Kindle Skills - Personal Document With Table of Contents

Originally posted May 19, 2010 by Cindy O'Neal

Ask Mrs. Wizard:
If you have a question, please send me a personal email (mrswizard@mrswizard.com) with your question. I answer all my emails and am more than happy to help any time I can. Your questions mean a lot to me, and may even inspire an article that will help others and make this a more valuable resource to anyone who reads it.

Build a Table of Contents
Prepare your document with a table of contents in mind. It is all done by using the Heading 1 style . For example, say you are creating a Recipe book. Give the title of each recipe a Heading 1 style. This is what Mobipocket Creator will use to create your Table of Contents and make it clickable in your finished ebook.

Highlight the title or heading for each recipe. Look at the top of your word processing program for the word Default or Normal. If there is an arrow to the right of that, click it and look for Heading 1. Click Heading 1 to set the formatting style for that title. You will notice it will be bold and larger than your normal text. This is fine. Do this for every title or item you want displayed on your Table of Contents. When it is all done, your table of contents will be listed in the order each item appears in your document.

I used OpenOffice to create my rtf file, mainly because it is so easy to select and use Heading Styles, but if you have MS Word, that will work too. You need to find how to use Heading Styles (it is different in the newest version) and choose Heading 1 style for your selected text. If you are using Office 2007, use the keyboard command CTRL+Shift+S to easily bring up the styles box. Highlight the text you want in your table of contents, then use the style box to select Heading 1 for it. Do this for each item you want tracked as a Table of Contents item.

Click the word File at the top of the document window. Save the file as an .rtf file or export it as an html file.  Either file format will work. This way the H1 (heading 1) style will be embedded in the file and you will be able to refer to it later when you go to create your final ebook in Mobipocket Creator.

Mobipocket Creator
This is a wonderfully easy to use application. Download it for FREE at http://mobipocket.com and install it. If you have been reading my tips you already have the Mobipocket Reader (free) software. The reader is good, and can do a lot of easy converting, but the Creator will go a few steps further. As you work with it and spend some quality time getting to know it, you may end up publishing something to sell on Amazon.

I plan to (soon) begin a new project and gather and organize all the interesting tips I have shared so far in this blog so interested Kindlers will have access to it on Amazon as a new (inexpensive) ebook with a nice clickable table of contents.

Use Mobipocket Creator to compile the .rtf or .html document for the kindle.
It will create a Table of Contents out of the Heading 1 elements of your document, with links to each item in your document.

• Open Mobipocket Creator
• Move your mouse pointer to the Import From Existing File area and click MS Word document (if it is an rtf file)
• Drag your rtf or html file to the little white box to the right of the words Choose a file (or click the browse button to the right of that and find your file and click on it)
• Click the Import button
• Mobipocket Creator will convert the file to an html (web) file and preserve your H1 headings. When finished, you will see your file listed in the Publication Files area
• In the View area, click Table of Contents to go to the Table of Contents section
• Click the Add a Table of Contents button
• In the first box to the right of the words First Level, type h1
• Click the Update button (you may need to scroll down a bit to find it)
• You should have two files listed in your Publication Files area
• Back to the View area, click the word Metadata and add any extra information you want. You can even add a cover image here if you have one.
• Click the Build button at the top of the main window when you are ready, take all the defaults selected, then click the Build button in this lower area.
• When it is finished you will have an ok button. Click this to see what your book will look like in the Mobipocket Reader. The file is finished and in your ebooks folder, ready for you to put on your Kindle.

.....with a nice new clickable table of contents!

Caveat: Mobipocket Reader and Creator is only for PCs. I am keeping an eye out for a nice freeware program that will help you build your ebook with table of contents for Macs. When I find it , I will shake it down good and share!

Kindle Skills

Originally posted May 17, 2010 by Cindy O'Neal

OpenOffice.org for PCs and Macs
What does this have to do with Kindle? A lot, if you like saving money and having a nice office suite of programs that includes a word processor that will export files to a PDF file. A pdf file, I might add, that can be used on your Kindle.

