eBook Formats

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by Peter Cooper

Even though you've decided the topic and intention of your eBook, you probably haven't written it yet. As such, you may think it's a bit premature, at this point, to think about how it will be distributed and how your readers will view it. Quite the contrary! Because of the number of methods and the formatting considerations you have to apply to them, it's important to be comfortable with the most common methods of distribution. If you aren't, then you might produce an eBook which takes forever to be converted at a later date. However, if you have a rough idea what sort of distribution you'll use before you write it, then you can consider any formatting problems on the go.

eBooks are designed to be accessed and viewed from a variety of places. You can read them on your PDA (handheld computer), notebook computer and desktop PC. Because of the need to remain flexible and the vigor in the eBook industry, there are a number of competing formats fighting for your attention as a writer. It's up to you to choose which format you want to use for your specific, but we're going to look at the three main methods here right now:

Microsoft Reader Format

It's unlike Microsoft to keep its hands out of any new industry since their Internet 'rethink' in 1995, and this couldn't be more true than with eBooks. Microsoft have invested a great deal of time and money on refining their 'Reader' software for Pocket PCs, and now, for the PC. Microsoft Reader is a great application because it's so simple, but primarily due to the Microsoft 'Cleartype' technology. Cleartype technology effectively triples the horizontal resolution of your screen to smoothen on-screen typography making it far easier to read.

The Reader format isn't the easiest to get to grips with, although it is based upon XHTML. Microsoft have published the details of the format on their site which, if you'd care to argue for their case, would make it an open standard. To their credit, Microsoft have released a plugin for Word 2000 which converts your open document into Reader format, an ideal simple solution for all Office 2000 users. For the rest of us, however, it's far more complicated and we're forced to start reading about SDKs and XHTML formatting.

For more information visit Microsoft's Reader Site which contains information on publishing your eBook in their format, and also the ClearType site which demonstrates how their technology works.

Adobe PDF

Adobe originally produced the PDF (Portable Document Format) system so that documents could be transferred online with all of their formatting details intact. The format has advanced with leaps and bounds and now it's uses for hundreds of applications from reprographics to eBooks! If your eBook is in PDF format, you're usually assured that it will look the same on your screen as it does on the viewer's.

Adobe are improving their standard so often that there's new advancements on a regular basis. A regular advancement was the introduction of protected PDF files which could be secure and could be sold (as eBooks, for one).

The primary tool used for creating PDF files is Adobe Acrobat. This program will allow you to print from many applications, and the output will be neatly converted into a PDF file. This means you can produce your eBook in whatever application you want! There's a whole collection of articles and features on eBooks at the e-paper section at Adobe.com. Alternatively, you could read the comprehensive document, "How to Create Adobe PDF Files for E-Books"

Glassbook are a well-known eBook company who use the PDF format. They develop backend software and handle the actual distribution and sale of eBooks. They primarily work with publishers, but they provide further links to information about putting your eBook into PDF format, as well a list of publishers.

HTML

If Adobe's PDF and Microsoft's Reader formats sound too complicated to you, then here's a candidate already dear to millions, the trusty old HTML format. You can simply put your eBook together in HTML format, and offer it in a number of ways. If you had the facility you could put it in a protected area of your site or offer it for free if you wished. There are also applications that will 'package' your HTML files together into a single EXE file along with a 'viewer'. Your reader can then just download the single EXE file, run it, and read your eBook without any hassles.

Here are some applications that can help you package up your finished eBook:

BERSoft WebPacker - compresses and encrypts your HTML files into one simple file. There's a small version which runs on Internet Explorer, or a stand-alone version for full user compatibility.

WebCompiler - Another software package which compresses all of your HTML and images into a single EXE. Currently costs $150.

Activ E-Book Compiler - One of the most well known programs for distributing HTML eBooks. This software is currently being offered for just $30 although you may try it for free. Sunil Tanna devotes the entire system to explaining how to get started in the eBook world.

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