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Best ebook creation software?

by Jason Zalesky
32 replies
Looking for your advice on the best software for creaking ebooks?

Thanks,
Jason
#creation #ebook #software
  • Profile picture of the author Minisite Nerd
    Jason,

    Do you want a PDF? Or are you looking for something more like an EXE file?

    I'm partial to Open Office - OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite

    Simple, but pretty powerful. One click to PDF and makes it pretty easy to make the links in your PDF "live" so readers can click on them.
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  • Profile picture of the author steve m
    I have to agree with the above member. I find it very easy to use also very easy to export it to a pdf file too. And its free

    Steve M
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Anderson
    Adobe acrobat pro.
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  • Profile picture of the author mprey
    I don't know, but anything formatted in Word always has a certain "cheap" look to me - it might be the way it typesets, which isn't the best in the business.

    If you want to look more professional, I think Adobe Acrobat is cool, but if you have a bit more patience, try a TeX powered software such as LyX. It's usually used for science papers and stuff, but it can output amazing looking, cleanly typeset PDFs if you're willing to spend a little time getting to grips with it. And it's absolutely free too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kneb Knebaih
    Hands down, the best, free, and easiest one is OpenOffice3.0, as mentioned above.

    Click that link and install Open Office, you will be glad you did.
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  • Profile picture of the author sparky.ebiz
    Yes, Open Office 3.0 ROCKS!!! One of the oo3 features that I like is the ability to adjust the output quality. (Yes, I do put quite a few images and/or screenshots in my eBooks.) So, I can output several different image quality levels - Web only @ 72 dpi or hi-quality printing @ 300-600 dpi - or anything in between - all from the same source file! If this is going to be a web downloadable ebook - I usually go for a compomise between filesize and print quality.
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  • Profile picture of the author prelude_vtec
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author Tracy Yates
    I agree with the majority here...OpenOffice Writer is the best tool for creating great looking PDF ebooks.

    I also agree that with OOo Writer, you can get a bit more freedom to do a wide range of things with your ebooks.

    For example, I was just setting up a comparison PDF sample set for a new custom ebook creation service I'll be opening soon and here's the difference between using Word and OOo Writer:

    Ebook Generated Using Word( this is the format the plr ebook came in ):
    http://www.e-bookemporium.us/images/Word ebook page.jpg

    Ebook Generated Using OOo Writer:
    http://www.e-bookemporium.us/images/OOo Writer ebook page.jpg

    Obviously, you can see the difference from the screen captures, but you can see them much better with the actual sample PDF files -- which only consists of the first chapter of that particluar ebook as it is ony for demonstration purposes

    You can do a lot with OOo Writer, and a whole lot easier as compared to Word. I can't tell you how much of a headache it is for me to try and work with a Word .doc inside OOo Writer to make changes. Not that I can't do it, I mean you can see that above, but it's just a nightmare because the formatting is so different.


    Tracy
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  • Profile picture of the author SullyUI
    I vote for Open Office 3.0 as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      No word document program can match a publishing program for layout flexibility, including openoffice. Word programs are fine if you are doing your basic black text on white background (with a few images included) ebooks.

      However, the very best ebooks are more like magazines and have far more visual impact. They are not very good for printing out, but they can just blow away a word document converted to PDF ebook.

      I used to use Microsoft Publisher, but since I got my iMac earlier this year I have been using Pages09. Within that program are templates for ebooks as well, which are fantastic and really speed up production.

      You can use Pages09 or Publisher07 then add and edit links using Acrobat 9 Pro. True neither of them are free, but combined, these programs will create much more visual appeal and thus, inherent value to the reader, IMHO.

      Have a look at this before and after of the actual same ebook I redesigned using pages, then acrobat.
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      • Profile picture of the author DavidTheMavin
        This would be a great service. Do you do this as a business?

        Originally Posted by Marty S View Post

        No word document program can match a publishing program for layout flexibility, including openoffice. Word programs are fine if you are doing your basic black text on white background (with a few images included) ebooks.

        However, the very best ebooks are more like magazines and have far more visual impact. They are not very good for printing out, but they can just blow away a word document converted to PDF ebook.

        I used to use Microsoft Publisher, but since I got my iMac earlier this year I have been using Pages09. Within that program are templates for ebooks as well, which are fantastic and really speed up production.

        You can use Pages09 or Publisher07 then add and edit links using Acrobat 9 Pro. True neither of them are free, but combined, these programs will create much more visual appeal and thus, inherent value to the reader, IMHO.

        Have a look at this before and after of the actual same ebook I redesigned using pages, then acrobat.
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        • Profile picture of the author Minisite Nerd
          Originally Posted by DavidTheMavin View Post

          This would be a great service. Do you do this as a business?
          I was thinking of offering this in the near future as a service, but wasn't sure what kind of interest I'd get.

          I don't use Publisher, but I use another high-end software that will basically make your PDF's look like a magazine. They also stay interactive with all links staying "live" so you can click on them.

