Tuesday Tech Tip: Editing ePub files

The moment I figured out that ePub files are actually just a zip file full of HTML, CSS, and image files, it felt like something in my world just shifted a few degrees off it’s axis. Today’s tip is for those looking to edit or create from scratch their own ePub files. Head on over to code.google.com and download Sigil.

Sigil is a multi-platform EPUB ebook with the following features:

• Online Sigil User’s Guide, and Wiki documentation
• Free and open source software under GPLv3
• Multi-platform: runs on Windows, Linux and Mac
• Full UTF-16 support
• Full EPUB 2 spec support
• Multiple Views: Book View, Code View and Preview View
• WYSIWYG editing in Book View
• Complete control over directly editing EPUB syntax in Code View
• Table of Contents generator with multi-level heading support
• Metadata editor with full support for all possible metadata entries (more than 200) with full descriptions for each
• User interface translated into many languages
• Spell checking with default and user configurable dictionaries
• Full Regular Expression (PCRE) support for Find & Replace
• Supports import of EPUB and HTML files, images, and style sheets,
• Documents can be validated for EPUB compliance with the integrated FlightCrew EPUB validator
• Embedded HTML Tidy: all imported files have their formatting corrected, and your editing can be optionally cleaned

(Yes, you can edit files in Calibre, but I find this program a bit more powerful, though Calibre is a great choice for editing other eBook formats. Also, this all assumes the file in question is free of DRM.)

Posted in ebooks Tagged with: ebooks, editor, software, tips

Historical Software Collection at the Internet Archive

Also at the Internet Archive, their historical software collection:

This collection contains selected historically important software packages from the Internet Archive’s software archives. Through the use of in-browser emulators, it is possible to try out these items and experiment with using them, without the additional burdens of installing emulator software or tracking down the programs. Many of these software products were the first of their kind, or utilized features and approaches that have been copied or recreated on many programs since. (historic software, vintage software, antique software)

Posted in Fun Tagged with: archive, gaming, software

Calibre makes it to 1.0

Today, after seven years of development, the amazing Calibre program has reached it’s 1.0 release. Take a moment to see what’s new in this version and then head on over to the download page and grab your copy.

Posted in ebooks Tagged with: software

Adobe Digital Edition 2.0.1 now available

Looks like it’s mostly bug fixes and possibly some improvements in font management.

Download @ http://www.adobe.com/products/digital-editions/download.html.

Posted in ebooks Tagged with: adobe, drm, software

That’s not a CD…

Posted in Fun Tagged with: software

Debenu PDF Tools Pro for free

Debenu PDF Tools Pro is a powerful set of PDF tools which can help you to merge and split PDFs, convert them to text or images, edit properties, add or remove passwords and a whole lot more.

Normally $59, the package available for free — but Debenu says this is only for “a few more days”, and the offer could expire at any time, so if you’re interested then we’d grab a copy now.

Read the full article @ betanews.com.

Posted in Tech Tagged with: free, pdf, software

“Physically” signing electronic documents

Luckily, most of the electronic documents that I’ve received recently that require my “physical” signature have been Word documents. This way I can easily insert my signature as an image and send it back. Unfortunately, I don’t have to software to do that with PDFs. 

However, according to Lifehacker, there are some solutions available on various platforms. The programs discussed are the HelloSign Chrome extension, SignNow on iOS & Android, and DocuSign Ink for Android.

Now I’m sort of hoping someone will send me a lucrative contract in a PDF format so I can try them out. (Ok, I know the lucrative part is just wishful thinking.)

Posted in Tech Tagged with: pdf, software

Dropbox 2.0 has dropped

I’m sure it’ll be offered as an automatic update eventually but for those of you that are impatient like I am, just head on over to http://www.dropbox.com/install and your download the installer for version 2.0 now.

Dropbox has provided a blog post describing the changes in this version if you’re looking for more details.

Posted in Internet Tagged with: dropbox, software, update

Want Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013 for just $9.95?

Are you a government employee? If so, you may quality to get the latest version of Microsoft Office for just $9.95 via the “Home Use Program”.  All you need to do is go to http://www.microsofthup.com/hupus/home.aspx and enter your work (government) e-mail address. Assuming your “institution” (the State of Nebraska in my case) participates the the program, you’ll be asked to confirm your work e-mail by clicking on a link sent to that address. Then you’ll be provided with purchase and download instructions. That’s how I’m running Office 2013 Professional Plus at home.

Posted in Tech Tagged with: government, microsoft, office, software