Kindle Formatting HTML Tutorial: eBook Template for Kindle MOBI format

MOBI files are essentially one long HTML page — very similar to a Web page. It contains a header, footer and the content in-between called the body. The only part you really need to modify is the body — add your own manuscript to the HTML document.

To create the HTML file compatible for Kindle, you need a HEADER, FOOTER, and the BODY or the content in-between. Simply copy and paste the information into a Text editor to create your template. Then add your HTML converted manuscript to the Body.

TIP: A great source to learn HTML and play with coding online is W3Schools.com. See the Recommended Resources at the end of this mini-tutorial.

BASIC HTML STRUCTURE

• Almost all HTML tags have an opening and closing tag, such as for an opening and closing paragraph.
• Links use the anchor or tag. For example: This is a Link
• Anchor name or id tags also use and an id reference, such as
• Heading tags are used for Chapters and subheads: , , , etc.

HEADER

Every HTML coded page requires an HTML doctype declaration, opening tag, the title tag, the location of your style sheet (if any) and the opening /closing head tags. The only part you would ever need to touch is the Title – changing the content to the name of your book.

BODY

The body is the area where you paste your HTML formatted manuscript. All content falls between the opening and closing tags. Chapters are encased in the Heading or tags, and the content in paragraph or

tags.

Chapter 1

The content of the document……

FOOTER

The end of an HTM, which includes the closing tag.

CONCLUSION:

This is a very Basic Tutorial on how to manually set up the HTML for a MOBI/Kindle e-book. Please note there are elements that will not be created in this file that need or should be included, such as page breaks and the start page, as well as a Clickable (Linkable) Table of Contents and reference to the Cover image. Although not required, they make for a better reader experience.

This template also will not create the OPF or NCX files, which produces the Logical Table of Contents feature, as well as informing the e-reader of the TOC and Cover locations. Again, not required, but readers like to have these features.

ABOUT EPUB FILES

NOTE:This HTML template is a good starting foundation for an EPUB file; however EPUBs require the file to be an XHTML structure, needing an additional declaration for XHTML. In addition all the chapters need to be split up into separate pages.

Resources:

• W3Schools.com: HTML Tutorial
  This is a great resource containing hundreds of HTML examples. Plus, with the online HTML editor, you can edit the HTML, and click on a button to view the result.
• W3Schools: Doctype Declaration
• W3Schools: HTML head Elements

Related Posts:

• Kindle Formatting Solutions: HTML elements
• Kindle Formatting Solutions: HTML & CSS for ePublishing Authors, Intro
• Ebook Formatting Templates for EPUB and Kindle
• Basic eBook Formatting: Style Sheets
• How to Add a Book Cover Image to a Kindle eBook
• Word to Clean HTML for EPUB and Kindle