Creating PDF versus HTML Digital Style Ebooks to List and Sell on eBay

Note: The Two Most Common Software Types That Create Ebook Digital Delivery Information Products are PDF converters and HTML compilers.

ABOUT DIGITAL EBOOKS AND LISTING ON EBAY

Selling Digital Ebooks and Software on Ebay Is Not Difficult. If you have listed and sold items on Ebay prior, then you will find listing Digital Information Products easier than if you have never listed any items on Ebay. If you have or are currently selling Informational eBooks and Software on Ebay, but you have not yet utilized eBay's Digital Delivery System, you will find their automated system is not difficult to set up.

Only Two Common Types of Digital Ebook Formats are Discussed HERE

There are more than two types of formats, however I will discuss only two. Additionally, I only discuss the creating of eBooks and not the development or programming of other type software. The acronyms and meaning for the two different format types are PDF (Portable Document Format) and HTML  (Hypertext Markup Language).

This is only a brief summary for the two different types. HTML is a Windows compatible style format and PDF is compatible on both Windows based machines and Macintosh (Mac's). You can also learn more about creating your own ebooks at my eBay blog and researching the topic online or in printed books. In my Ebay Blog, I provide you with a few more details including Advantages and Disadvantages of Informational Ebook Products.

Additionally, I discuss other issues on selling ebooks. You can also learn a little more about ebooks on my Ebay About Me Page.

Firstly, let us discuss the PDF format style. This type is proprietary to Adobe Systems and requires the use of a separate reader once the product content ebook is created. The PDF Viewer can be downloaded for Free at Adobe Acrobat's website, Adobe.com. One advantage in creating PDF style ebooks is they can be read on all computers. Most (HTML) EXECUTION type formats require a Windows Based PC or server machine. PDF formatted ebooks tend to be files of large sizes and slow to load up on your screen to read the content. Yet, PDF is a very popular type ebook format.

There are many software companies that develop conversion software that read typed content files and then convert the text including images into a PDF ebook. If you wish to purchase the Developer's software by Adobe to create PDF ebooks, you will have to spend approximately $250. You are able to create a few ebooks online (at their site) for free. Since the price is a little too expensive for most beginning writers, other software companies found a niche and developed clone software that converts text content to PDF format inexpensively. Most of those software companies developed the conversion to PDF for Windows PC's. There are a few different PDF Converters that will run on the Mac.

A great many PDF converters are marketed as "easy, simply just print and you have a PDF document". This  is very true. However, they neglect to specify that some options like hypertext links are not supported in their conversion software. I did not appreciate finding those facts out after I had purchased their software. I personally do not find it logical to create an online document that does not support active HYPERTEXT links.

I see no purpose in creating an electronic product (e-product) that does not include links to access additional information, descriptive content, resources, etc. You should at least have a link to your email address or even your website and resources that your reader can easily click to access.

Therefore, I suggest you review PDF conversion software from companies that offer 'Hypertext Link Support'. You could spend approximately $20+. It is a great difference in spending $20+ versus $250+. In this Guide I do not mention specific companies, however I do in my ebook creator product sold on Ebay.

differences to be aware of in HTML versus PDF format

Secondly, let us discuss the HTML format style. How does the HTML Ebook Compiler work? It compiles (compresses) web pages format (files) into one executable file for distribution. HTML ebooks (depending on which ebook software is used) supports most every type interaction available in web pages viewed through your Internet Browser.  HTML files can contain live links, graphics, video, sound, script, forms and more.

These type Ebooks are high quality presentations and capable of utilizing the latest technology. You should become familiar with inexpensive eBook Creator Publishing Software and learn the features, simplicities, complexities, options, capabilities, security and more prior to investing a great deal of money. After you have a better understanding of the differences between ebook formats and publishing software, you can determine your requirements. It is for this reason I provide a collection along with one Primary Ebook compiler in my listing on Ebay including an additional listing for ebook cover software..

Let us say you have a manuscript written in Microsoft Word (TIP: Not Microsoft Works) that is 200 pages. It is very easy to use PDF conversion software and quickly create an ebook of your manuscript. However, with the HTML format, you cannot accomplish the same conversion (compilation) as PDF.

There is one major difference to be aware of when converting documents and or text into PDF versus HTML....

The text to PDF converters, normally maintain 99.9% of the page count and page alignment in conversion with very little editing required. However, in the HTML format style, when compiling a pre-written 200 page document it does not convert the pages in count. It actually compiles the pages into one executable file that reads as one long page. Therefore, you should edit your file prior to compilation with page breaks and some other touch ups, links and bookmarks.

As an example, when creating ebooks from HTML format, you normally have to set up links (bookmarks) from page to page in a multiple page document creating each page separately. Therefore, you should consider the use of the PDF format in a manuscript of many pages that is pre-written..

However, let us say that your manuscript and or document is not pre-written, and you are currently going to create it. If you were to use the HTML format, you can use a word processor or an HTML editor to type your document the same as you would in any other type content. In typing the text into a word processor, you then can easily save the document as a web page format in a few clicks.. This is not difficult as most application processors have the option to 'Save As Web Page'. Therefore, you do not have to learn how to create a web page or know any HTML CODE.. However, 200 pages could be a bit too many to include in the compilation, thereby making your best format option the PDF style. There are other alternatives by simply compiling only a few pages and then linking the balance of the pages to your website. I do this most of the time as it allows me continual updates for my customers and readers.

What if I do not have a Word Processor?

If you do not have an Office Suite with a Word Processor, including Spreadsheet, Presentation, etc., then you can obtain a very high quality product without the high price. You can download a free office suite that is almost an exact clone to Microsoft Office, Word Perfect and other word processing, desk top publishing suites. This is free and you can find it at OpenOffice.org. It is a great product. It has most of the options, if not all, and capabilities that Microsoft and Word Perfect and other suites of the same type have.

You can simply create your text and include images, if you wish, in your ebook.

> Then Click 'Save As Web Page' option.
> Next click the Click the 'Save' button. It is just that simple.

Your file is now a web page... This is the format the HTML EXECUTION ebook compiler software seeks when compressing all the files into one (1) executable eBook file with the (.exe) extension for distribution.

If you imagine that each page you create is a page of the ebook, you will design and structure a high quality digital product that everyone can navigate through very easily.

I provide in great detail, with Enhanced Flash Video Tutorials, exactly how to accomplish an HTML format with multiple pages and saving the format as a web page. Actually, you are creating your ebook and your website at the very same time. For this reason I prefer the HTML format many more times than I do the PDF style.

However, when deciding which eBook Format to use, your determining factor should always be based upon the requirements of the ebook product.