Preparing ebook files for various reading devices

[A.R.]

I'm sending out advance review copies of my new novel to a number of reviewers, and I'm finding that folks are using a variety of devices for ebooks -- Kindle, Nook, iPad, Android, tablet with the Kindle app, etc.

Anyone have a good rundown of which file formats work with which devices, and how to prepare files to minimize problems? Or maybe you know of an article that speaks to this issue.

ARK

[Glede]

Mobi format is exclusive to the kindle so that's easy to remember. ePub for all other reading devices. If you're using Smashwords to distribute your eBook to other retailers, your formatter should create a Smashwords version. I hope this helps.

[A.R.]

Glede wrote: "Mobi format is exclusive to the kindle so that's easy to remember. ePub for all other reading devices. If you're using Smashwords to distribute your eBook to other retailers, your formatter should ..."

Thanks for responding to that, Glede. So it sounds as if epub and mobi would cover most situations.

How about usability issues? If I send a mobi or epub file to a reviewer attached to an email message, have you noticed whether people have trouble getting the file on their e-reader and getting the file to open up all right? Or do the devices tend to make it a pain-free process?

I ask this because the advance reviewers I'm using represent a range of tech-sophistication. I don't want anyone to get discouraged and give up just because they couldn't figure out how to get the file onto their device to start reading it.

ARK

[Glede]

Funny you should ask, I'm working through the same issue. Some folks I asked for reviews, mostly older women had trouble with the mobi file as an email attachment. I found out the simplest way to get the mobi file to open seamlessly on the Kindle is to have the reviewer approve you as a sender of email messages on their kindle account, then send the file to their kindle.com email address. I usually include instructions.

For the epub file, most tech-savy reviewers know how to make it work with their devices although you'll have to assume that a certain percentage may not even acknowledge they had issues opening it.

[A.R.]

Glede wrote: "I found out the simplest way to get the mobi file to open seamlessly on the Kindle is to have the reviewer approve you as a sender of email messages on their kindle account, then send the file to their kindle.com email address. I usually include instructions.."

Thanks -- that's useful to know. I hate to sound ignorant, but do most Kindle users know that their account has an email address attached to it? Are they used to receiving messages, opening up attachments, etc.?

The last time I produced an ebook, there were no e-readers. I just sold the book and sent it to customers by email!

ARK

[Glede]

No worries , we're all here to learn. Yes, I find that most people don't know their kindle comes with an email address when they register it. Don't worry, your reviewers will make it work.

[T.H.]

Yes. Getting books into a Kindle device that is not Kindle Fire or the Kindle app on an iPad or other tablet can be challenging for someone not technologically savvy. Sending to their Kindle email address is the easiest, but you should google how to do that and send them a link.

If your reader has an iPad or Android tablet with the Kindle app, you can just email directly to them and they can open it from their email app into their Kindle app.

Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but sometimes it just adds another layer of complexity.

[A.R.]

T.H. wrote: "Sending to their Kindle email address is the easiest, but you should google how to do that and send them a link."

Thanks for responding, T.H. Sounds as if I had better research this point a bit before sending out review copies. Most of my reviewers aren't exactly pros -- mostly a family-friends-colleagues sort of effort. I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a bit of tech support during the next few weeks!

ARK

[Kristi]

I had trouble loading mobi files from an email to my kindle app, (both phone and tablet) but I found if I save it to my dropbox, then open dropbox on my phone, choose the file, choose export, and choose the kindle app, that works really well.

With the Nook app, you do the same, except instead of exporting, choose open with, and choose the nook app there. I don't know if that is easier or not, but it is an alternative.

[A.R.]

Kristi wrote: "I found if I save it to my dropbox, then open dropbox on my phone, choose the file, choose export, and choose the kindle app, that works really well

Kristi -- Thanks for weighing in with that. Sounds like a good solution for mobi files. I'll keep that on hand in case some readers have trouble with that file format.

ARK

[Alex]

The freely downloadable 'Kindle reading app.' will enable your book to be read on any device whether PC, Mac, or Android based, so that you do not need to worry if your review team have a Kindle device or not. Hope that helps :-)

[A.R.]

Alex wrote: "The freely downloadable 'Kindle reading app.' will enable your book to be read on any device whether PC, Mac, or Android based, so that you do not need to worry if your review team have a Kindle de..."

Alex -- Thanks for jumping in. I find that my reviewers have a variety of devices, some Kindle, some Nook, some iPad, some Android. Myself, I have an Android tablet with the Kindle app. So far, I haven't found a single file format that works across all of those devices -- unless I misunderstand what you're saying.

I originally hoped that I could just create a single EPUB file, but I found that that format didn't work in my Kindle app.

What I'm thinking now is to create basically three versions -- EPUB, MOBI, and PDF as a fall-back. Well, one reviewer asked for .TXT (sigh).

ARK

[Kristi]

I do the same three formats. Very occasionally I run across someone who wants the PDF. No TXT people though, yet. Wow.

I have an online store on my website, and I sell a 3 format bundle with those three formats in a zip file. That way a buyer who may not know what works best can receive all three and be covered.

May I ask what process you use to create your EPUBs and MOBIs? I use an online converter that seems to work well, but I'm always on the lookout for something easier/better.

[A.R.]

Kristi wrote: "May I ask what process you use to create your EPUBs and MOBIs?"

Kristi -- I've been using Calibre. It's open source. Very rich, with great capabilities, but also complex. You have to be patient and do some learning, but I'm getting used to it and seeing results. It's available at http://calibre-ebook.com/

ARK

[Kristi]

I tried that, didn't have much luck. Probably lost patience. :-)

My books are all text, except for the cover, so I use this: http://ebook.online-convert.com/conve...
Same site makes MOBI and ePUB. I keep my upload file very simple (same files I use for KDP & Nook press, respectively), and the results are clean - haven't seen any weird line breaks or botched pages.

A great converter for simple, clean results. (This after trying many online converters...)

[A.R.]

Kristi wrote: "My books are all text, except for the cover, so I use this: http://ebook.online-convert.com/conve...
Same site makes MOBI an..."

That's a great resource - thanks. Looks easier to use than Calibre!

ARK

[Kristi]

It is very easy. :-)
Especially if you already have those files prepared.
It even has the option to save the converted file directly to your dropbox.

[T.M.]

I normally have two files - one for Smashwords and one for Amazon - both .doc files on my computer. If I need a copy of the ebook, like a .mobi or a .pdf, I just download it off the Smashwords page (I don't turn on the DRM option for my ebooks).

But if you're sending out ARC-type copies before release, that method probably won't work.

[Crispian]

As others have said already, mobi, epub, and pdf will cover everything.

I've tried several methods from online convertors to InDesign. All have issues so I use Scrivener to compile all of the above file types and then check the epub files with epubcheck. I check the mobi files with Kindle Previewer and the PDF with Adobe Acrobat Pro.

The fact that you can save your format profiles for different types of book or editions within Scrivener makes it a worthwhile investment (at least on Mac).

Email the files to your reviewer and have them use Calibre to side-load the books to whatever device they use. If that is beyond them they can just email or upload the relevant file to their library/device.