Using OpenOffice for All Electronic + Print Book Publishing

[DrVi]

As a new publisher / self-publishing author, I have used OpenOffice successfully to publish electronic versions on Amazon KDP and Smashwords last month AND all print versions on Blurb (before the end of this month I hope after I figure out a few errors).

OpenOffice has helped me to save tons of ebook formatting costs (hundreds of $$$$$) though it took me a long time and lots of energy to figure out how...

Because my book and study guides (How to Speak and Write Correctly) have lots of tables, bullets and lists... and different languages (from Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali to Chinese Simplified / Traditional, Japanese, French, Dutch, Irish.... to Russian, Portuguese to Spanish), some of the ebook and print book formats just didn't work for kindle and epub formats. I had to...

1)‎ For Amazon Kindle, I had to write in OpenWriter and use Alkinea (http://soft.alkinea.net/) to convert OpenOffice formats to Kindle and epub, but it won't work for bullets and tables. So, I used PDF files with the latest Amazon Kindle Textbook Creator to do that in Macbook (OS 10.9) instead of my PC (Window XP) because only latest operating systems (Mac OS 10 and above, Window 7 or 8 )are supported.

2) For Smashwords, I had to convert from OpenOffice to ePub using Alkinea and modify ePub file in Calibre (http://calibre-ebook.com/) to fix all errors one a time. Some HTML skills will be required, but it's worth it to learn by trial and error. Then, use the online epub error check (http://validator.idpf.org/) to confirm all clear and good.

3) For Blurb (PRINT-on-demand), I can use their tool BookWright, but it would take me too long and too much work to fix every bullet perfectly in the Study Guide for all 17 language copies. So, I opt for PDF upload. I tried to create OpenOffice Writer (for text) and OpenOffice Draw (for cover design), but with their auto PDF check I got errors for trim and margins.

I have tried to reset margin to points, instead of inches. Check all the specific dimensions in points using the PDF upload specifications on Blurb (after login). I think it will work out better... I will know later this week after I also have the cover redo and try to upload again. In the first round, the cover in PDF was giving me low resolution and trim size errors on Blurb.

In any case, I love OpenOffice. Please keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Vivian

[John_Ha]

In the first round, the cover in PDF was giving me low resolution

Check File > Export as PDF > General. Do not reduce the image resolution - untick Reduce image resolution. Also make sure that Lossless is ticked otherwise all images are compressed and saved as JPG files which blurs text badly.

Image settings are always something of a compromise because they apply to the whole PDF whereas you really want graphics to be uncompressed PNG files, and photos to be compressed JPG files and you cannot do this. It sometimes helps to split off, say, the cover as a separate odt file and create a PDF of the cover alone. Now use PDFSam to merge the cover and the rest of the book.

[DrVi]

Oh, ic. I was trying to reduce image to 1200 dpi, instead of untick that Reduce Image box. I should try that.

Do you know if there is any way to create PRINT BOOK cover with Spin measurements?

Also, I am really having trouble with all the TRIM size / MARGIN size issues when I export them to PDF and try to upload them to Blurb. Any comment, advice, help or assistance is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Vivian

[John_Ha]

Do you know if there is any way to create PRINT BOOK cover with Spin measurements?

Sorry, I don't.

Also, I am really having trouble with all the TRIM size / MARGIN size issues when I export them to PDF and try to upload them to Blurb. Any comment, advice, help or assistance is much appreciated.

Again, I cannot be any help other than suggesting you search the forum with trim and epub as there have been a number of posts about it. Googling may well help as other people are using Writer for epubs.

[DrVi]

The funniest part of searching google is that I am getting this post back at the TOP of the search engine list.

[John_Ha]

The funniest part of searching google is that I am getting this post back at the TOP of the search engine list.

Google must have changed its sort algorithm so as to put high quality pages at the top

I did actually test the google search before recommending it and your post was at the top then. I once posted on the Firefox forum and Google had found the post only 20 minutes after I posted.

[RoryOF]

For some reason this forum usually has at least two or three search engines crawling it.

Apropos of crop marks, the way that might be possible is to use the book page-sized frame on a larger page with crop marks added. Insert each page into the frame.

Edit: Just checked - three search engines currently on the site

[John_Ha]

Apropos of crop marks

You reminded me - this post [Solved] Cut mark has a suggestion ...

