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Creating & Viewing eBooks and Story Books for iPad
Dan Herlihy
Creating an eBook
There are many approaches to creating an “eBook.” You can create a book in a word
processing program such as Open Office or Microsoft Word, add images and text then
save it as a PDF file. Some of the eBook readers listed below allow you to import the file
into them. Some will read the text aloud, some only allow you to view it, while others
can play back sound or video files embedded into a PDF document, which can be done
using Adobe Acrobat Professional.
You can also create a book in a word processing program, save it either as a (Word)
doc or PDF file, and then convert it to an epub format book using free online tools such
as those found at www.epubbud.com
. The epubbud site allows you to import your files,
convert them, and then allows you to download them in various formats for the Nook,
iPad/iPod, and other devices. You can also upload and embed sound files onto any of
the pages before converting and saving as an epub format book.
If you first save your file as a PDF before converting it to an epub file, the page size, the
position and format of text and images on the pages will be maintained when opened in
the various readers. When converting a Word doc to an epub eBook, depending on the
“eReader” that you open it in, images may get repositioned, text may be forced onto the
next page and the formatting may change.
Not all eReaders are alike, and unfortunately while text on a page of an epub book that
was created from a word processing file may look sharper on the device you are
viewing it on, versus that from a converted PDF document, the page integrity may not
have held, and the text and images that were originally on one page may end up getting
split over two pages.
iPad Apps for Creating eBooks
These apps for the iPad allow you to create eBooks right on the iPad, then import them
into an eBook reader on your iPad such as iBooks, or export them as a PDF file to open
in other readers such as vBookz PDF, vBookz, Goodreader, ReaddleDocs and other
PDF readers.
•
eBook Magic (3.99) create epub and PDF books – export to email or iTunes.
This app is one of the best apps to create eBooks in both epub and PDF
format. Very easy to use, import images, add text, many different page
layouts to choose from. Add pages, then save and export. Books look great
when opened in iBooks and other book readers.
•
Book Creator for iPad – (4.99 on sale – 6.99) – record sound, import
images, add text, import music from iTunes library, export to iBooks from app.
Books look great and sound files can play when opened in iBooks.
•
iBookcreator (3.99) – import images, video clips, add text, export to iBooks,
PDF readers, Free Books and other apps.
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•
StoryPatch (2.99) – import images, use programs clip art, add text, export
book as PDF file or read in program.
•
My Story – Story Creator for Kids - (1.99) – draw, record narration, add text
to create books, can export directly to iBooks where recorded sound files will
play. Also open in SpeakText for eBook where text can be read aloud.
•
Picturebook (free) add images, text, export to eMail as PDF
•
Scribble Press (free) – import images, add text, adds page numbers as you
go, can export directly to iBooks where text can be selected and read aloud.
Does a good job with page formatting.
Other writing apps:
•
Pictello (18.99) – create picture books with text and audio recordings, export
as PDF to iTunes or email.
•
StoryKit (free) – can export books to computer to print, record sound, import
your own images, draw
•
SonicPics (2.99) – import images, record sound, creates self running
slideshow, can export as movie
•
Story Robe – (.99) talking movie story book similar to SonicPics
Pages – ($20.00) – app for Macintosh computers can export files as ePub for iBooks
iBooks Author
Free from Mac Apps store – http://www.apple.com/mac/
- application for Mac
Computers (requires Lion OS) to create interactive eBooks.
iBooks Author can:
- Import video, images, sound files, music, text – can drag and drop in images and
text into program
- Add tables, charts
- Add interactive “Widgets” containing HTML, media, Keynote presentations, 3D
images, chapter reviews, add shapes, arrows,
- Set page orientation, colors, etc.
Export to: iBooks (for iPad), PDF, Text file
Start by choosing a layout template – or you can
start with a blank page.
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Add items such as text, video, images or interactive widgets which
can contain multiple images for example in one scrolling window on
the page.
Shown above are sample pages. The page on the left contains a sound file that was
imported. The page on the right contains an interactive “widget” – an image box that you
can drag and drop multiple images into. Swiping or using arrow keys in the widget scroll
from image to image within the window.
Creating a Switch Accessible eBook for iPad
“Scene & Heard” and “Tap Speak Sequence” (found on the iTunes app store) are both
switch accessible apps for the iPad. Using them you can create a switch accessible
book with recorded sound, images and text. Scene & Heard can also import and play
video.
To create a book using Tap Speak Sequence the pages must be an image that you can
import into the program. Using a screen capture utility it is easy to create the pages in a
word processing program, then capture the page as a jpeg image. Import the captured
page “images” into the iPhoto library on the iPad. There you will be able to access them
when creating what is referred to as a New Sequence – a sequence of pages or scenes
– in Tap Speak Sequence. Documentation and directions can be found at
http://conleysolutions.com/wordpress/
on working with images.