Most everyone has received a pdf file for one reason or another. Most computers are even shipping with the latest version of the free Acrobat Reader software already installed and ready to use. A pdf file is a great way to share a file created with say, the latest version of Microsoft Word with someone who maybe has an older version. I create quite a few files with Adobe InDesign (a great layout/desktop publishing application) and save copies of my files as pdf files so anyone can see them the way they were originally created without having to spend a lot of money on the actual software used to create them.

Adobe Acrobat can be quite pricey, and is what is needed if you want to convert various office files to pdf for sharing and other things. Once purchased and installed on your computer, you can make a pdf copy of pretty much anything you create on your computer. There are other, less expensive applications, you can purchase that will do a similar job, but not quite as well as the folks who invented pdf files (Adobe). They aren't too shabby, but free is always nice, and when you can get free and great quality, it is even nicer. If you can open it with OpenOffice.org, you can export it as a pdf file.

OpenOffice.org will open any Microsoft file, including the newest versions. Once opened, you can convert the document to a pdf file by clicking the word File at the top of the main window, then the words Export as PDF. It really is that easy. Take that pdf file and put it into the Documents folder of your Kindle and you have a new "book/document" you can read on your little machine.

OpenOffice.org is a great replacement for any office suite. It is absolutely free, along with any newer versions and updates. I use it myself, and have and will continue to recommend it to everyone I help with their computers highly. It is a rather large download (about 150 Mb), but with today's fast Internet connections, doesn't seem to be an issue for more and more people. If you are one of the lucky ones with high speed Internet, go for it! It will become your new best friend.

Ask Mrs. Wizard:
If you have a question, please send me a personal email (mrswizard@mrswizard.com) with your question. I answer all my emails and am more than happy to help any time I can. Your questions mean a lot to me, and may even inspire an article that will help others and make this a more valuable resource to anyone who reads it.

Kindle Skills

Originally Posted May 15, 2010 by Cindy O'Neal
A very special Thank YOU to all of you who have been reading From The Desk Of Mrs. Wizard since I began sharing my thoughts, tips and free ebooks in February. My goal is to keep my posts short so you can learn little bits each day without being overwhelmed. Free books are always welcomed, and I share the ones that appeal to me. I hope you will like them too. Since that with my first Kindle inside arrived, it has been wonderful knowing I would always have a great read at my fingertips. I sincerely hope you are looking forward to more in the future as much as I am.

Kindle Web Bookmarks
Your Kindle has a very nice connection to the Internet, any time you need one. It can get on the Internet when no one else can (it seems sometimes). If you are in a car, or doctor's office, you may have special web sites you want to keep up with. Instead of typing in the URL (web address), bookmark your favorite pages for viewing any time you want.

Go to the web site

• With your Kindle on the Home page, type the web address you want to go to (mobile.allrecipes.com - no need to type the http:// stuff). 
• Toggle your 5-way switch to the right until the words go to are highlighted. 
• Press in on the 5-way switch to make it happen.
• When you arrive at the web site, press the Menu button on your Kindle.
• Toggle down until the words Bookmark This Page is underlined.
• Press in on the 5-way switch to make it happen.

Using your bookmarks

• When on any web page, press the Menu button.
• Toggle the 5 way switch until the word Bookmarks is underlined.
• Press in on the 5-way to view your bookmarks list.
• Your bookmarks list could be several pages (like your Home screen). Toggle the 5-way until the bookmark you want to go to is underlined.
• Press in on the 5-way switch to go there.

Kindle Skills

Originally posted May 5, 2010 by Cindy O'Neal

Make a Kindle Shortcut
Streamline copying your books to your Kindle Documents folder (when it is connected of course) by creating a Shortcut to it in your right click and Sendto menu option.

Normally, when you hook the Kindle to a computer (PC) via a USB cable, a little window will appear asking if you want to view the contents using Windows Explorer. Answer yes, and you can get to your Kindle Documents folder that way and drag files directly to it.

Make it a little easier if you put a shortcut to the Kindle Documents folder in your Sendto menu. This will allow you to right click any Kindle ready book file and choose Sendto, then click your shortcut directly to your Kindle Documents folder (two clicks instead of clicking and dragging). You might want to name this shortcut KindleDocs so you can distinguish it from another shortcut to your Kindle when you choose Sendto. This appears when your Kindle is connected and is a shortcut to the main Kindle root directory (not your Documents folder). It happens because your computer is thinking it is an external drive when you have it connected.

