Re: Newbie question on making-editing ebooks

On 04/11/2013 16:59, jrswebhome-/[email protected] wrote:
>
> If I look in the coding of an ebook converted to a Calibre ebook, I 
> see "Calibre" named headings, etc. Are you sure it is not a Calibre 
> ebook after the conversion? Why would all the headings change names if 
> it is not a conversion?
>
> To understand further, patience please:
>
> 1. Calibre is only used to convert between different ebook formats?
>
> 2. The coding within ebooks is html and css?
>
> 3. What is the difference in html and css?
>
> Just trying to understand how to change the insides from such ugly 
> designs.
>

John,

If you leave the css to Calibre [or Sigil or other converters] it will 
use its own progam name; but there is no such thing as a calibre ebook - 
it converts between formats - there is  drop down list showing how many 
formats  there are.
2... yes, html and css are the major coding needs for users, and the 
core of making ebooks.
3... html is the code,while css is the shaping of that code. e.g The 
Book might be <heading1> in html, and the size and colour and case 
[capitals, lower case or usually mixed] in css.

I recommend Mark Coker's guide [free] on Smashwords to explain the 
process as your first step to understanding. Changing appearance should 
be done in Sigil. Later you might develop more skill [depending on how 
much of this you do] and use more specialised programs. Generally ebooks 
should be designed simply. You may not be able to achieve what you want. 
Coker's book will show something of how to do it and what those 
limitations are.

Joseph Harris