from xml to ebooks part 1: overview

From XML to eBooksPart I: Overview

Richard HamiltonXML Press

hamilton@xmlpress.net

Nobody Knows AnythingWilliam Goldman, screenwriter

Why eBooks

Formats

Distribution

XML process} A

Manager'sPerspective

Agenda

Follow the MoneyWilliam Goldman, screenwriter

All the President's Men

● Internal or external audience?● Objective:

● Support/Marketing?● Revenue?

● How/Where will you distribute?

Questions you need to ask

● Which output formats?● Which hw/sw e-readers?● Which XML schema?

Questions you shouldn'tneed to ask

Why not?

eBook Market

Types of Devices

Kindle Devices ePub DevicesKindle Devices

Market Share (sales)

All OthersKindle60% (2010)Dozens<10

FormatsBad News

Dozens of eReaders, both hardware and software

Good News

Only 2 really matter:ePub and Kindle

Better News

If you can get to either one, you can easily

convert to the other

But...

If you need really close control of presentation, you still need to know

your devices.

Abandon hope of ever completely controlling presentation

Kindle Touch Original KindleSame content

Abandon hope of ever completely controlling presentation

● Device and PC screen sizes vary widely● Rendering software varies widely● Font support varies widely● Users can change text point size at will● Standard allows for variation in rendering● Detailed control hard to attain and hard to

maintain across devices

Amazon/KindleBarnes and Noble/NookApple/iBookstoreDirect (through your own website)Others.... too many to mention

Retail Distribution Channels

Distribution

●Amazon, Pubit (Barnes & Noble), and Apple are all easy to use.

●Each has variations, but they're small; mostly image specifications.

Amazon: kdp.amazon.comBarnes and Noble: pubit.bn.comApple: iTunes Producer (Mac specific)Direct: we use gumroad.com

Retail Distribution Setup

All are easy and fast to use, but...each has its idiosyncrasies

Authoring: XML or anything that gets us thereSchema: DocBook or DITAToolchain: DocBook: std stylesheets for ePub3 DITA: OT + DITA for Publishers

XML Press Toolchain

Toolchain

AuthoringAuthoring ProductionProductionRepositoryRepository

●Direct XML●Word●HTML●Wiki-based

DB (ePub3)●DB style.●Filters●Kindlegen●Amazon

DITA (ePub2)●OT●D4Pub●Kindlegen●Amazon

SVN} XML

Wiki XML

Thanks for listening

Richard HamiltonXML Press

hamilton@xmlpress.net