Smashwords
uses Meatgrinder to generate EPUB file formats from the Word format manuscripts submitted by authors / publishers.
Converting a file
using Meatgrinder may cause undesirable flow of the text, that is, the originality of text appearances could not be retained when the eBooks are viewed in varied eReader devices.
Not exact matches
In order to comply with the many formats that the vendors
use, Smashwords filters your manuscript through their formatting architecture program called «
Meatgrinder.»
Do you know if the ebooks formatted in this way
using html, are compatible with the Smashwords style requirements and can pass through the
Meatgrinder conversion?
Furthermore, when introducing each type of formatting, there is no explanation about the reasons / bases for ebooks» formatting issues or the assistance offered, via Smashwords vs. Amazon, for example, or about difficulties of passing through Smashwords ««
meatgrinder» successfully and what that success generates in benefits; no mention is made of that nor that Digital2Digital does not
use such gate - keeping, for example.
If you
use plan on
using Smashwords, their auto conversion process, which they call the «
Meatgrinder,» does not always produce the best results if your Word document is not setup properly.
I've
used Smashwords & its
meatgrinder, and I have never, ever been happy with the actual output.
There are thousands of E-Book Conversion companies in the market that are
using automated software (what we call
meatgrinders)
One of the things I do at my job is clean up and beautify e-books that have been produced by a «
meatgrinder» — the sort of automated conversion process that an outsourcer
uses.
Can you or someone tell me how to put links in an ebook when I'm
using Mobipocket Creator for Amazon and Smashwords's
meatgrinder for everywhere else?
Smashwords is notoriously difficult to
use (veteran authors refer to it as «the
meatgrinder»), but it allows you to publish to a lot of marketplaces at once.
Someone asked recently if it were possible to
use the same technique in a Microsoft Word document that was going to be uploaded to Smashwords and put through the dreaded
Meatgrinder.
You can
use Smashwords Direct to replace a Smashwords
Meatgrinder - generated -LSB-...]
I can't vouch for their quality; most likely they
use an automatic «
meatgrinder» type of ebook software and then (hopefully) someone gives it a quick proof to make sure it's clean.
You can
use Smashwords Direct to replace a Smashwords
Meatgrinder - generated.
With Scrollmotion being a leader in the mobile book app space with their Iceberg reader technology and polished children's book apps, I myself am curious if this partnership will bring about any future opportunities for Smashwords authors to have access to creating and publishing their books
using the Iceberg Reader technology directly without going through the Smashwords
meatgrinder process.
But if you're going to
use a distributor to reach Apple or Kobo (there's a host of other retailers, but they're a tiny part of the market), I recommend
using to Draft 2 Digital — D2D's converter isn't great, but it's far better than Smashword's «
meatgrinder.»
Don't
use the italics button from up in the tool bar of Word, they'll get lost in the
Meatgrinder.
With the launch of Smashwords Direct, the company has bowed to pressure, but Mark offers a rather nice defence of the «
Meatgrinder» tool that Smashword's has
used to date (and will continue to
use:
If you are
using Smashwords, their
meatgrinder program will read anything more than three (maybe four) returns as a page break.
Here is where eBook Enhancers is helpful in providing authors with an EPUB file of their Word format manuscripts, which is done MANUALLY without
using any automated formats like
Meatgrinder, so as to have the text appear properly aligned, retaining originality and look similar in any eReader devices as well as computers.
Unfortunately, if you have any heavily - formatted material, you can't
use them since the files all have to go through the «
meatgrinder.»
The Linked ToC is what our
Meatgrinder conversion engine will
use to create a linked ToC inside your ebook, and an NCX file (an external table of contents) that readers can
use on nearly any e-reading device or in any app.
However, there are certain situations (like the Smashwords
Meatgrinder and Kindle Worlds) where going amateur is required and you must
use a.
doc through Smashwords, the cover needs to be uploaded separately and there should not be a cover on the first page, since Smashwords»
Meatgrinder will compile the eBooks
using the cover uploaded separately.
Over the last six going on seven years, Smashwords introduced our free ebook printing press,
Meatgrinder, which made it possible for any writer anywhere to publish an ebook in minutes; we opened distribution for the first time to major retailers and library partners that were previously inaccessible to self - published authors; we developed sophisticated yet easy - to -
use publishing tools that help writers and small indie presses publish with pride and professionalism; we worked to actively educate our authors and publishers how to leverage best practices to publish with greater success; and we've been fierce (but friendly!)