How to Get the Most from eTextWizard Standard EditioneTextWizard Standard Edition is a versatile tool for creating, converting, and managing electronic texts — ebooks, course materials, documentation, and accessible content. This guide walks through the features, best practices, workflows, and troubleshooting tips to help you get the most value from the Standard Edition, whether you’re a content creator, instructional designer, librarian, or small publisher.
What eTextWizard Standard Edition does best
- Converts between common ebook formats (EPUB, MOBI/AZW3, PDF, and plain HTML), preserving structure and metadata.
- Authors and edits structured content using templates and a WYSIWYG editor with support for headings, lists, tables, images, and footnotes.
- Generates accessible output by providing tools for semantic tagging, alt text enforcement, and accessibility reports.
- Manages metadata and ISBNs, making it easier to publish and distribute.
- Offers batch processing to handle larger projects or series efficiently.
Planning your project
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Define your target formats and platforms
- Choose formats based on where you’ll distribute: EPUB for most ebook stores and devices, MOBI/AZW3 for older Kindle formats, PDF for printable layouts.
- If accessibility or reflowable content is important, prioritize EPUB and the built-in accessibility checks.
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Gather and organize source materials
- Keep a clean folder structure: /images, /chapters, /styles, /metadata.
- Use consistent file naming and a single master document (or clearly numbered chapter files) to avoid import issues.
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Set goals for readability and accessibility
- Decide whether you need fixed-layout elements (e.g., richly designed textbooks) or reflowable text for reading devices.
- Aim for semantic heading structure (H1–H3), descriptive alt text for images, and properly labeled tables.
Authoring tips to avoid common pitfalls
- Use the built-in templates as a starting point. They save time and reduce formatting mistakes.
- Keep styling semantic rather than “visual-only.” Instead of manually setting fonts and sizes, use style presets (Heading, Subheading, Body) so exported ebooks maintain consistent structure.
- Insert images at the appropriate resolution: 72–150 DPI for screen, higher for printable PDFs. Optimize images to reduce file size without visible quality loss (use JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency).
- When copying from Word or Google Docs, paste into the plain-text editor first or use the “clean formatting” option to avoid carrying over problematic inline styles.
Metadata and distribution
- Fill out all metadata fields: title, author, publisher, language, publication date, ISBN. Complete metadata improves discoverability.
- Use relevant keywords and a concise description for store listings.
- For ISBN handling, eTextWizard can embed ISBNs and export metadata in ONIX-compatible formats for publishers.
Accessibility best practices
- Use heading levels in proper order; skip no levels (don’t jump from H1 to H4).
- Always provide alt text for images; for decorative images, mark them as decorative so screen readers skip them.
- Provide descriptive captions for complex tables and use table headers (th) for assistive technologies.
- Run the accessibility checker built into eTextWizard and address warnings before exporting.
Advanced formatting and layout strategies
- For reflowable EPUBs, rely on CSS and relative spacing rather than absolute positioning. This ensures content adapts to different screen sizes.
- For fixed-layout books (children’s picture books, graphic novels), use the fixed-layout export and supply high-resolution images sized to the target device resolution.
- Use internal linking for navigation: a linked table of contents, footnote/backlinking, and cross-references increase usability.
- Embed fonts only when necessary and when license permits; embedding increases file size but ensures typographic consistency.
Batch processing and templates
- Use batch import/export when producing series or course modules. Name files consistently (e.g., Module01_Title.epub) to automate workflows.
- Create custom templates for recurring projects (newsletter series, textbook chapters) including pre-filled metadata, styles, and placeholders.
- Save export presets for different distribution channels (store-ready EPUB, archival PDF, accessible EPUB).
Quality assurance and testing
- Preview on multiple devices and readers: a desktop EPUB reader (e.g., Calibre), mobile devices, and dedicated e-readers (Kindle, Kobo). Visual checks catch issues automated tests miss.
- Validate EPUB files with the built-in validator and consider running EPUBCheck separately for compatibility.
- Test accessibility using screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver) to ensure navigation and alt text behave as intended.
- Check internal links (TOC, footnotes) and table of contents accuracy after export.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Broken formatting after import: clean source text and reapply semantic styles.
- Large file sizes: optimize images, remove unused fonts, and avoid embedding large multimedia unless necessary.
- Missing metadata in stores: ensure metadata fields are filled and exported correctly (ONIX or embedded metadata).
- Inconsistent TOC or navigation: rebuild the TOC from heading structure rather than manual entries.
Integrations and workflows
- Pair eTextWizard with a version-control system (Git) for collaborative writing—store source chapter files and templates in a repo.
- Use cloud storage or shared network drives for assets to enable team access while keeping master files centralized.
- Export intermediate HTML to allow web-based previews or integration with a CMS.
Security and backups
- Keep regular backups of source files and templates. Use automated backups or scheduled exports.
- For sensitive drafts, store files in encrypted containers or password-protected cloud folders.
- Track versions so you can revert changes if an export or conversion introduced errors.
Workflow example: From manuscript to store-ready EPUB
- Import manuscript into eTextWizard (clean formatting).
- Apply template and semantic styles; add headings, images, and captions.
- Fill metadata, ISBN, keywords, and description.
- Run accessibility and validation checks; fix warnings.
- Export as EPUB with chosen preset; validate with EPUBCheck or built-in validator.
- Preview on multiple readers; fix layout issues.
- Export final store-ready package (EPUB/MOBI/PDF) and distribute.
When to upgrade from Standard Edition
- Consider upgrading if you need advanced collaboration features, server-side batch conversions for large catalogs, DRM management, or deeper integration with publishing platforms and automation pipelines.
Final checklist
- Semantic headings and clean structure — yes
- Alt text and accessibility checks — yes
- Optimized images and reasonable file size — yes
- Complete metadata and ISBN embedded — yes
- Tested on multiple readers and validated — yes
Using these practices, eTextWizard Standard Edition can handle a wide range of ebook production needs reliably.
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