          If you're interested in a service like this, let me know.
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          • Profile picture of the author Marty S
            I am not interested in doing it myself, but it is a viable option for sure. You could simply download all the WF's free ebooks and then contact the owners. That would be a great place to start.
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            • Profile picture of the author Hereandthere
              Whatever software you use to make a PDF ebook, after you do it, be sure that your links work. MY favorite PDF reader is Foxit but quite often for some reason, links that work in an Adobe reader are dead in Foxit.

              I write my own ebooks in Word, then use Adobe Acrobat Pro for the conversions, but that is a more expensive way to go than some mentioned above. As long as you check things over, you will be ok.

              I have done page layout in a lot of ways and while I hate using Word, I do think it is fine for usual informative ebooks with live links and not too many illustrations.
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      • Profile picture of the author Chuck Evans
        Originally Posted by Marty S View Post

        No word document program can match a publishing program for layout flexibility, including openoffice. Word programs are fine if you are doing your basic black text on white background (with a few images included) ebooks.

        However, the very best ebooks are more like magazines and have far more visual impact. They are not very good for printing out, but they can just blow away a word document converted to PDF ebook.

        I used to use Microsoft Publisher, but since I got my iMac earlier this year I have been using Pages09. Within that program are templates for ebooks as well, which are fantastic and really speed up production.

        You can use Pages09 or Publisher07 then add and edit links using Acrobat 9 Pro. True neither of them are free, but combined, these programs will create much more visual appeal and thus, inherent value to the reader, IMHO.

        Have a look at this before and after of the actual same ebook I redesigned using pages, then acrobat.
        Marty,

        I have "pages 09" as well and I don't have an "ebook" template in my options.

        chuck
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Moffatt
    Pages on the Mac, hands down.
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  • Profile picture of the author orangefrog
    I remember using Adobe Pagemaker when I worked on the school newspaper way back in high school. Does anyone know what a good, contemporary replacement program would be? I know Pagemaker became Adobe InDesign. InDesign seems overly complex, though, for many things (not to mention crazy expensive.)
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  • Profile picture of the author lb1234
    I came across an interesting Free Ebook with loads of internet marketing software. Check it out, they have a lot of those type of software there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Diver's
    ok if you ask me, its got to be IMC..ebookpro7.. now they are giving it away for a packaged price

    i'm selling this quite well..have a look at here (my affiliated link)
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      Originally Posted by Diver's View Post

      ok if you ask me, its got to be IMC..ebookpro7.. now they are giving it away for a packaged price

      i'm selling this quite well..have a look at here (my affiliated link)
      Problem with these programs is that users have to download an .exe file and some (not all) virus protection programs prevent these downloads because of unidentified encrypted files that are actually part of the software.

      Support told me they cannot control what the virus programs alert as risks so there was nothing they could do. I started getting so many complaints from my sign-ups trying to download, I had to switch back to PDF files.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpettit
    Did every one miss Cutepdf, its what I use an I really like it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Prashaant
    Open Office all the way.... it's been years since I even used MS Office.....
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  • Profile picture of the author Diver's
    wow..never had that complaint before.. if that soo.. i suggested you go look somewhere else Jason... maybe .pdf will be a great solution.

    the real problem with ebook is that we want safety and avoid sharing of download links.

    maybe you can just use the normal adobe pdf with DLGuard built in.

    or like any other warriors here..they just send the file through email.. after receive payment through Paypal. but thats not automation as you need to attent to every email in manually.
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  • Profile picture of the author tUNU52
    Open Office is the best tool for creating PDF e books. I am also with same opinion majority here...
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  • Profile picture of the author Jerry Reeder
    Open Office SUCKS. But is free and gets the job done and
    getting the job done is what most people need to worry
    about first
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  • Profile picture of the author LastWarrior
    Another thing to consider is how the owner of a website views his/her own site as looking "good". However, most viewers don't care how "good" a site looks; they want to know what the site will do for "them". With that in thought, many PDF ebooks have been created with Word then to PDF and mucho bux have been made in the selling of these ebooks. The viewer is more interested in what the ebook will do for "them", not how well the fonts, structure and graphics pop out.

    LastWarrior
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      Originally Posted by LastWarrior View Post

      Another thing to consider is how the owner of a website views his/her own site as looking "good". However, most viewers don't care how "good" a site looks; they want to know what the site will do for "them". With that in thought, many PDF ebooks have been created with Word then to PDF and mucho bux have been made in the selling of these ebooks. The viewer is more interested in what the ebook will do for "them", not how well the fonts, structure and graphics pop out.

      LastWarrior
      Yes an old, over-used argument here based on comparison of apples and oranges. You are right, as everyone else here knows that content will always be KING, but if the content is the same which of the ebooks displayed above would you rather read, and which of these two would offer more credibility, traffic, and testimonials to the author?
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    Professionals use stuff like Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress and other desktop publishing programs to come up with great newsletter and magazine designs. You can take a look at Scribus(free) and search google for tips on how to create a good template for your reports/newsletters.

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author mmurtha
    Hi Jason,

    I think the best software for making ebooks or any other PDF is Adobe Acrobat Pro!

    It does everything you need and then some, including turning websites and pages into PDF.
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