How to make an ebook (EPUB) using Calibre.mov

UPDATE: Oct 21, 2011: I have been doing a lot more experimenting with this process lately, and I'm finding a) how you set up your Word document is **extremely** important, even more than I mention in the video, and b) things are working a little differently with the latest versions of the software tools and I'm not getting as satisfactory results as I used to.

First, go through your entire document very carefully, tagging every single element in the whole file. If you want something to look like a header, highlight that line and tag it as a header in Word. Use the hierarchical system they give you in Word to create headings and sub-headings (e.g. chapter heading might be H1, while the main sub-headings are H2 and the topics beneath those sub-headings are H3, etc.). Tag your tables the same way, tag your paragraphs as "normal," and make sure everything -- indents, paragraph spacing, bullets, etc. -- is lined up exactly how you want it to look. This should help with some of the issues that are popping up. Issues seem to be a little random, in my experience, so just because something worked ok last time even without all this careful detail doesn't mean it will the next time. Or so it seems...

Secondly, now Calibre recommends an intermediate step: first save your polished-up Word document as a web page, or in "HTM" or "HTML" format. Then load that .htm file into Calibre and go from there.

I'll make a new video soon with this much stronger emphasis on the finer details, and on the html conversion step and some important oddities to search for in your html file that will cause you trouble if you don't "fix" them, first.

Meanwhile, I've found an even better process than this one, so I'll make a new video soon. [Hint: Use Pages instead of Word.]

ORIGINAL TEXT:
How to turn a document (Word, PDF, etc.) on your computer into an EPUB (ebook) format so you can read it on your ebook reader (iPad, Kindle, Sony eReader, etc.). [Note: Instructions are for Mac computers only.]

If something doesn't work as expected, check out the Calibre support page. Google "Calibre ebook help" (spell calibre right, r before e!) and it should come up at or near the top of your list. (YouTube won't let me post the link here.)

For a short, printable step-by-step list, see my website and search for "ebook."

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Kiangle
• Erin Anne Beirne
• EPUB
• Calibre
• How to make an ebook
• Kindle
• making a Kindle book
• making an iBook
• iBook

[ashleygwen7]

I converted from a PDF and am missing some chapters. How do I fix this???

[erinannebeirne]

@ashleygwen7 Strange. Have you posted this question onto Calibre's help/support page? If you can't find the answer in their usual guide materials and tutorials, try posting this to the forum and see what others have to suggest. (I haven't had this happen so I haven't explored what to do to fix it!)

ea/

[Caram3lLov33]

Question- so when I convert the pdf to epub it comes out upside down?

How do I fix that?

[erinannebeirne]

@Caram3lLov33 Did this ever get sorted out for you? I've still not had it happen to me, not yet!

[SecondCareer]

Thanks for much for posting this.

[kel45do]

I had the same issue as arkay85' anyone find a resolve to this?

[arkay85]

When I view my converted PDFs on my iPad the text is all over the place - not in correct paragraphs etc. Viewing them in PDF on the PC is fine so there must be a problem within the conversion process. Do you know if there's a solution? Thanks

[Sparkytim]

Brilliant video - thanks for posting!

[erinannebeirne]

@Caram3lLov33 Sometimes I find I have to "outwit" my computer. Maybe try tweaking your document before you even covert it: turn your cover upside down, leave the rest the same?

Have you checked out the "help" section in Calibre's website?

ea/