Dan Herlihy dherlihy@juno.com
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With Scene & Heard you can create a sequence of pages, add or record sound files,
import images, or use the camera in the iPad 2 to take pictures. You can also import
video and have text or symbols displayed on each page. You assemble the pages as
scenes which you link together, by starting with a new scene, importing an image, give
the page a name, adding the scene (page) actions such as playing a sound, displaying
text, etc. saving, creating a new scene. Pages are then linked together by creating a
hotspot on the page that links to the next page.
Creating an epub Book from Web Pages
A free Firefox extension called GrabMyBooks allows you to “grab”
web pages and convert them to epub format on the fly. The
GrabMyBooks extension is added to the Firefox toolbar where you
choose the “My book” icon to access the menu – choosing “My
book” to capture the web page. http://www.grabmybooks.com/
These pages can be imported onto the Nook.
Sharing and Viewing eBooks
Shown here is a view of the listing of programs on my iPad that
can import or export PDF, epub, Daisy or TXT books. To import
your own book onto an iPad or iPod, into an app that supports
the file format that you have created it in, first sync the device
to your computer. Make sure your device is selected on the left
side menu in iTunes under the Device section.
Select the Apps menu at the top of the screen. Using the right
scroll bar, scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see
the File Sharing list of apps.
Select the app from the list that you wish to
import a book into. Choose the Add button,
search your computer for the file and click
Open to import it into the list.
Sync your device. The file should now be in the
program.
To import an eBook into iBooks
iBooks can import PDF and ePub files into the iBooks bookshelf on the iPad. When
importing PDF files text cannot be selected and spoken (read aloud) as the text on the
page is viewed more as an image then text by the program. eBooks created with iBooks
Author can be exported then imported into iBooks via the process described in the
following paragraph. eBooks created with iBook Creator, Book Creator, Scribble Press
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or eBook Magic on the iPad can be exported from those apps directly into iBooks, and
the text can be selected for playback.
To import a PDF or epub file into iBook
open iTunes, choose Books from the menu
on the upper left, choose File, Add File to
Library, search for the PDF file and choose
Open. This will import the file into the
Books section. When you sync your device
with the computer the book will be imported
into iBooks.
Readers, eBook Readers and Story Creation apps
A reader or eBook Reader is basically a program that can open and display you file or
book. Some have text to speech capability, some cannot display images, some can
open PDF files, while others can only open specific file formats.
As you create your own books and open them in various readers you will notice a big
discrepancy in how the book looks from program to program. Some programs will keep
intact the formatting of each page, while opening up the same book in another program
might display the first 30 lines of the text on page 1, then display the rest of the text on
the next page completely altering the formatting. Nothing you did wrong, just how that
particular program handles the file format that you had saved the book in!
eBook and PDF Readers
iBooks (free) – eBook viewer, will play audio that you have embedded when
creating/converting the ePub file format ebooks, can import ebooks by adding books
through iTunes menus when connected to computer or Dropbox, can select text in ePub
format books to be read aloud.
Perfect Reader (free) – imports your own or downloaded PDF files. Reads text aloud
but in reading mode strips out images. Voice is not a high quality voice.
vBookz (2.99) – can import your own ePub eBooks that are text based only – does not
import images, ability to change font size, background, text color, reads aloud with high
quality Acapela voice – male or female, adjust reading speed, does not play embedded
audio.
vBookz PDF (4.99) – import and reads aloud PDF files highlighting word by word,
choose male or female voice
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ezPDFReader (2.99) – opens PDF files and can playback sound files that have been
embedded using Adobe Acrobat Professional, books can contain images, forms, video,
audio, does not import ePub format books.
Stanza (free) – eBook viewer – view ePub files, PDF files, no reading voices, doesn’t
play embedded sound files. ePub books created from websites using GrabMyBooks
look great. http://www.grabmybooks.com/
Bookster (free) – free children’s books that read aloud – students can record
themselves reading the text.
Free Books (free) – download over 24,000 public domain books in text format and
audio books as well. Ability to import your own ebooks (epub) stored on a Dropbox
account from within the program, books do not read aloud but you are able to change
the font size to adjust formatting. Imports epub books created using GrabMyBooks.
DocStorm (free) – can open PDF, TXT and epub files, does not playback sound files
embedded by Adobe Acrobat Professional. It can play back sound files embedded when
creating an epub book with epubub, but when doing this the page size becomes smaller
and you cannot resize page. Open website pages that have been downloaded as an
epub book using the free Firefox extension GrabMyBooks.
Read2Go – (19.99) Daisy formatted books (can’t contain images), reads text
highlighting word by word, downloaded Bookshare books (need subscription) and also
books downloaded into the program from public domain sites such as Project
Guttenberg. Can only import your own books that are in Daisy format.
Voice Reader Text to Speech (1.99) reads aloud PDF files, if images are in document
strips out any images and formatting from the file when reading, excellent voice. I would
create text only PDF versions of free eBooks and open in here to have read. Device
must be connected to the internet for it to read aloud as it creates sound files on the fly.
