Operation and Production of Instructional System/Technology (EDUC 535)
Page 1 of 6
THE e-BOOK COURSE MATERIAL
PRODUCTION AS A COMPONENT OF
THE INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM
An electronic book (variously, e-book, ebook, digital book, or even e-edition) is a book-length
publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published
through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a
conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital. The Oxford Dictionary of English
defines the e-book as "an electronic version of a printed book," but e-books can and do exist
without any printed equivalent. E-books are usually read on dedicated e-book readers or tablets
using e-reader applications. Personal computers, many mobile phones, and nearly all
smartphones can also be used to read e-books.
Some of the advantages of having an e-book are timely and cost efficient distribution; the ability
to search and interact with the text easily; and widespread accessibility through the Internet.
With a desktop PC, the e-book is not as portable as its print counterpart, but with technological
developments resulting in increasingly lightweight computers this is changing. Some of these
advantages can be obtained, when using e-books with other types of hardware, through the use
of special reader software.
Some e-books are produced simultaneously with the production of a printed format, as
described in electronic publishing, though in many instances they may not be put on sale until
later. Often, e-books are produced from pre-existing hard-copy books, generally by document
scanning, sometimes with the use of robotic book scanners, having the technology to quickly
scan books without damaging the original print edition. Scanning a book produces a set of
image files, which may additionally be converted into text format by an OCR program.
Occasionally, as in some e-text projects, a book may be produced by re-entering the text from a
keyboard.
As a newer development, sometimes only the electronic version of a book is produced by the
publisher. It is even possible to release an e-book chapter by chapter as each chapter is written.
This is useful in fields such as information technology where topics can change quickly in the
months that it takes to write a typical book. It is also possible to convert an electronic book to a
printed book by print on demand. However these are exceptions as tradition dictates that a book
should be launched in the print format and later if the author wishes an electronic version is
produced.
Operation and Production of Instructional System/Technology (EDUC 535)
Page 2 of 6
Electronic Publishing
Electronic publishing (also referred to as ePublishing or digital publishing) includes the digital
publication of e-books, EPUBs, and electronic articles, and the development of digital libraries
and catalogues. Electronic publishing has become common in scientific publishing where it has
been argued that peer-reviewed scientific journals are in the process of being replaced by
electronic publishing. It is also becoming common to distribute books, magazines, and
newspapers to consumers through tablet reading devices, a market that is growing by millions
each year, generated by online vendors such as Apple's iTunes bookstore, Amazon's bookstore
for Kindle, and books in the Android Market. Market research suggests that half of all magazine
and newspaper circulation will be via digital delivery by the end of 2015 and that half of all
reading in the United States will be done without paper by 2015. Although distribution via the
Internet (also known as online publishing or web publishing when in the form of a website) is
nowadays strongly associated with electronic publishing, there are many non-network electronic
publications such as Encyclopedias on CD and DVD, as well as technical and reference
publications relied on by mobile users and others without reliable and high speed access to a
network. Electronic publishing is also being used in the field of test-preparation in developed as
well as in developing economies for student education (thus partly replacing conventional
books) - for it enables content and analytics combined - for the benefit of students. The use of
electronic publishing for textbooks may become more prevalent with iBooks from Apple Inc. and
Apple's negotiation with the three largest textbook suppliers in the U.S.
While the term "electronic publishing" is primarily used today to refer to the current offerings of
online and web-based publishers, the term has a history of being used to describe the
development of new forms of production, distribution, and user interaction in regard to
computer-based production of text and other interactive media.
The electronic publishing process follows a traditional publishing process but differs from
traditional publishing in two ways: 1) it does not include using an offset printing press to print the
final product and 2) it avoids the distribution of a physical product. Because the content is
electronic, it may be distributed over the Internet and through electronic bookstores. The
consumer may read the published content on a website, in an application on a tablet device, or
in a PDF on a computer. In some cases the reader may print the content using a consumergrade ink-jet or laser printer or via a print on demand system.