[acknak]

It would be nice if OO could handle this directly, and you can certainly add graphics to include crop marks, but I would suggest handling it as a postprocessing step. Generate the pdf from OO, then use some other pdf processing tool to add the extra margins and drop marks around each page. I believe Adobe software can do this, and I expect there are others as well.

[DrVi]

I thought you guys will like to see this page from Blurb as your future reference of making Writer (for ebook and print book text) and Draw (for cover design) more efficiently. Thanks a lot.
https://blurb.zendesk.com/entries/62560200

Cheers,
Vivian

PS: I don't think I am the first one encountering the problems about making ebook and print book trim / margin sizes and book cover, exporting from OO to PDF. However, it seems like I am the only one posting it on the Internet when every time I did a search on Google -- I found my own postings here.

[DrVi]

Today, I got an update from Blurb Technical Support:

"Unfortunately, you will be unable to resolve the TrimBox errors you are receiving when using OpenOffice. The reason for this is because the preflight uses a PDF standard called a TrimBox. It detects the trim area designated in the file itself. OpenOffice does not create this type of box in the PDF when it is rendered.

However, as long as your final exported PDF size is correct you can ignore the errors and have the uploader autocorrect the error without affecting your actual book, since the detection is solely to check your file and doesn't affect where the pages are actually trimmed."

Now, I guess the new issue is how to get passed Blurb's PDF check online and still have the book listed for published in PRINT. More to update later...

[John_Ha]

Thanks for the update.

One thought - there are a number of "virtual printers" (eg PrimoPDF, NitroPDF) which install on a PC just like a printer but, when you send something to them to be printed, they produce a PDF file. If you are very lucky, one might have the Trimbox capability.

[DrVi]

Here is a quick update on how I am doing on the PRINT books on Blurb.ca:

-- I got a graphic designer to create my covers to ensure that all are in high quality PDF based on spec
-- I created all text files into PDFs... though without the trim, the "Autovette or Autocorrect" function on Blurb will make the PDF ready.
-- Make sure that you Preview the files. Since I have 17 different languages, some Asian characters just won't show up properly in Preview.

I am trying to trust those PDF that I created from OpenOffice and just ordered the book proofs. Once I receive them, I will be able to tell the actual print quality.

For my E-Books on Smashwords, I have finally fixed all the language problem because Smashwords will only allow one language selection and I have two languages in each book (bilingual). So, at first, I chose all in the foreign language and Apple iBooks gave me a very hard time for weeks, asking me to translate all book titles and description. Therefore, it's best to just click "ENGLISH" and have the TAG with foreign language for quick search. Now, I have closed all the open tickets after weeks of battles, talking to all the customer service reps there.

On Amazon KDP, their BookShelf layout is very silly, you can't view the full book titles (if you have a long one like me). So, you have to be creative by checking the Assigned number or by search. It's very inconvenient, but hopefully, they will change that.

One of my saved WORD file just crashed my OpenOffice system so I need to reinstall all and get the new version now.

[DrVi]

Hi all, here is just a quick update on my publishing projects, staring with OpenOffice.

After months of struggling through the technical issues in different formals and platforms.

For example,
-- Kindle Textbook Creator has new version 2.0... and the new version didn't allow me to modify and edit my first version 1.0 files. So, I had to redo them all from scratch with the new TOC tagging function for all the pages.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... vian+w+lee

-- Smashwords requires all ebooks epub3 ready... remember to check formats in to get listed Premium Catalogue. If you are not living in USA, you will need to send W-8Ben form. If you are a publisher, you need to apply for EIN. Otherwise, 30% of your royalties will be withholded.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/globalmcn

The GOOD news is that Amazon has changed its bookshelf layout to be very user-friendly. The BAD news is that Amazon KDP is still changing every ebook delivery fee (I hope there is a way for OpenOffice to compress files).

YES, my ebooks are finally and officially sold in 16+ languages through many online ebook channels and my direct Blurb bookstore. I am surprised that I had a lot of views "reads" from Scribd https://www.scribd.com/vivian0w0lee.

http://globalmcn.com/how-to-speak-and-w ... ectly.html

When you see your ebooks listed in these online ebook channels, it's time to celebrate a little and tackle the next publishing project.