SpeakText for eBook (free or 16.99 w/out ads) – reads text highlighting sentence at a
time. Plays back sound files embedded) on the page using Book Creator for the iPad
app by choosing the speaker icon of that the sound file. Import PDF, HTML, epub
formats via File Sharing/Apps in iTunes – add files to App.
eBook Reader (free) – download free classics
GoodReader – Opens eBooks saved as PDF, does not play audio files.
Kindle – requires Amazon account, read purchased Kindle books
Nook for iPad – requires a Barnes and Noble Account – more than 500,000 free books
Audiobooks (free) – download and listen to over 3,5000 free Project Guttenberg audio
books.
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Other Solutions & Options
Adobe Acrobat Reader – the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac & PC will read aloud
text in a PDF document by choosing the View menu, Read Out Loud, then choose
Activate Read Out Loud. You can choose which installed voice on your computer to use
for reading.
Read and Write Web App www.texthelp.com
– reads files, highlighting word by word,
that can be opened in a web browser on the iPad.
Converting a PDF to MOBI format for Kindle - http://www.pdftokindle.com/
Importing any eBook onto a Kindle – converting from epub to MOBI format
http://www.thehowtosource.com/2011/07/09/put-any-ebook-onto-your-kindle/
Saving web pages as an epub file which can be opened in many of the readers listed
above as well as importing onto a Nook. http://www.grabmybooks.com/
- free Firefox
browser extension.
Higher end eBook creation for iPad online – 1.99 per book http://www.blurb.com/
Free online eBook converter – convert PDF files to multiple book formats
http://ebook.online-convert.com/convert-to-epub
eBook Reader
Name
Read Text
Play Audio
Play Video
File formats
Accepted
iBooks
X
X
X
iBooks Author,
ePub, PDF
Perfect Reader
X
PDF
vBookz
X
PDF
vBookz PDF
X
PDF
ezPDFReader
X
PDF
Stanza
ePub, PDF
Bookster
X
downloads
Free Books
X
downloads
DocStorm
X
PDF, TXT,
ePub
Read2Go
X
Daisy
Voice Reader
Text to Speech
X
TXT, PDF
SpeakText for
eBook
X
PDF, HTML,
ePub
eBook Reader
ePub
GoodReader
PDF
Audiobooks
X
downloads
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Creating an ebook
Using Adobe Acrobat Professional to Attach Sound Files to Text
Dan Herlihy
1. Create the file in a word processing program such as MS Word.
a. Add images, layout the pages
2. Save the file as a PDF file.
3. Using a sound recording application such as Audacity
(http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
) record and save MP3 or WAV files for each
block of text.
a. This can be for each line, a sentence if it is isolated on the page as
opposed to inside a paragraph, or a paragraph.
4. Open the PDF file created in Acrobat
Professional.
5. Choose the Tools menu, Advanced Editing,
Sound Tool.
6. Draw a box around, or to the left of the text that you wish to attach a sound file to.
Which you choose to do depends on the reader you will use. For example the
ezPDF Reader iPad app will display a sound icon in the box you create to the
left. Taping it will open the sound playback bar. For other readers drawing a box
around the text might better indicate for the user that tapping it would play back
sound.
7. In the window that opens after drawing the box
choose the Browse button, search your computer,
select your recorded sound file and click Select.
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8. In the drop down menu next to Content
Type choose the type of file you have
attached, click OK.
9. The red border in the two images below shows that the file has been attached to
the document. Double clicking on it will play the file.
10. To hide the border around the text choose the Select
Object Tool from the Tools menu and double click on the
text you have attached the sound file to. The Multimedia
Properties window opens. Choose the Appearance tab
and in the Border drop down list choose Invisible
Rectangle, click Close.
11. When you save the file there will
not be a visible border around the
text cueing that there is a sound file attached, but the sound file will play when
the text is double clicked on.
This file could now be opened in the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader on a Mac or
PC. The sound files will play when the text is double clicked on. If you import the file into
an iPad app such as “ezPDF Reader for iPad” ($2.99) the embedded sound files will
play when tapped on.
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Using CAST Book Builder
Http://bookbuilder.cast.org
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The CAST Book Builder is a free online program that allows you to create eBooks that
can be accessed on the web, downloaded and opened on a computer in a web browser
– you are not required to be online as the browser is only opening the file – printed, and
also saved as a PDF file from your web browser. PDF files can be imported into iBooks
on an iPad.
You can import images, text import or record sound files. Books download as a HTML
file or printed. Books containing images and sound cannot be created from an iPad, but
text can be added and finished on a computer later.
Add images, text, import or record audio.
View online or
download and open
in any web browser.
Recorded or
imported sounds
will play.
Use Tab and Enter
commands for
switch access.
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