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I created an iBook using iBooks Author that works great on the iPad. I now need to convert that file so it can be read on different devices like the Kindle and Nook. I've been messing around with "Calibre" but it won't let me select my .ibooks file I get when I published my iBook, so I can convert it. I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to take a .ibooks file and convert it to an ePub file. Thanks.
iBook
iBA puts out a hybrid e-pub.
I don't think anyone has come up with a simple conversion process...yet.
Use Pages, and copy/paste your content there, then massage as needed and use it and calibre.
If you need to output a standard epub, it might be best to author in Pages next time, then move that as a fork to iBA if desired.
iBA puts out a hybrid e-pub.
I don't think anyone has come up with a simple conversion process...yet.
Use Pages, and copy/paste your content there, then massage as needed and use it and calibre.
If you need to output a standard epub, it might be best to author in Pages next time, then move that as a fork to iBA if desired.
I don't think you can easily import from a .ibooks file. But you could open the book in IBA and export as text or PDF, then import that into your program. You will lose styles and such that way, but it almost certainly will be less work than copy-and-paste.
Michi.
>You will lose styles and such that way
And there's the rub. Who knows which method is less work...most certainly no one.
K T wrote:
>You will lose styles and such that way
And there's the rub. Who knows which method is less work...most certainly no one.
Will copy and paste from Pages into IBA preserve styles?
Michi.
My recommendation is to convert to PDF via iBooks Author, which will mostly retain your formatting and pictures and such, then convert to epub and other formats with Calibre or other converters.
Hello,
I'm about testing different ways to picup (hopefully) the best way to re-editate a bunch of books. Reading your answer, i wonder if using Indesign's epub export could handle this fine.
Did you, or anybody, allready try that?
Won't this destroy some of the IBA features such as Glossary pop-ups and internal links? I'm working on a book (created in IBA) with 150 images that requires a fixed page layout (captions with photos, text in particular place, etc.). Other than creating a static PDF, is there any way to retain some of the features in an e-pub file so that the book can also be sold on Amazon?
p.s. I've had conflicting evidence that Apple doesn't even allow this . . .
Have you done a google search on "fixed layout epub"?
Unfortunatly I am in the process of that right now. Look at iBooks Author as an idependet thing that lives alone in the Universe. You can not duplicate it features or widgets. If you export it as a pdf that is what you will get. So, create it in iBooks with the features with a nice premium price, and I don't mean 100.00.
Then create what I call a Lite Version that has text and 'FIXED' layout as I learned. Charge less and try to get your customers to purchase the iPad Fully featured Directors Cut from the iBook store. Hope this makes sense.
Yes, having two versions done in case of use of lots of the new gimicks and features of iBook, is some workaround.
Nicer would be, iBook developpers could integrate some algorithm to just disable some functions if the full version epub can't be played on a non-iOS (or OSX) device. There could just be the starter image seen as "normal picture" on a Kindle, and automaticaly run on an iPad, for example. There would permit to render a full version, without bothering and "wasting" time. Don't you think so?
I tried the method I mentioned before, using iBooks Author to make the book, export it as a PDF then use Calibre to convert it to epub format. Well, I'm here to say, that sucked! None of the special formatting was preserved and even the pictures were messed up. Like, the formatting and placement for the pictures was totally changed. There weren't really that many pictures but they were all formatted totally different and none of them looked right. My new recommendation is to use iBooks Author to create the Apple ebook format and then export it to PDF and sell it as is. The book that I was working with "Notes from Afghanistan" by Steven Specht is available on the iTunes store via iBooks Author and the PDF version is available via Amazon. I haven't compared the two but I have no doubt the iBooks version is better. Maybe I'll do that and review my findings here.
You share some awesome points. However I am glad that someone [Apple] created this creative platform for us. Amazon, Goggle and Microsoft would rather play it safe then critique why iBook Author is not great. Seeing that the platform is locked to the iPad provides an awesome experience to the customer. I have 3 free inspirational books in the iBook store that I could not have done anywhere else.
Having said that, yes it would be cool for an easy transition but listening around publishing is a broken platform with to many different files/ devices.
I highly recommend watching Serenity Caldwell's great presentation at Cingleton about publishing.
I used IBooks Author and saved the book as a PDF, then used this site > http://www.online-convert.com/ < to convert in to an epub for my other devices.
Hey! This is great hint! Thanks for the tip!
Ibook to pdf then online-convert.com for epub yielded garbage for me.
My book is layout sensitive with many graphics. I have used an epub creator before and the results have been erratic once the book has been put in the stores, despite looking OK in preview. Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and immerse myself in upgrading my epub creation skills.
It would be great if iBooks Author were capable of outputting a general epub format but I guess it's consistent with Apple's walled garden policy.
And what if the book contains widgets?
Convert .ibooks file to epub file to be read on Kindle, Nook, etc.
