Creating E-Books - Part 1
Introduction to E-Books Creation
This chapter introduces the process of Creating E-Books from your source files as well as giving specific tips that will help you get more out of your E-Book Compiler software.
In my view it is generally best to familiarize yourself with your E-Book Compiler before you start writing your first real E-Books. You could for example, spend a little time working through tutorials or creating simple practice E-Books.
Activ E-Book Compiler's Help includes instructions that show you how to create your first E-Book with:
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- Microsoft Word 97
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- Microsoft Word 2000
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- Microsoft PowerPoint 97
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- Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
If you are using another program, you basically need to make an empty folder using Activ Quick Project - and then put all your HTML, and other graphics files, correctly linked together, in the same place.
After you have done this - click Edit Output, then use the Browse button to select an Output file (the finished EXE) in any folder other than the one where you source files are located. Finally click Run
The most common problems are:
1) No index.htm or index.html file: The first page of your e-book (shown initially if using the registered version, or after the cover page if using the unregistered version) must have this name. Check:
** Click Refresh on the Edit menu, review the list of files, and see if you have accidentally omitted to create this file.
** Look also in the list of files, and see if you have accidentally named this file something else, like index.htm.doc etc.,
** Check you have got the right source folder selected, by doing Edit Scan Folder (Edit Scan Directory in older compiler versions).
2) Missing images and/or broken links - see Avoiding Link Path Problems and Missing Images.
3) Problems with Next/Previous (etc) - try to use lower case file names, all letters or numbers with no spaces.
4) Problems with Frames and navigation - see Handling Frames Without Tears.
5) If you want an e-book to open web sites inside its own window, you must turn off Automatically open Internet links in a new (Browser) in Edit User Interface, this is especially important if your E-Book uses frames.
6) CGI forms not operating correctly, try EITHER turning off Automatically open Internet links in a new (Browser) in Edit User Interface, OR inserting TARGET=_blank (preceded by a space) just before the > in the <FORM...etc...> tag However when you get around to creating a real E-Book, in my opinion, it's best to spend as much time as possible preparing and writing your material before starting to work with the compiler. It's hard enough to write, edit, proof-read and format your text, so you don't want to get muddled by trying to compile at the same time!
So once you have practised enough, try it for real...
But remember, the longer (or more complicated) your E-Book is, the more important it is to keep everything organized and to proceed in step-by-step fashion.
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