SfC Home > Entrepreneurship > Publishing >
Explanation of Converting Content to Amazon Kindle Format by Ron Kurtus - Succeed as an Independent Publisher: From Self-Publishing to Global Publishing. Also refer to ebooks, MobiPocket Creator, Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, HTML, KindleGen, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Converting Content to Amazon Kindle Format
by Ron Kurtus (revised 12 July 2011)
There are several ways that you can convert your manuscript content to the Amazon Kindle e-reader format. Each depends on what your content was written in.
If you formatted your content in Microsoft Word, you can use MobiPocket Creator to convert your files. If your book has been formatted for print in Adobe InDesign, you can use the Kindle Plugin for InDesign. If your book has been formatted in HTML, you can use Amazon's KindleGen software to covert the files.
Note that you can also use a professional conversion service to convert your content into the Kindle format.
Questions you may have include:
- How does MobiPocket Creator work?
- How does Kindle Plugin for InDesign work?
- How does KindleGen software work?
This lesson will answer those questions.
MobiPocket Creator
MobiPocket Creator is an application that will convert your HTML, Word, TXT or PDF files into the MOBI format used in the Kindle. You can download the software from MobiPocket.
Although, you can view the file with the Mobipocket Reader, a more accurate view is through the Kindle Previewer, which is a tool which emulates how a book displays on the Kindle device.
You can then edit your original files before uploading the MOBI or PRC file to Kindle Direct Publishing for sale on Amazon.
Kindle Plugin for InDesign
Kindle Plugin for Adobe InDesign is a plug-in which can be used to convert documents or books created in Adobe InDesign to Kindle format. You can download the plugin from Amazon.
Typically, you copy your hardcopy files to a separate folder and make adjustments to make sure the output looks good in the Kindle. Then you select Convert to Kindle on your InDesign book menu to make the Kindle version as a MOBI file.
(See Kindle Plugin for Adobe InDesign for more information.)
KindleGen software
KindleGen is a free software application you can use to convert HTML, XHTML, XML or ePub source files into a Kindle Book. It is the only tool officially supported by Amazon to convert files to the Kindle format.
(See Kindle Generator Tool for more information.)
Summary
If you formatted your content in Microsoft Word, you can use MobiPocket Creator to convert your manuscript content to the Amazon Kindle e-reader format. If your book has been formatted for print in Adobe InDesign, you can use the Kindle Plugin for InDesign. If your book has been formatted in HTML, you can use Amazon's KindleGen software to covert the files.
You can also use a professional conversion service to convert your content into the Kindle format.
Use tools to achieve your goals
Resources and references
The following resources provide information on this subject:
Websites
Books
Top-rated
books on Self-Publishing
What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Share link
Click on a button to share the link for this page:
Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.
Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is:
www.school-for-champions.com/publishing/converting_to_kindle_format.htm
Please include it as a link on your website or as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.
Where are you now?
Converting Content to Amazon Kindle Format