What
should you know to create eBooks?
The entire process of creating eBooks can be divided
into two stages:
- creating and preparing eBook pages
- compiling files into an executable application
Therefore, to create an eBook, you should know:
- how to create pages linked by hyperlinks using the HTML
language
- how the EBook Maestro compiler works
We hope that you already have the knowledge and skills necessary
to create HTML pages so we will move over to the compiler
at once. If you have never created HTML pages and you do
not know how they are created, we strongly recommend that
you fill this gap. A lot of resources are devoted to HTML
and you will not have any difficulties in finding learning
material.
So. It is the compiler that is entrusted with the responsibility
of packing all eBook files into one executable file.
This executable file includes three virtual file «containers» (eBooks
created with EBook Maestro STANDARD or FREE have two «containers»).
Actually, there are more of them, but you will mostly work
with three of them.
The first one is used for eBook files. All pages, images,
multimedia files and other files you want to offer your readers
are stored here.
The second one contains auxiliary files.
For instance, it can be a page with the table of contents
or with bookmarks for quick navigation.
The third one contains
protected files. These files can be decrypted and read only
after the reader registers the eBook and enters the key.
(Not available in EBook Maestro FREE / STANDARD).
In order to create an eBook, it is enough just to fill
the first «container». The second and the third
ones are optional.
The main window of the eBook contains the Main Panel and
the optional Left Panel.
The Main Panel displays pages from
the first and third «containers»,
while the Left Panel displays pages from the second one.
That is how the window of the user's manual compiled with
Ebook Maestro looks like: 
In
this case there is a HTML page with the table of contents
in the second
«container» (the one that is for the Left Panel), while all the
rest of pages are in the first one (for the Main Panel). Hyperlinks on the
page with the table of contents refer to HTML pages from the first «container».
Thus, when the user clicks any of these links, the corresponding page opens
in the Main Panel.
So what do you need to create an eBook?
It's all easy! In order to compile and create an executable
eBook file, you should show the compiler the directory
with files for the Main Panel and, if necessary, the subdirectory
for the Left Panel and the subdirectory with protected
files. The compiler will pack and encrypt all files and
you will get a standalone eBook application.
You should take the following requirements into account
when preparing eBook files:
- Since ALL files from the directory will be included
into the eBook, make sure there are no unnecessary files.
- Files for the Left Panel must be located in a separate
subdirectory of the main directory. For instance, if
eBook files are located in the directory 'C:\MyEBooks\FirstEBook',
files for the Left Panel can be located in 'C:\MyEBooks\FirstEBook\TableOfContents'.
- Protected files must be also located in a separate
subdirectory of the main directory. For instance, if
eBook files are located in the directory 'C:\MyEBooks\FirstEBook',
protected files can be located in 'C:\MyEBooks\FirstEBook\Protected'.
- Since after the compilation absolute links become invalid,
all hyperlinks between files must be relative.
Other lessons/articles:
- EBook creation steps
- Compiling eBooks with
eBook Maestro
- Protecting an eBook directory so that the user has to register
to get access to its files
- How to organize
receiving payments, to get money for registering your eBook?
- How to turn a flash game into a profitable
product? |