Desktop Author
Desktop Author is one of the electronic publishing software that allows you to create 3d page
turning ebooks. DNL ebooks are any type of e-publication including e-brochures, e-books,
digital photo albums, e-cards, digital diaries, online resumes, quizzes, exams, tests, forms and
surveys.
Operation and Production of Instructional System/Technology (EDUC 535)
Page 3 of 6
DNL ebooks can be presented in a stand-alone format or you can easily present your ebooks as
web pages with no need for HTML, ASP or other programming knowledge. When you present
your digital web books as web pages the end user can detach them and turn them into standalone eBooks.
The following are the popular features of the Desktop Author:
 Produce small yet attractive file size publications and display them as stand-alone or view
them inside a browser.
 Limitless pages with a single paste! Flow text through multiple pages and between text
boxes, to make even the lengthiest eBooks in minutes. Perfect for magazine publishing.
 Text box layout tool alows you to set up your page text layout in any way you like.
 Includes a Publish to Web and a built-in FTP upload.
 Make any shape book or pages for that extra impact.
 The All-in-one DRM (Digital Rights Management) and Payment Gateway - preset the
amount of free pages the end user is able to view - then set the DNL DRM solution to launch
the DRM Payment Gateway to unlock the rest of the eBook, the eBook is unlocked only on
the PC the purchase is made. The activation is only valid on the PC the purchase was made
on.
 You can now create your own messages for emails sent from within the the send mail
feature. This will allow you personalize the message others will read when your digital web
book spreads to new users.
 Editable image function in DeskTop Author Version 4 gives you the ability to easily create
digital photo albums which users can insert images into.
 Multi Media - embed and or stream Video and Flash, stream MP3.
 Image Pop Up
 The canvas includes Guide lines, exterior working canvas area, and pixel ruler.
 Easy Quiz/Test/Forms and Survey creation with DeskTop Author's own amazing Eazy
Forms tool.
 Hundreds of pre-made templates - includes 500+ individual pages, 100 + buttons and
dividers and pre-made shaped books.
 Internal Image Editor and Image Manipulator.
 Cut and paste and Drag and Drop features, including an Image Browser.
 WYSIWYG page creation and editing.
 Background setting feature.
 Hotlink to pages, web sites, movies and sound, as well as email and even other files.
 Set auto page turn for trade show or in-store presentations, allows for individual page turn
settings and individual page turn timing.
 Specify one of 6 page transitions - three 3D page turn modes, turn, wipe and slide.
 Digital Web Book file sizes are small, easily distributed by email, download or on floppy/CD.
 Share your digital web books with friends, family, colleagues or customers with an internal
Send to Friend function or sell the eBooks you create.
 Allow users to print pages or disable the print function.
 Password protect your Digital Web Books.
Operation and Production of Instructional System/Technology (EDUC 535)

Page 4 of 6
Suitable for all Windows-based PC's.
Producing an e-book using Desktop Author
Like all resources, an e-book requires appropriate design for its medium, both at the
presentation level and at the structural level. Designing an e-book requires careful consideration
of the key principles of both traditional print book design principles and emerging digital design
principles, for desktop, mobile and e-book specific devices.
The following explain how to insert templates, images, text, links, and how to save and package
a DNL e-Book:
Creating a New Digital Web Book
1. To begin with, click on the “New” button. This will bring up the “Book Properties” box.
2. Next, you will need to select the size of your DigitalWebBook by adjusting the “width” and
“height” fields. Typically the best size is under 800 x 600 pixels as over 98% of computer
screens are set to a resolution equal or higher than 800x600.
3. To begin working on your first DigitalWebBook, press “OK”. This will bring up the “Work
Area” box.
Inserting Templates
1. To insert a template, click on the “Template” button. This will pop up the “Template
Selection” box.
2. By scrolling up and down, select from the variety of templates available within PageAuthor
by clicking on the template of your choice. Please note the template “must be highlighted in
blue” in order for it to be selected.
