Re: Creating files for a Kindle

[Alan L Tyree <alantyree@gmail.com>]

On Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:48:05 +0000
Graham Smith <myotistwo@gmail.com> wrote:

> Does anyone by chance use orgmode to create files for a Kindle?
> 
> If you do I would appreciate some helpful hints or ideas on how you
> approach it.
> 
> The Kindle file format is apparently modified HTML, but the guidance
> I have found seems to revolve around creating files in MSWord and
> then converting to Kindle by uploading to Amazon OR using Calibre to
> convert PDFs to Kindle. There is also a Mobi publisher that will
> convert files to Kindle, but its Windows only.
> 
> The problem I have had, is that PDFs converted to Kindle lose a lot of
> formatting, including tables.
> 
> The Kindle is a great bit of kit for reading documents (far better
> than a computer screen) and the free mobile phone connection makes it
> easy to check email etc, as well as browse the web at no cost. I'm
> much more impressed than I expected to be.
> 
> I am slowly transferring a pile of paper documents/reference material
> onto it, but I am having problems producing documents that take full
> advantage of the Kindle features.  You can upload PDFs directly  but
> as native PDFs they aren't as user friendly as proper Kindle
> formatted flles.
> 
> My guess is that orgmode files exported as HTML and then converted to
> Kindle may be the way to go, but, as I said, I  would be interested
> if anyone has already established a work flow for this.

I have used org to create ePub format by exporting to xhtml then using
Sigil to complete the task. I would then use Calibre to convert from
ePub to Kindle format. 

There are lots of instructions on the Web for building ePub directly
from the xhtml file if you don't want to install Sigil, but I have
found Sigil to be an easy to use program for making the ePub.

HTH,
Alan



> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Graham


-- 
Alan L Tyree                    http://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan
Tel:  04 2748 6206