eBook Resources

eBook files used for testing

• TheTexanScouts.epub (basic ePub file)
• BookOfTexas.mobi (KF8 sample)
• BookOfTexas.zip (KF8 source)
• Graceful Degradation
• KF8 Styles source
• Webkit Tests
• eBook Design Samples
• Essential ePub Formatting
• New York Subway -- with an embedded PDF file
• Table Examples -- A test ePub showing non-linear table functionality and examples of different kinds of tables
• SVG Sample
• Aviation Brochure -- A sample non-fiction Fixed Layout ePub for Apple (PDF)
• Peter Rabbit -- A sample Children's Fixed Layout ePub for Apple
• Ginsberg Sample - MOBI -- A sample poetry book
• Ginsberg Sample - ePub -- A sample poetry book

Tools

• InDesign scripts for linking indexes in ePub files
• Apple Scripts for zipping and un-zipping ePubs
• ePub Pack -- A Windows tool for zipping ePubs
• ePubCheck and ePub Preflight
• ePubCheck drag/drop apps for Mac
• FlightCrew - alternative ePub validator, lots of features
• ePub Tools - Python-based tools for converting a few formats like DocBook into ePub
• KindleGen -- Amazon's command line tool for creating Kindle books
• KindleGen Drop App -- Apple scripts that allow you to drag/drop an ePub or OPF file and run KindleGen. Versions for KindleGen 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2. Developed by Toby Stevenson here at eBook Architects.
• KindlePreviewer -- A testing program that emulates the Kindle, Kindle for iPad, and Kindle for iPhone.
• Mobipocket Creator -- an older tool that is not as up-to-date as KindleGen

If you are looking for an easy way to run ePubCheck or KindleGen on files in Windows, you can create a batch file (like "ePubCheck.bat"), put the proper DOS command into the file pointing to the correct location and name of the ePubCheck or KindleGen program, and just drop files onto it. For examples, download the batch scripts for ePubCheck and KindleGen here and open them in a text edior like Notepad.

ePub

• International Digital Publishing Forum
• Adobe Digital Editions - a standard tool for viewing and testing ePub files
• Colleen Cunningham's list of eBook Resources
• Adobe MAX session on InDesign CS4 to ePub
• InDesign CS 5.5 to ePub Videos
• Adobe Guide to ePub Best Practices
• List of devices using the Adobe SDK
• XML-first Workflows in InDesign: Ropes of Sand?
• EPUB Math: Best Practices for Mathematics
• Page Numbers in NCX
• Fonts used on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch
• Gentium Basic fonts -- Open license, easy to embed, cover a large set of characters
• List of Adobe fonts and with embedding licenses
• ePubCheck online

Kindle

• Kindle Formatting: The Complete Guide
• Kindle Apps -- links to all of the applications that read Kindle books from Amazon

General

• TeleRead
• MobileRead
• EduKindle

Self-publishing

• Self-publishing a book: 25 things you need to know
• Publetariat
• Lulu vs. CreateSpace
• The Book Designer -- lots of practical self-publishing advice