Special Note: If you feel the least uncomfortable following these directions, don't do it. Send me an email and I will help if I can. You have been gently warned.

Two steps will get it done

• Make a shortcut to your Kindle Documents folder.
  1. Connect your Kindle with the USB cable to your computer.
  2. When the AutoPlay window appears, choose Open folder to view files
  3. While holding down the Alt key on your keyboard (this is really important), drag the documents folder from your Kindle window to your Desktop so you can find it easily. You should end up with a Shortcut to your documents folder on your Kindle. If you don't see an arrow on your desktop shortcut, put it back. Make sure you do NOT accidentally move the folder from your Kindle. You only want a shortcut. The original folder should still be on your Kindle.
  4. Close your Kindle window. Right click on the shortcut on your desktop and choose rename. Rename it to something like KindleDocs.
  5. Test your shortcut by double clicking it. Your Documents folder on your Kindle should open.
  
• Put the shortcut into your Sendto menu folder.
  1. Click the Start button (bottom left on your main computer screen)
  2. Click once (so you see a blinking cursor indicating you can type something) and type shell:sendto in the Start Search box. (Windows XP, click Start, then Run, and type in the Run box)
  3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
  4. Your SendTo window will appear with the contents in the right pane. Left click and drag your Kindle shortcut to where the rest of the shortcuts in this folder are. It will be moved (not copied). If you are afraid to drag, you can also right click on the shortcut and choose Cut. Then right click inside the Sendto folder and choose Paste. This will do the same thing.
  5. Close the SendTo window and test your handiwork by right clicking any book file. One of your options (a new one) will be your brand new shortcut to your KindleDocs folder. Remember, this option will only work if your Kindle is connected via USB.

In the Future:

You won't have to click Open folder to view files when you connect your Kindle. You won't have to drag from one folder to another (risking a miss and having to find something that got dropped into the wrong folder. You will be able to connect your Kindle with the USB cable, then right click on the book file you want to send to it, choose Send To and choose your KindleDocs folder. Two clicks and you will be done!

Ask Mrs. Wizard:
If you have a question, please send me a personal email (mrswizard@mrswizard.com) with your question. I have no way to answer or get more information from you to give you a decent answer if you just comment. I answer all my emails and am more than happy to help any time I can. Your questions mean a lot to me, and may even inspire an article that will help others and make this a valuable resource to anyone who reads it. 

Kindle Skills

Originally posted April 30, 2010 by Cindy O'Neal


Organize Your Library
They may be electronic books, and they may not use a lot of hard drive space, but if you do any book hunting outside of Amazon, like Manybooks.net, Gutenberg, or any of the other sites to find wonderful books for free or low cost, your list of books will grow. You might as well get them organized before your list gets too hard to manage. Amazon will only store books you have purchased through them. You are on your own when it comes to your personal files and books you obtain from other sources, free or otherwise for your Kindle. There are plenty of places out there, so your personal list of books can end up being quite impressive, and a bit of a mess if you don't take control right away.

Create a folder
Begin by creating a new folder on your Desktop (your main computer screen). Hopefully it isn't too crowded and you can find an empty area to right click with your mouse and choose the words New Folder.  You will see a new folder appear with the words New Folder all nice and highlighted. Immediately begin typing the name you want to use for your new book collection folder. Once you have that done, you can left click anywhere else on your main screen to lock in your changes. To open your new folder, double click it. You can create other folders inside this folder if you want to organize your new books even more. You can even add folders as you go along, and as you need them. There is no perfect way to organize your folders. My advice is to organize your folders so YOU are comfortable knowing where everything is. That's why they call it a Personal Computer after all. It is your stuff, and your rules.

Where to keep your books?
If you are a bibliophile, like I am, keep your folder on your Desktop in front of your face at all times so you can pour through the contents any time you want. If you prefer, drag this folder to your Documents folder and let it take its place in that list of folders and files. Wherever you finally decide to put it, make sure you can easily find it, because this is where all the books you download and save are going to go in the future. It is much easier when you have everything in one place. This will make backing up a breeze too. Right click on the folder any time and choose Send To, and send a copy to a blank CD or a thumb drive, anything you choose. There is comfort in knowing you have a copy of this folder (and any other personal files that may mean something to you) somewhere else in addition to your main computer. Don't be one who has to learn about Mr. Backup the hard way. It isn't pretty.

