Convert html text, and images into Epub files, that can be viewed on most modern operating systems, and uploaded to amazon kindle devices.

Add this to your gem file

gem 'epub'

All actions on the epub should be done inside an open block, much like the use of File

• author_name = ''
• isbn = '000-0-000000-0'
• book_title = ''
• publisher = ''
• publication_date = Time.now.to_s
• table_of_contents_title = 'Table Of Contents'
• cover_file_name = ''
• styles = ''
• subject_classification = 'NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE'
  • NOTE: The list of options for subject_classification can be found here https://bisg.org/page/BISACEdition
  • Amazon makes use of this info
• other_data = ''
  • Other data is something I've added, should there come a time you'd want to reverse the process. I've personally used the data to import an exported epub.
  • This data gets persisted in a file name 'other_data' in the META-INF folder.

• Start the block
  Epub::Builder.open(file_name) { |service| ... }

• Find the path of the produced file
  service.path

• Add A Chapter
  service.add_chapter(id, title, text)

• Add An Image
  All images that you use in your html based chapters, or as the cover page, get added through this method.
  The order added is not important
  service.add_image(intenal_file_name, source_file_name)

• Why? Apple treat some "node" ids in a special way. It's an ever changing way. It's courage that they don't tell devs.
• The List Of Options
  • index
  • glossary
  • acknowledgements
  • bibliography
  • colophon
  • copyright-page
  • dedication
  • epigraph
  • foreword
  • notes
  • preface
  • loi # List of images
  • lot # List of tables

• Create a simple 1 chapter epub, with no cover

    Dir.chdir(Dir.tmpdir) do
      Epub::Builder.open('1_chapter.epub') do |service|
        service.author_name = "David Rawk"
        service.book_title = "Dave's Grand Tour"
        service.add_chapter('chap_1', "Chapter 1", "<h2>Hello</h2>From <b>the</b> <i>over<s>world</s></i>.")
      end
    end
  

• Create a simple 2 chapter Epub with a cover image, some 'other_data' and an extended style

    Dir.chdir(Dir.tmpdir) do
      Epub::Builder.open('1_chapter.epub') do |service|
        service.author_name = "David Rawk"
        service.book_title = "I Love Puppies"
        service.add_chapter('chap_1', "Chapter 1", "Puppies are the best!")
        service.add_chapter('chap_2', "Chapter 2", "They all need love")
  
        # Add a cover image
        service.add_image('puppers.png', 'epub/lib/epub/puppers.png')
        service.cover_file_name = 'puppers.png'
  
        # Add "other_data" to the epub
        service.other_data = {user_id: 123, user_status: :awesome }.to_json
  
        # Extend the style a bit.
        service.style = "h2{color: red;}"
        service.style << "h2{background-color: blue;}"
      end
    end