-1227 Walt Shiel Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:16:17 +0000 http://waltshiel.com/?p=902#comment-1227 We've found that, often, it is easier to produce a good Kindle format and then use that to convert to ePub. I'm still toying with the idea of coding all our in-house book with XML to make ePub conversion easier (at least in theory). The biggest problem is cost of good tools for doing the XML coding. And, for maximum benefit, we need to update our InDesign from CS3 but now figure we'll wait for CS5 next year. The comments on providing an MS Word document was primarily aimed at the self-publishers and small indie publishers with whom we work through our <a href="http://fiverainbows.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Five Rainbows Services</a> subsidiary. Walt We’ve found that, often, it is easier to produce a good Kindle format and then use that to convert to ePub.

I’m still toying with the idea of coding all our in-house book with XML to make ePub conversion easier (at least in theory). The biggest problem is cost of good tools for doing the XML coding. And, for maximum benefit, we need to update our InDesign from CS3 but now figure we’ll wait for CS5 next year.

The comments on providing an MS Word document was primarily aimed at the self-publishers and small indie publishers with whom we work through our Five Rainbows Services subsidiary.

Walt

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