3. Next click on the “Use” button. This will insert the template into the “Work Area” box.
Inserting Images
1. To insert an image, simply click on the “Insert Image” button on the tools box.
2. Locate the image you wish to use on your hard drive, select the image then click the “Open”
button. The image will now show up within your “Work Area” box.
Transparency
1. To initiate the transparency feature, right mouse click on the image.
2. A menu will pop up, select “Change Transparency”. This will pop up a transparency settings
window.
3. In the “Transparency Settings” window, select transparent. Then click on the “Select
Transparent Colour” button.
4. The “Colour Selection Box” will pop up. Here you need to select the colour you wish to make
transparent. If the colour is a basic colour such as white you can simply select it from the
“Basic Colour Pallet”. However, if the colour you wish to make transparent is not available
Operation and Production of Instructional System/Technology (EDUC 535)
Page 5 of 6
from the “Basic Colour Pallet”, you will need to know the RGB (Red:Green: Blue) values. To
determine the RGB values, you can use the “color picker” to identify the colour, then click
“Add to Custom Colours”. Once done select OK in the Colour Selection box then OK again
in the “Transparency Setting” window. You image will now loose the colour you wanted
make transparent.
Inserting Text
1. To launch the “Text Editor” window, click on the “Insert Text” button in the “Tools” box.
2. In the white area you can type in your text or copy and paste the text from other
applications.
3. You may also format your text within the “Text Editor” by choosing to make your text Bold or
Italic, resizing your text or choosing from a selection of web safe fonts.
4. One you are happy with your selection, click OK and the text will appear in your “Work Area”
box.
Linking Text
1. To link text, open up the “Text Editor” by double clicking on the text you wish to link. In the
Text Editor, select the text you wish to link. Please be sure not to select spaces before or
after the text you wish to link.
2. Click on the “Link” button, which will bring up the “Link Editor”. Select the type of link you
wish to use. In this example, we will the text to a website. From the “Link Type” drop down
menu in the Link Editor, select “Web”, then I the “Link Target” field, type in the web address.
Click OK in the Link Editor to confirm your choice.
3. At this time the text you have selected should have a strikethrough effect in the Text Editor.
Click OK in the Text Editor to confirm your selection. When you package the book the text
will raise on a mouse over on a click it will open a browser and take you to the website you
have specified.
Linking Images
1. Select the image you wish to link, then click on the “Change Link” button in the “Tools” box.
2. The “Link Editor” will pop up with the same choice of links as for linking text. Let’s select
“Send Mail” from the drop down menu.
3. Selecting send mail will allow the end user of your DidigitalWebBook to pass the publication
onto others via email simply by clicking on the linked image within the DigitalWebBook.
4. Click OK. Your image is now linked to send the DigitalWebBook you are making to a person
of your end users choice.
Saving a Digital Web Book
1. To save a DigitalWebBook, simply click on the “Save” button on the “Shortcut” menu on the
top.
2. Save it in a folder of your choice. It’s best to always create a new folder for each new
DigitalWebBook you create.
Operation and Production of Instructional System/Technology (EDUC 535)
Page 6 of 6
Packaging a Digital Web Book
1. There are two ways to package a Digital Web Book:
a. Packaging EXE will allow you to share your work with others without a Reader being
installed on the end users PC. To do this, click on the “Package EXE” button in the
“Shortcut” menu.
b. Packaging DNL will allow for smaller file size documents and safer delivery. It
requires the end user to install a DNL Reader in order to be able to view it. To do
this, click on the “Package DNL” button in the “Shortcut” menu.
2. The book will now begin the packaging process. Once finished it will show up on the screen
ready for use. You can always re-launch the saved .dnl and .exe files by going to the folder
that you saved the Digital Web Book in and looking for the .exe file or the .dnl file.
References:
http://www.desktopauthor.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book
http://libres.curtin.edu.au/libres12n2/ebooks.htm
http://alistapart.com/article/ebookstandards