• Ok, first let my start by saying that this is Microsoft and that means several things.

• Microsoft does a great job of providing easy to use resources for their family(s) of products. In fact, the ebook creation I will cover here requires Microsoft Word.

• Microsoft does not worry much about other ways that people might want to work. BUT - they do provide the means for others to extend their products in many directions.

• So if you don't have Microsoft Word, there ARE alternatives (some free) that can be used to create Microsoft Reader ebooks. Mobipocket Publisher is one such.

Reader for Word Addin: Read in Microsoft Reader

Install it!
• So - you have Microsoft Word, now go to the link above and download the free Read in Microsoft Reader program. Then install it.

• Easy so far, eh? Well, it's easy - all the way through!

Table of Contents
• If you have a table of contents for your ebook, open your document and use the headings in Word then use the "insert", "references", "index & tables" to create a Table of Contents in your document.

• If not, don't worry about it!

Fonts!
• You have a decision to make right off the bat with fonts. To ClearType or not to ClearType that is the question!

• What is ClearType? It is a Microsoft technology that delivers improved font display resolution and readability - especially on LCD screens. IT WORKS. Because ebooks are apt to be read on a handheld (with LCD screen) I highly recommend the use of ClearType.

• There are two steps you must take to use ClearType. First, use one of these fonts for your document: Berling Antiqua, Frutiger Linotype, or Lucida Sans Typewriter. These are the ONLY* supported ClearType fonts (*as of this writing).

• Second, make sure the "convert to Microsoft Reader Formatting" is checked on the Read in Reader dialog (when we get there).

• Don't care about ClearType? Use whatever font you want and uncheck the box!

Ready set GO!
• You're ready to go! Click on the Read in Reader icon (see red arrow on reference image). This will bring up the Read dialog box.

• Read in Reader will pre-populate the TITLE, AUTHOR, and FILE if it can.

• Edit/Enter (if necessary) the title of your book in the TITLE space.

• Edit/Enter (if necessary) the Author's name in the AUTHOR space.

• Edit/Enter (if necessary) the filename in the FILENAME space.

• Check (or uncheck) the FORMATTING options (I suggest checking the Reformat Table of COntents regardless).

• Click OK and, zip, zap zoom - you have a Reader ebook!

What about covers?
• Ah yes, my little chickadee! Wouldn't it be nice to include a cover (like I have on the ebooks on this site)?

• Well, assuming you have cover art then, yeah, no problemo. Just follow these steps.

• There are actually 4 cover images that can used.

• To add covers click on the customize covers button at the bottom of the dialog box.

The Covers
• A new dialog will now popup.

• First, Cover Image is for the PC (desktop/notebook) cover. The recommended size is 510w x 680h. I have been using images of 480 pixels wide and 540 pixels high. This seems to work fine. Simple browse to the file of your cover art.
• Next, Library Image is for the PC also. You can simply use the image as you did for the cover and Read in Reader will resize it, often with good results. The recommeded size is 99w x 132h.

• However, the Pocket PC cover/library image are a different ratio, designed for view in landscape mode. I haven't created art for this yet but I know that using the file sized as above, the Pocket PC images end up stretched and kinda yacky.

• The recommended image size you want is 480 pixels wide by 240 pixels high for the cover and 90w x 45h for the library image.

• Once your done with adding covers, click OK. Then click OK on the main dialog and your done!