Choosing Your E-book Compiler

This is written for those of you that want an alternative to creating an ebook in PDF format.

It is not the purpose of this article to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of ebook compilers with products like Adobe Acrobat. However, before continuing, it is necessary to explain one important difference between them.

To do this considers these two definitions.

An ebook compiler is a software application that converts a document to an executable (.exe) file. The file (or ebook) that is created is a stand-alone file. This simply means that no other software application is required to execute (or read) it.

Adobe Acrobat is a software application that converts a document to a readable (PDF) file. The file (or ebook) that is created is not stand-alone. It requires an application like Adobe Reader to open (or read) it. Now that this is established, we can concentrate on the choice of ebook compiler.

Your choice will depend on what format you have written the content for your ebook. Examples are plain text, HTML, MS Word or MS PowerPoint. If you have used HTML to write your content and want to compile an ebook from HTML code, you may need a working knowledge of the HTML language for some of the available compilers.

There are many ebook Compilers available today. The choice can be very confusing and it can often be difficult to choose one that is right for you. Here are a few pointers.

Ease of Use

If an easy to use compiler is your main priority, check that an instruction manual or adequate documentation is included with the compiler. If this is not included, you may find it time consuming to learn how to use the compiler correctly.

Security

If you wish to sell your ebook, good security features are important. As well as basic features like protecting your eBook content from modification or limiting a reader