Drag Files to Folder
When you download your book files, you can choose to download them directly to your folder, or download them to your Desktop, then left click and drag them to your book folder. When you let go of the left mouse button, they will be there.

Different Folder Views
When you have your book folder open, check the top of the folder window for the word View and Details (Windows XP). In Windows 7 or Vista, look for an additional Views button to click. You can choose Details with that too. When you find it, click on the different view choices for the folder to see each. I personally like the Details view because it lines up the files alphabetically by file name. You can left click each column header to sort each column any way you like.

Worth Repeating
Make sure you understand and have your computer set up to view your File Extensions.

Kindle Skills

Originally posted April 27, 2010 by Cindy O'Neal

Personal Files On The Kindle
Oh yes. The Kindle is a great way to carry around any kind of file you deem special.
I have a special file (probably should name it something other than passwords and reg info) which I have been updating and adding to for years. Each page has its own title with information related to that title on it. Over the years it has collected registration information (for easy copying and pasting) of various software applications I have purchased, as well as password information for websites and other things I need passwords for. Anything I need to remember goes on that file.

Contacts is another file I use regularly. It has just what you would think, a long list of names and addresses, with phone numbers and any other information necessary for that person or business. These are listed alphabetically. What is really neat on the Kindle is how fast it can search for any bit of text, and names are a piece of cake.

Recipes: Probably my favorite personal file used on the Kindle. These are my favorite, tried and true, with personal notes. If I am in the kitchen, my Kindle is handy. This little goodie even has a clickable table of contents. How is for a future post, but it is doable.

Creating Your Personal files:You can use any word processor. The best thing to do is plan how you want your document to look. Keep it as simple as possible, with a list type look. You don't need to prepare your document with any fancy formatting. A plain text file would be fine. Your Kindle could care less, and is only going to search through the text anyhow. Your documents can be as long as you need them to be. Your contact list may be much longer than mine. You can organize your things alphabetically, but honestly, that doesn't matter either if you plan to use the Kindle's search function. If you want to page forward or back, then consider alphabetizing your list.

If you want to keep larger lists, and need something a little fancier, you might want to try my favorite personal information manager, AZZ Cardfile. It has been around for years, is certainly one of my comfort programs and something I depend on. I have used it daily since Windows 95, certainly longer than I have owned my Kindle. Anything I want to keep track of or organize is done with AZZ Cardfile. It is ridiculously easy to use. You can even try it out for free to see if it is something you can depend on too. The history behind it is really interesting. It was originally designed as a replacement for a free utility that used to be included as part of the Windows operating system called Cardfile. Windows Cardfile was simplicity in itself and a lot of people loved it. This Personal Information Manager was ditched by Windows after Windows 95. Folks continued to use it, but really had to jump through hoops to get a copy of it. I lost track of it several years ago. AZZ Cardfile helped ease the pain of that loss with a more robust, permanent solution.

Each of the personal files I use on my Kindle (files I created myself) begin as an AZZ file. It is just easier to organize with it. The "cards" are automatically alphabetized. All I have to do is enter the information. To edit an existing card, just click on the card name in the left panel and the information will appear in the right panel. Since my passwords, recipes and contact files are always changing or being added to, being able to quickly create a new .rtf file is a definite plus.

About the only thing AZZ won't work on is a Mac, and that's a shame. I haven't found anything even close for my Mac.

Use AZZ Cardfile (azzcardfile.com)to create the personal information files, then export as a .rtf (rich text format) file so mobipocket reader can neatly convert them to send over to the kindle when you connect it with the USB cable. Each listing will have its own "card," and when you export your file, you will basically be making a copy in a different format, in this case, .rtf format. One of the options when you export your file is to have each card be a separate "page," so you can see, this is perfect for the Kindle. Once you have your .rtf file created, you are ready to convert it with one of my recent favorites, Mobipocket Reader.

So now you can add your personal files to the library you can carry in your hand. AND you have another (really good) reason to keep it on your person at all times.

Tomorrow
The FREE Mobipocket Reader Software and how to use it to convert files for your Kindle